Late last week, Blackbaud announced a new partnership with the Charleston Battery pro scocer team, a partnership that I think is pretty cool.
I guess I should issue a disclaimer upfront that I'm a HUGE soccer fan, a former player and referee, and -- much as I hate the label -- an oh so current soccer mom (with a Prius instead of the stereotypical minivan, thank you very much.)
Sports have always been a big part of my life, as has a commitment to give something back, making a positive mark on the world in my own small way. So you can just imagine how excited I was when Blackbaud decided to focus its partnership with the Charleston Battery on philanthropy.
Blackbaud and the Battery share many things -- Tony Bakker (the philanthropist who founded both organizations), a beautiful location on Daniel Island, SC,, and a passion for making a difference. What this partnership does is takes the combined strength and reach of both organizations and uses it celebrate and promote the good work done by Charleston-area nonprofits.
We're bringing life to this idea through a "Nonprofit of the Match" where one organization is honored at each of the Charleston Battery's 13 home matches. We're kicking things off (please pardon the pun) on March 13th when the Charleston Battery hosts its annual Carolina Challenge Cup, a tournament that pits three Major League Soccer teams against the Battery. (This year, MLS champions Real Salt Lake will be coming to town, along with DC United and Toronto FC).
It is our combined hope that, through our partnership, we will introduce the broad community that supports the Charleston Battery to the great work nonprofits are doing in the Lowcountry. And if any of those sports fans decide to donate their time, treasure or talent to these organizations, well, that'll be something else to celebrate.
For those of you who live in Charleston and might come out to a game (you should because it's a lot of fun), you'll see another aspect of the partnership in action -- Blackbaud employees working alongside the Battery staff, volunteering their time and serving their community.
We couldn't ask for a better partner than the Charleston Battery. From Tony Bakker and Andrew Bell, the club's CEO and president, respectively, to the staff and the team itself, the Battery family cares about making a difference, about what we like to say at Blackbaud...how service to others makes the world a better place.
As we announced today, Blackbaud has made a $50,000 donation in support of NetHope to provide 20 humanitarian organizations working in Haiti with critical IT resources.
NetHope is an information technology collaboration of 28 leading international humanitarian organizations, which develops and applies technological solutions on the international stage to improve humanitarian operations.
As a global technology company that works to improve nonprofit infrastructure every day, we feel that NetHope is a natural partner. The organization has a broad reach and the ability – through technology – to quickly improve conditions on the ground.
NetHope’s Chief Executive Officer William Brindley recently shared his view of disaster relief efforts in Haiti on www.huffingtonpost.com in the blogpost “Bringing Technology and Communication to Haiti.”
Here’s an excerpt:
Words cannot begin to describe the shock in the wake of this week's tragic events in Haiti. I know I am far from alone in feeling that way. What I can put into words at this time are my thoughts on how we can accelerate relief to those in need: By establishing a network by which humanitarian agencies in the region can communicate with each other and the outside world.
Communication is the lifeblood of rescue operations in Haiti. In fact, in an interview with FOX News, Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. Raymond Joseph calls out help with communications as a top need in the region. Without Internet connectivity, it's incredibly difficult for NGOs and the Haitian government to coordinate the delivery of aid and to communicate about what's needed in terms of food, water, shelter, medical supplies and more.
Our NetHope member agencies in Port-au-Prince have summed it up for me pretty starkly: Operating in Haiti right now is like responding to a disaster 5-10 years ago. With little or no infrastructure remaining, basic communication systems like phone and email are severely hampered, and the technology gains we in the Western world have benefited from in the past 10 years are virtually nonexistent in poverty-stricken Haiti.
To read more about how NetHope is helping with relief efforts in Haiti, read the entire post or visit www.nethope.org to learn how you can help.
I've been telling myself, as the year began, that I should get a jump on things and get a blog posting up. At the same time, I've been getting used to Twitter, and -- I have to admit -- that my attention has been diverted as I learned how to say something meaningful in how many characters???
I began the week knowing exactly what I would post. But then Haiti happened.
Right now, that's all you have to say - Haiti. Everyone knows what you mean - earthquake, disaster, the loss of so many lives, the hopes and fears around all those who are missing. That and the massive confusion as nonprofits and governments try to mobilize relief efforts on the ground (if they can actually land in Haiti in the first place).
So instead of talking about what I planned, I'll simply encourage you to join the effort, however you choose to do so. Blackbaud has created a page on our website listing organizations involved in the relief effort and providing other information about how you can get involved. We're focused on helping to ensure our customers who provide relief aid and services have what they need.
I woke up today thinking about high school. Maybe it's all those episodes of Glee I've been watching that have put me in that frame of mind.
Whatever the reason, I was thinking about the '80s...and life as an average Gen Xer. We were the apathetic generation, you know. The one without a defining event like Vietnam or Watergate... The one that got through high school without cell phones, IMing and Starbucks. And yes, I did go to college carrying a brand new Smith Corona typewriter that cost about the same as a laptop would today.
Life definitely seemed simpler. I won't say easy because nothing about being in high school seems easy when you're there. But definitely more basic. Fewer options. Less noise. MTV was still a new thing. And AIDS, what was that?
It wasn't until I was half way through college when I realized that AIDS was a truly big deal. Like so many other people, that's when I read And the Band Played On, the groundbreaking book by investigative journalist Randy Shilts, which detailed the first years of the virus - the discoveries, the funding (or lack there of), the incredibly disturbing story of how AIDS was spreading...while high school kids like me worried about things that now seem so trivial (because they were).
At first, when people fell victim to AIDS or died from a related illness, there were always other reasons given. No one said the word. But then there were too many people to pretend. Members of our community, the editor of the magazine where I did an internship, and so many students my father had taught through the years. Gone.
I don't know about other Gen Xers, but AIDS - the pandemic - changed how I thought about so many things. It made me conscious of what was really happening in the world. About the people who were suffering. And the people who were working so hard to make a difference. That was just the beginning, of course, because once my eyes opened, I began to see how many other things were happening in the world that I had so easily ignored.
Today, 20-some-odd years after I finished high school, we find ourselves "marking" the 22nd annual World AIDS Day. Although I wish we didn't have a reason to acknowledge this important day, I do thank Randy Shilts for opening my eyes. He was a courageous guy who told a story we needed to hear. A story I won't soon forget. A story that doesn't have an end...yet.
Happy National Philanthropy Day!
Every year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and its 200+ chapters honor National Philanthropy Day. Chapters around North America (and beyond) host events in their communities, presenting awards to donors and bringing together all those who care so much about investing in the community through giving.
Although the actual day of the event might vary a bit from city to city, National Philanthropy Day always falls a week or two before Thanksgiving. And that's appropriate because, for the members of AFP, it IS our Thanksgiving. A day when we gather around the table with friends and colleagues to celebrate the many acts of kindness we see. A day when we honor giving in all forms, large and small.
Today, as president of the SC Lowcountry Chapter of AFP, I have the honor of serving as host of our annual luncheon. About 400 people will be coming to Thanksgiving "dinner" with us today. And we have a big program to serve up. We're thrilled to have Matt Dunne, who manages community affairs for Google, as our speaker (if you didn't know, Google opened a shop in the Lowcountry a year or so ago). Plus, we have two big awards to give out. Bill and Ruth Baker are being honored as the Outstanding Individual Philanthropists (nominated by the Medical University of South Carolina). And Charleston Place Hotel is being honored as the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist (nominated by the Coastal Community Foundation).
I am so thankful today to love in a community where donors identify need and use philanthropy as a solution. I am thankful for my AFP colleagues (especially those who made the event today happen) and for the community we all serve.
What's better than National Philanthropy Day? Having is as a part of Philanthropy Week! For the fourth year in a row, AFP Lowcountry has partnered with the Coastal Community Foundation, the Junior League, Women Making a Difference, and the Center for Women on Philanthropy Week. And South Carolina Bank and Trust has graciously supported this collaboration, helping us to spread the message of service and giving throughout the Lowcountry. (Thank you SCB&T!)
So much is happening that is so good. Yep, I'm thankful!
You've heard me say this before, but one of the best things about working at Blackbaud is being surrounded by so many people who care about giving back. Collectively, we believe in philanthropy. Individually, we decide what form our giving will take.
We announced our Reward Your Passion grant winners for the most recent quarter a little while ago, and the list gives you an idea of the diverse causes our people choose as vehicles for making change. Each of the organizations listed has received a $500 donation in honor of a Blackbaud employee who serves as a volunteer. Join me in congratulating my colleagues for what they do.
The Exodus Foundation
Skate for the Cure
San Diego Casa
People Against Rape
Love, Inc.
The Center for Birds of Prey
Make A Wish Foundation of Massachusetts
Rainbow Trust Children's Charity
East Cooper Meals on Wheels
Arthritis Foundation, Carolina's Chapter
Nathan Weidner Foundation
Boston Living Center
Needham Opportunities, Inc.
Evans Home for Children
I had a great opportunity last week to talk about one of my favorite subjects - service.
The topic was "leadership through service," which is something I think is pretty important. How can you divide the two? What leader doesn't serve in some way? But the point I was really making is how you lead through giving back to your community and the world - as a person, a professional, a parent, an advocate or just the resident of a neighborhood.
The talk was a part of the SCB&T Leadership Series at The Citadel School of Business Administration. It was a real honor to be invited to speak with both the MBA students and the cadets. And given that many of those in the audience were early in their careers, it was an opportunity to talk about why and how service could (should, in my opinion) play a huge part in their lives and future success.
It's easy for me to understand why I give back. It's a part of who I am, inside and out. Being put in a position to talk about the influence of service on my life makes me reflect on how, from the very beginning of my life, I had people around me who felt it was important to give -- time, talent and treasure, as they say. But if you don't yet give back or haven't thought much about why it might be compelling, I'd offer these thoughts, which I shared on Thursday night.
Giving is personal. An individual decision. We all decide for ourselves what outlet we want to embrace. This individuality is one of the fundamental reasons why philanthropy is such an incredible field. It allows for diversity of thought and expression, being led by a passion to do something good. As for why we each might serve, I'd suggest there are three views to consider.
The Altruistic View - because it's the right thing to do. Whether the motivation comes from family or faith or maybe something that happened in your life (the death of a friend to a disease, which is an example I shared from my own family's experiences), you take action because you feel you should.
The Career View - because it helps you grow and learn and, yes, build your resume. I talk about this view all the time with people at Blackbaud. One line of thinking is that you have skills you want to volunteer that could be valuable to a nonprofit. The average value of a volunteer hour is $20.25, according to Independent Sector. But when you add professional skills to the mix, that value dramatically increases. A great example is a HR professional helping a nonprofit develop employee policies. Another way of thinking is that you can add skills by giving back, gaining experience in areas that maybe you don't touch on in your own job. Both allow you to expand your resume, either in showing your experience with certain skills and the fact that you cared enough to give back. Employers care about that.
Then there's my favorite one, The Leadership View. This one is all about having a vision and identifying an opportunity to drive positive change. It's about serving on boards and committees and reaching across all aspects of your life to convene people who are willing to drive that change along with you. And you know what's really cool about this one? You can lead from where you stand today. As long as you have passion and vision, you can make change. You don't have to be a seasoned professional before you get involved and help make things happen. Of course, as you do advance in your career, I'd like to think you'd see the value of continuing to serve, providing the unique perspective you've gained, and encouraging others who are just starting to see how they can lead from where they stand.
Leadership is service. Service is leadership. Do what you can whenever you can!
P.S. If you want to read more on giving back, grab a copy of Giving: How each of us can Change the World by Bill Clinton. It's an easy read and provides a really nice summary of how people are giving back -- and creating meaningful change -- around the world. Or, tune into the live webcasts of the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting going on right now.
September 11th. It's a date we won't forget and, often, don't like to think about. The memories aren't just bad, they're almost unimaginable. Almost...but not completely...since we've become all too familiar with the mark that terror leaves on the human experience.
For many in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, however, the date has become synonymous with something good, something happy, something really worthwhile. I'm talking about the Trident United Way's annual Day of Caring, which brings out more than 6,000 volunteers, participating in 300+ projects in the tri-county area.
Blackbaud has a long tradition of participating in this worthwhile event, sending teams of employees out on company time to share their time and talents to help those in need. This year, more than 150 members of Team Blackbaud will take on 13 different projects for a variety of nonprofit organizations and public schools. While one group will be building a run-in shed and jumps for Rein & Shine, an equine-assisted therapy program in Awendaw, another will be way across town finishing the interior of a house for Rural Mission. In between, teams will be working to clean up parks and beautify some of our local elementary schools.
I'll be spending the day on John's Island, helping to reorganize Sea Island Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, which resells donated furnishings and construction materials as a way to raise money to fund its programs. Have you ever thought about where all that stuff goes when a house is renovated or demolished? The completely usable doors, windows, cabinets, light fixtures and tile? I was introduced to the ReStore by Classic Remodeling and Construction, which worked with my family on a renovation. They not only suggested that we donate materials to the ReStore, they took the materials out there for us.
I'm really proud to be spending the day helping Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (the 3rd oldest Habitat affiliate in the world!), and I know it'll be fun, too. Sally Ehrenfried, our awesome community relations manager who coordinates this effort from the Blackbaud end, promises it will be. She recalled today how, at the end of a long day at the Lowcountry Food Bank last year, a colleague turned to her, covered in mud and sweat, and said with a grin on his face, "This was great. When can we do it again?"
That's what it's all about. Giving back and helping people see the value of staying involved. Thanks to the folks at Trident United Way for making this day happen, to Sally for her work, to our colleagues who are serving, and to the other 5,850 people from the community who are lending a hand to make 9/11 a day to remember - in a positive way.
I'm a little behind the times, I know. But I'm totally ok admitting it.
Although Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits hit the shelves two years ago, I only recently made it a priority to pick up the book. I have no good excuse for why I waited so long to read what The Economist named one of top-10 business books of 2007. Except maybe that I always have way too many books stacked up that I want to read, the curse (or blessing) of growing up in a house where reading was pretty much a full-time activity.
But sometimes reading a book after the initial buzz dies down can be informative, allowing you to ask if it stands the test of time. You might say that two years isn't all that long, but the change we've all seen since 2007 certainly shows that we're living in a dramatically different climate than when this book was released. The introduction speaks to the climate of old, of the "momentous" growth of the sector itself and support in the sector. Of the "unprecedented amount of wealth flowing to charitable organizations from corporate foundations..." and big government being "out, and market-based capitalism" in.
Wait, hold on a minute. That was 2007. So do the six practices of high-impact nonprofits still apply? They sure do. In fact, I'll bet you that the nonprofits really embracing these practices are finding some kind of relief from the current storm. I'm not going to get into the practices, so if you haven't read the book, click here to see what I'm talking about. Better yet, buy a copy and add it to YOUR stack.
Toward the end of the book, there's a wonderful line about greatness. It says, "greatness is about working with and through others...It's about leveraging every sector of society to become a force for good." I really like that and find that, although the authors are talking about nonprofit organizations collaborating with others to drive positive change -- and create real impact -- I also think it applies nicely to how individual people are forces for good.
Throughout the past week, with this theme weaving itself into my thinking, I have interacted with so many of these individual forces. My neighbors, who turned out early on Saturday to help with the Charleston Horticulural Society's community gardening project at South Windermere, community leaders who are engaged in discussion about what will make our local nonprofit community stronger, and individuals like Ruth Jones, who took the time to share with me the good work being done by Social Venture Partners International, and Kendra Stewart, the director of the MPA program at the College of Charleston. Individuals who convey, through their actions, that we can make a difference and create positive change.
So, I have to say I'm glad I finally took the time to read the book. I won't rue the fact that I waited so long. I was certainly in the right frame of mind to embrace what it said and make it a part of my own thinking.
P.S. Next on the list - Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential. If you've read it and have an opinion, let me know.
Like so many of you, I just returned from summer vacation, a trip to the cooler climes with my husband and two kids. In our case, the trip took us to mid-coast Maine where, in the early 1960s, my grandparents built a small cottage on a lake (think On Golden Pond).
To me, Maine is a combination of very basic but wonderful experiences...being at the lake, picking wild blueberries, watching for loons, and having clams every way possible. It's a combination of Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine all wrapped into one.
Although I visited the lake many times as a child, this is second year we have travelled north to spend time with extended family, helped much by my sister's purchase of the cottage next door to the original house. These visits have provided me with an opportunity to share the simple pleasures of life by the lake with my kids, passing on both family traditions and the message that it's important to slow life down for a while.
As one of my friends put it, we were busy "making memories." I like that, and I really value that my boys will return -- again and again -- to a place that is an important part of my family's collective history. A place where memories have to do with the sound of loons and the first taste of lobster.
I'm back at work now, trying to hold on to that feeling of being in Maine while recognizing that summer itself is soon to end. A look at my calendar reminded me that I was due to attend a luncheon meeting today, hosted by Darkness to Light, a national nonprofit based in Charleston that confronts child sexual abuse.
I know, big leap, talking about Maine and blueberries then switching to a nasty, unpleasant topic like child sexual abuse. But, to me, the leap makes sense. Fresh from making wondering memories with my children, I found myself considering the horrific but all-too-prevalent problem of children being preyed on by adults and making the kind of memories that cause a lifetime of damage.
The meeting was a part of Prevent-a-Thon, a month-long program raising awareness about child sexual abuse and offering free prevention training. Anne Lee, the founder, president and CEO of the organization, was the host today, sharing stories, data and vision with us about how to not just tackle but eliminate the problem.
Two things really stuck with me today. First was the 24-minute video where four victims (now adults) shared their stories. It is clear to me that abuse strikes far and wide, across economic and racial barriers, in so many forms that we would prefer not to think about. Second was the fact that there is already a cure that doesn't require expensive investment in laboratory research.
The cure, as you might have guessed, is to prevent the abuse. So Anne and her very capable team are working to spread their message through as many avenues as they can, with passion and belief that each person who is trained will help identify, respond and prevent the children in our community -- in our lives -- from being abused.
I invite you to click this link to learn more. Anne promised that she'll let me know when the video is available on the Darkness to Light website. I'll post a link to it so you can spend 24 minutes sharing in stories that, although deeply sad, are inspiring many to join the prevention effort. We might not be able to make every child's memories as sweet as those my boys have of Maine, but we can move the dial in the right direction.
Doing nothing just isn't an option.
One of the ways I give back to the community is by serving on the board of directors of the SC Governor's School for Science and Math (GSSM).
GSSM is important to the state -- and to Blackbaud -- because it invests in the kids who will one day (soon) lead our workforce. The school is a public, residential program for 11th and 12th graders and boasts amazing results. Just this year, the 56 graduating seniors earned more than $10.5 million in scholarship offers and are headed to an array of schools, including Harvard, Yale, Duke, Emory and Vanderbilt.
But the faculty and staff don't just focus on high schoolers. They also do whatever they can to identify middle schoolers with a passion for math and science, cultivating them early on. Last week, thanks to the generosity of the folks at Google (thanks Eric, Jeff and team!), which has a data center in Goose Creek, SC, the school hosted something called iTEAMS -- or Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship Among Middle Schools.
iTeams was a week-long camp attended by 42 Berkeley County middle school students with an interest in math or science. The students were grouped into teams and given challenges to tackle, culminating in presentations to their fellow students, parents and members of the community during the camp's closing ceremonies.
I had the pleasure of serving on a career panel mid-week -- along with representatives from ATD, Dupont and Alcoa -- sharing the Blackbaud story and helping the campers understand how they might head toward a career at a technology company (maybe even right here on Daniel Island). Then I returned on Friday to share in the capstone presentations. They weren't only good. They were relevant and left me inspired to keep making the kind of change in my own life that I believe in but don't always act upon.
When I walked in the door, a team of kids were up front, presenting on how a family could make the move to a greener lifestyle. I happen to know a decent amount about this topic because my own family is heading in that direction. I'd driven to Monck's Corner that day in our new Prius (which replaced a much larger vehicle that, well, wasn't all that good for the world) and am thoroughly enjoying the produce from the share we purchased in a local farm. For my family, I think this is a good start. But start is the operative word here...there's so much more we can and should do.
The campers -- all of them -- did a great job, channeling their energy and enthusism for learning into actionable proposals. In the process, they reminded me how important it is to live what we believe, to invest our minds in helping the world and making sure our actions follow suit.
Thank you, iTEAMS campers, for the reminder. And congratulations on a terrific week. I hope to see some of you on campus at GSSM in a few years.
Fourteen lucky nonprofits in seven cities and two countries each will be receiving a $500 donation in honor of the volunteer service of a Blackbaud employee.
We call this program "Reward Your Passion" because it allows employees to do just that. They give their time to nonprofits they care about, tell us their story, and become eligible to earn a donation to support the cause. It's very cool, especially because it doesn't matter where an employee lives or volunteers. The program includes everyone, regardless of location.
This quarter, we are making donations to the following groups:
Congratulations to these organizations, and thank you to my colleagues who took the time to give back. It paid off, didn't it?!
I love the people I work with.
I know, I've said this before. But it's true. We have great people. Whether they're located at our HQ in Charleston, one of our many offices throughout the US, one of our overseas operations...or out of their homes...they share a passion for nonprofits and giving back. In my job, I connect with Blackbaud's people based on what they're passionate about in terms of service more than what they do for the company. The variety is incredible, and I am always learning about new things people are doing to drive change, build team spirit...and have fun.
We've had an operation in the United Kingdom, first through a reseller and then officially a Blackbaud office, since the late 1980s. In fact, we actually have two, one office in Glasgow, Scotland, and the other in London. At these offices, like all our others, there's a Team Blackbaud group that coordinates philanthropic efforts and champions our value that service to others makes the world a better place. In addition to being a part of the broader Team Blackbaud Global network and participating in company wide initiatives, each location is free to choose how to focus on philanthropy on a local level. Given that our offices are in different countries with different traditions and cultures, this flexibity is essential.
Victoria Waring in our London office was just in touch to share what the team there is doing to give back. They have taken the approach of adopting or selecting a different nonprofit organization each month. Employees who are interested in getting involved help raise awareness and money for the causes they care about. Here are some examples of what our UK colleagues have done over the past few months:
-
Raised almost
£950 for two organizations,
Action For Children and
Prostate Cancer Care. Kudos to Matt Ravenhill for organizing a team for the football event that Prostate for Cancer hosted. I hear our UK colleagues did a good job of showing off their football skills for a good cause. (By the way, that's soccer to my US colleagues...as in
the Premier League, which just lost
Cristiano Ronaldo to
Real Madrid. With
Kaka joining the team, as well, they're going to be fun to watch!)
-
Hosted Caroline Lee Friday from
London Air Ambulance, who came to the office to talk about the work the organization does. I understand she did a great job conveying her passion for the mission and explaining how they rely on fundraising to keep their vital services going.
-
That's just a snapshot of the fun and rewarding activities taking place at our London office. I know there's more to come and that charities will benefit from the spirit of service my UK-based colleagues embody every day.
"We have to have a mission. We have to have a goal. And we have to have a purpose. If we put our heads and hearts together, we can make a difference."
So said Enid Borden, CEO of the Meals on Wheels Association of America, speaking this morning at Blackbaud's quarterly company meeting. She was our guest today, sharing her thoughts as a customer and as a nonprofit leader trying to work herself "out of a job." To do that, she'd need to eradicate hunger among this nation's seniors. The good news is that she -- and her fine organization -- are doing so much good, serving more than 1 million meals a day. The bad news is, there are about 2 million more people who still go hungry.
The statistics are staggering, so much so that it's clear much work needs to be done before Enid can step back and say she's finished championing this cause, which she so eloquently does. According to data Enid shared, in 2000, there were more than 35 million people in the U.S. who were age 65 or older. Within 30 years, that number will more than double, to 71 million. And the number of people aged 80 and above will also more than double. In addition to seeing healthcare costs, which are much higher for those over 65, soar, we'll also see the number of hungry seniors grow to numbers I can't comprehend...or maybe don't want to.
Depressed? Sad? Horrified? We should be. It's an awful state of affairs, but on the plus side, one that -- as Enid said today -- has a cure. We know what to do, we just need to do it. We can make sure that our neighbors, our grandparents, our community members ("the people who raised us, nourished us, fed us") who aren't as mobile and might not have the support systems they need, get fed. We can also reach out and help the Meals on Wheels Association in our area expand what they do.
If senior hunger isn't the cause that hits you in the gut and makes you say "I have to do something about this," then find something else. Take something on that matters to you...and make a difference.
Enid knows what her mission is...to work herself out of a job. What's yours?
One of the ways I give back to the wonderful industry I work in is to help key organizations develop and deliver educational opportunities for nonprofit professionals. One such organization is the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the AMA Foundation, which has as a part of its mission to help nonprofits better market themselves.
I had the pleasure of serving as the chair of the 2008 AMA Nonprofit Marketing Conference, combining my past life in event marketing with a passion for nonprofits. I got involved because I wanted to do my part to invest in a community made up of people who all worked, in some way, with nonprofit marketing.
This year, I have the honor of serving on the advisory council for the event and following the wise guidance of Cynthia Round, this year's conference chair and the EVP of Brand Leadership for the United Way of America. Working with Cynthia is, well, an honor. There's really no other word for it. She's smart, savvy and knows her stuff, which you'd expect given that she is responsible for the stewardship of the United Way brand around the world.
Cynthia is one of a number of nonprofit marketing visionaries who jumped the fence from the forprofit world (she worked at Proctor & Gamble and Ogilvy & Mather). She and others are devoting time, energy and expertise to bringing valuable content to those interested in developing as marketers within their own organizations.
This year's conference will be in Chicago, a change from years past when it was in Washington, DC. The theme is Thriving in Times of Change and offers content in three areas -- Changing Audience (multi-generational marketing); Changing Channels (interactive marketing and social media); and Changing Economy (doing more with less).
The conference kicks off on July 15th with a session called "Lessons of Victory: How to Make Online Campaigning Work for Your Organization." The speaker is Thomas Gensemer, managing partner of Blue State Digital, the firm that orchestrated President Obama's online marketing and issue advocacy campaign. Other speakers include Joe Green, the founder of Causes (a success story that begin on Facebook) and Jay Aldous, the 2008 AMA Nonprofit Marketer of the Year for his work at the US Fund for UNICEF. Finally, and most importantly, conference attendees will get a chance to put what they are learning into action in some hands-on sessions.
I really enjoy and value the work that is being done to ensure this event is top notch. Under Cynthia's leadership, it's sure to be great. I'll be there and hope to see you there, too.
More Posts
Next page »