charity

Sharing best practice – round up

David Hopkins, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)

Don’t underestimate the value of natural interaction: Two vehicles that work well in terms of the idea of sharing have been the physical hub model – i.e. where an organisation has created a shared space that charities can work out of, and the natural interaction that evolves through conversation and partnerships.

It’s important to bring charities together to share war stories, swap ideas and hear from others about new approaches. My experience has been that the value of these events – as a grant maker and as a participant – far outstrips the impact of newsletters, guidance notes, case studies as a means of stimulating new approaches.

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Does Member Engagement = Member Satisfaction?

This is just one of the questions to be answered at the 13th annual MemCom conference and awards to be held on May 9th in central London. Some 200 membership marketing delegates from professional bodies, sport and recreation organisations and charities will hear cutting edge presentations, enjoy debate and celebrate achievement at the MemCom 2013 membership marketing awards.

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Google set to help 30,000 small charities go online

Google has just launched a new campaign to help 30,000 of Britain’s smallest charities boost their fundraising through online tools and the internet. Established in partnership with the Media Trust and Charity Technology Trust, the ‘Grow Your Charity Online’ initiative will provide free training and tools for smaller charities across the country, reports The Guardian. It comprises an online learning hub, specialised training, workshops and live events.

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Fundraising through iPads reaches new levels of sophistication

Raising funds for charity via iPads has hit the news pages again this summer as Fundraising Initiatives launched its new mobile-optimised, face-to-face fundraising solution to a packed audience of third sector professionals at the National Convention 2012. More than 2,000 delegates gathered to hear the latest in best practice techniques, with raising funds through iPads a hot topic of conversation.

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How much does the voluntary sector contribute to employment – and where are these jobs located?

The third sector not only provides services and harnesses voluntary action, but also employs a growing number of people. There is growing interest, from government and elsewhere, in the contribution that voluntary organisations make to society and communities – and this includes their contribution to paid employment. New TSRC research has been examining this contribution, estimating the number and distribution of people working in the voluntary sector using data from the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations (NSTSO 2008) in England.

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Charities embrace social media to engage donors

Charities are increasingly embracing social media as a means of reaching out to new and existing donors. While UK charity shops are experiencing record profits, with reported takings up £34m year on year, more traditional fundraising methods have typically suffered during the recession, leading charitable organisations to seek alternative methods of raising money. The answer, reports the Institute of Philanthropy , is social media, which is fast becoming an essential tool for securing donations.

Charities throughout the country are busy tweeting, blogging and creating Facebook apps and social media games, including the RSPCA, Dyslexia Action and our very own J’s Hospice in Essex.

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How should small charities handle communications work?

Ann Nichols of the Guardian writes ‘ small organisations are adopting a range of techniques to get their message across’  CJAM specialises in supporting Association, Charity and Business clients with Marketing Communications.

Managing communications for a small charity requires multi-skilled people who can create marketing and PR campaigns, engage with stakeholders, produce e-bulletins, develop websites, deal with journalists, manage events, as well as being a whizz at social media. Most of the bigger charities have large communication teams of 30 staff or more who collectively posses these skills. But for small charities the picture is very different.

About 85% of UK charities are classified as ‘small’ or ‘micro’, with an annual income of less than £500,000 a year. I wanted to find out how these small charities manage their communications. Do they employ staff with skills in marketing and public relations? Do they rely on volunteers? Or do they manage with no communications support at all?

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