Brian Sooy's Blog, page 9

Three ways to motivate your Board of Directors

Three ways to motivate board members. When there is ambiguity in direction, there is uncertainty in followers. Set a course to follow!

It’s striking when the topic of board engagement comes up in meetings with three different executive directors, and each have the same lament: how do I motivate my board of directors?

Clarify the mission: If the mission isn’t clear, the board won’t know what direction to follow. Work with them to review, refine, and articulate an action-oriented mission that t...

Three Myths of Social Media

Social media is a medium that you can use to share your mission, tell your supporter’s stories, and create a culture of communication.

There is a groundswell of well-intentioned, but unfounded faith in social media as the cure-all for a lack of mission-driven design discipline.

If you believe that social media is a medium that you can use to share your mission, tell your supporter’s stories, and create a culture of communication with the organization, then just do it.

There are four key reason...

Integration makes for better communication

Imagine howdonor engagementmight improve if you understood how intentionally-designed and integrated communication impact the donor experience.

In today’s conversation with a fundraising professional, he expressed his regret that his web site’s content and online donation experience would not encourage donations, but drive away potential donors during a fundraising campaign.

“Our online donation tool is adapted from an commerce system that is used to buy products, not make donations” he commen...

The Tale of Two Gifts

Once upon a time, a giver had a choice between two opportunities for making a charitable gift. It was a choice between two best opportunities.

Once upon a time, a giver had a choice between two opportunities for making a charitable gift.

The first choice was an opportunity to make an unrestricted gift of money to a pool of funds, in response to an appeal from an organization the giver already supported. The giver knew she could simply write a check, and her desire to be generous would be fulfi...

Six Ways to Show Your Volunteers Respect

If your charity or organization works with volunteers, keep these insights in mind, and keep them coming back.

Much attention is paid to donor retention and fundraising. How might your volunteers feel appreciated and valued if you considered them to be time donors?

If your charity or organization works with volunteers (churches, art museums, food banks, hospitals, schools, for starters), keep these insights in mind:

Communication must be a top priority. Volunteers are making time for your cau...

What Inspires Me: The Power of Words

The power of words inspires me. The right words, shared at the right time, give hope and purpose.

The power of words inspires me. The right words, shared at the right time, give hope and purpose. Words create an expectation of reality; anticipation for what is promised, hope for what is to come.

Words help leaders cast vision for the promise of the future. Words give life to ideas. Words and phrases convey the purpose, values, character, and culture of your organization. Words that motivate c...

Social media: Lack of time or lack of courage?

If you believe that social media is a medium that you can use to share your mission, then just do it. Don't be afraid.

I hear again and again from communication professionals that they are afraid of using social media.

The reasons vary:

Lack of staff
Lack of resources
Lack of planning
Lack of direction
Lack of distinct voice
Lack of time.

Is the real issue lack of time, or is it fear? Is it fear of making a mistake? Fear of what to do? What tools to use?

And if it is fear, is it simply lack...

Four Dimensions of Communications and Culture

Four dimensions of communications that have the potential for strengthening the culture of your organization.

At least once a week I have the opportunity to have a conversation with the leader of a mission-driven organization. Our conversations often touch upon four dimensions of communications that have the potential for strengthening the culture of the organization the leader represents: Being strategic, inspirational, relational, and aspirational.

Here’s a summary of some of the points we...

A culture of communication nurtures a culture of innovation

I hesitate to even mention the word nonprofit innovation. It is so quickly applied—when used often enough, it becomes meaningless.

I hesitate to even mention the word innovation. It is so quickly applied—to a mission statement, a description of a program, an approach to program delivery, to social entrepreneurship—when used often enough, it becomes meaningless.

Innovation is a way of thinking. Innovation is not about doing an old thing in a new way, it is about creating a new way to do somethi...

What a difference a year makes

In January 2013, I published 12 Communication Resolutions for 2013, a set of communications principles for mission-driven organizations. Then I wrote a book.

It’s been a remarkable year, and quite a journey.

Aespire is close to 18 months old. With the twentieth anniversary of Sooy+Co. (our private sector design practice) approaching in 2015, our decision to launch a new practice in 2012 for the nonprofit sector was risky.

Over the last 18 months, I’ve had many memorable conversations with peer...