A Mouse is Living in My Car

Yes, you read that correctly. A mouse has taken up residence in my glove compartment. I became suspicious after finding shredded Kleenex and napkins lodged there. And although there is no other evidence in the car- nothing running around my feet or nibbling on my lunch- I'm pretty convinced I've had a roommate traveling with me.

So, here's how I picture it. The car is parked outside our home which is located in an isolated wooded area in northern Michigan. The cat, who is queen of everything outside, chased the mouse under the car. In a desperate survival move, the mouse darted up and into my dashboard and voila-- located a perfect, cozy little hideout.

Continuing the story, my mouse becomes an unwitting traveling companion as I hop in and head off, traveling around northern Michigan. In search of food, the mouse ventures out of the car at one of my stops, perhaps at a nonprofit organization in Charlevoix or Suttons Bay, and is left behind; many miles from my home (and his) in Manistee County. He has no clue how he got there or how to get back.

So, why does the mouse in my car remind me of a nonprofit organization? Well, how often have we bolted into a seemingly safe haven in a desperate survival move? Perhaps, agreed to a partnership or funding requirement that truly took us to places we hadn't anticipated or weren't prepared for. Or developed a poorly conceived strategic plan that is more wishful thinking then decisive strategy. How often have we had no clue how to retrace our steps or get back home?

What's the lesson? These are desperate times for many nonprofits. Before dodging into what appears to be a safe haven, it's essential to do your due diligence. Evaluate and plan for that partnership. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of that innovative revenue opportunity. Don't jump into that moving car without a GPS and road map.

You'll find partnership and grant opportunity evaluation tools, as well as business planning and strategic planning tools in the NorthSky Online Resource Center at: www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org

Make sure the next journey you take as a nonprofit is one you planned.

Stand-out Year End Appeals are Harder than Ever

The fall is rapidly fading into early winter and we're making plans for the holidays, kicking us into the high season of fundraising. The economy is still sluggish (and in serious decline in many areas), placing the success of our fundraising activities at risk. Many nonprofits generate more than 50% of their fundraising revenue in the last quarter of the year. What to do? Now, more than ever, it's essential that we adhere to pristine fundraising methods and don't forget the basics.

Those year-end appeals must make a compelling case for support and demonstrate to prospective donors that your organization is professional and worthy of support. And they must accomplish all of this in one page or less. That means a glance at your letter must pull the reader in with a "hook" and hold the reader with an attractive, easy-to-read layout. Your hook might be an invocative first sentence, a quote, or client success story. Don't forget the basics: perfect spelling, grammar, an easy-to-use response card, and accurate mailing list. These elements are far more important than a slick or clever design. To seal the deal, include a signature or note from someone the reader knows-- a board member or volunteer is ideal.

You'll find some great suggestions for conducting a successful direct mail campaign at the Capital Ventures website.
http://www.cvfundraising.com/resources/tip_sheets/direct_mail
http://www.cvfundraising.com/resources/tip_sheets/direct_mail_2

Or join us at the November 18 NorthSky Break for Lunch session, "Developing a Compelling Case Statement," with fundraising expert, Lyn Jenks. You'll find the details at www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org