Would you blog? What would you blog about? Tech Soup has been chatting up blogging over at Net Squared, and a number of people in the nonprofit community have been pushing blogging as a way of building audience (some links on lwoer right of page). But not everyone is cut out for blogging.
Mom runs two nonprofits--one is a conservancy (Lake Makoma) and one is a fundraiser for the Nazareth Hospital. I think she should start a blog--she uses GiftWorks for tracking donors and Skype for international calls, so why not a blog? The cool thing it's not the tech that prevents her from doing it. It's time and inclination. She's a good writer and can figure out how to do it, but there's more to it.
Think of blogging as a conversation, and that conversation as reality tv, in a sense--the behind the scenes narrative of your nonprofit. Be engaging (not that I am on this blog, but hey, I'm boring).
Why blog? When you build that conversation, your audience grows. As your audience grows, so does support for your mission. Wanna try? I use Typepad here and Blogger over at my own blog. Dave uses DasBlog. They're free--go for it!
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Mary Pat Donnellon has been with Mission Research, the maker of GiftWorks, since its early days, working in every area of the company before becoming CEO in 2009. She now gets to do all the things she loves: leveraging great technology to help nonprofit organizations become better and stronger. Mission Research is a sustainable company; Mary Pat enjoys doing her part by walking or biking to work (most days!). She is also sustained by working with her talented colleagues at Mission Research and the company’s thousands of customers and partners.
After seeing your blog, I brought blogging up to our Board, and didn't get much interest from them. I think it's a great idea, though. It definitely heightened my interest in GiftWorks to see some of the behind-the-scenes thoughts.
Brian Reynolds
said on Jan 5 at 9:39PM
Not everyone is going to get it. I might be something to start informally so you can find your voice, and then show some examples. It's not just another website/pamphlet for your cause--it's a dynamic, living conversation to your supporters. I encourage you to try it for a bit on your own; over time it will become clear how well it can fit in the context of your mission.
Charlie Crystle
said on Jan 6 at 12:05PM
Let's not forget about Word Press as an application.
Ben Donahower
said on Jan 8 at 3:49PM
Funny thing -- I just posted on this topic this morning: http://www.donorpowerblog.com/donor_power_blog/2006/01/how_blogs_can_w.html
I think nonprofits should seriously think about blogging. A blog is a great tool. But consider a few things: It doesn't work directly, the way direct mail does; blogs create conversations, not gifts. And if you can't be totally focused on your audience (donors), don't bother; your blog will be too boring to read!
Jeff Brooks (Donor Power Blog)
said on Jan 11 at 4:16PM
I think it is a great idea for a non-profit to remain connected to their audience (donors and future donors). I created OMLOG at http://www.omlog.org/ for a non-profit eye institution that my father founded in Chennai, India. We are still working out the kinks in the system - much of the news has to come from India but I continue to oversee the quality control aspect of the blog. I would love to hear your thoughts on making it better. The idea of making it "conversational" is important. Too often a blog ends up becoming a glorified newsletter.
I am glad I stumbeld across your blog and software product. I'll let the board know about GiftWorks.
Seshu
said on Jan 30 at 2:04AM