Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nonprofits and Businesses Partner for “Love Local” Window Decorating Contest

Winners announced!

Symphony Above the Clouds and Rhapsody Bar are the People’s Choice Winners!! $50 donation to the Symphony Guild from SOAR. (Total votes: 65) They added 34 votes during the Sidewalk Sale coordinated by Main Street on September 19, 2020!

The Runner Up for People’s Choice ALSO had a table at their window location during Main Street’s Sidewalk Sale. Congratulations Friends of Mueller State Park and GearLab! $35 donation to the Friends of Mueller State Park from SOAR. (Total votes: 56)

Honorable Mention Winner is the Woodland Park Junior Wrestling Club because of their creative window painting at Jackalope. $35 donation to the Woodland Park Junior Wrestling Club from SOAR!

We appreciate all participants: Cowhand, Teller Senior Coalition, Help the Needy, Alpine Firearms, AARF, Mountain View Yogurt Plus, Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County, and Habitat for Humanity of Teller County

Three men join forces to lift the words Stronger Together

Do You SOAR? Time to do a SELFIE and see!

Time for a self check to see if you SOAR. Do you…

S – share your message

O – offer opportunities for people to be involved in your mission

A – accept the way people participate

R – respect and appreciate everyone involved

SURE – I bet you already SOAR. The depth of how often and how much you SOAR is the determining factor when improving your current status.

SOAR in the airstream – 33,000 feet

SOAR at Ground level

To SOAR you have to begin at the ground level before you can take flight. SOAR with Network Fundraising is a book that brings networking into the program to grow market share and raise money. The ground level is based on getting help to fulfill your mission. There’s a way to engage volunteers and build your network.

Establish your fundraising team and begin to host monthly meetings. Determine how you’re going to raise money and what kind of resources you already have and what you’ll need. It is important to include your fundraising team in decision-making and let them take roles.

Elevation to the airstream happens when the team you have is able to fly on their own. This is when you are able to relax, watch, mentor, and make important decisions while your team is motivated to create success for your organization’s mission.

getting into the Airstream

There are ways to get to the airstream rapidly. SOAR at ground level is one way. The reference of birds flying in a v-formation to get from one place to another efficiently is an example. Birds fly in a V because the leader creates an updraft and following behind is easier. Gayle Gross of SOAR with Network Fundraising trains you on leading your team toward successful fundraising. SHE creates the updraft for you and in the end, you create the same kind of updraft for your team. Organizations who SOAR migrate to the place where their organization benefits most. It’s the place of higher resources and lesser resistance.

Do you already have a fundraising program? Add the credits you’ve already earned because of the things you already do in your program – click here!

Engage business partners when fundraising to get the best results

Email iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org OR, schedule a call to get your fundraising questions about SOAR answered.

Build fundraising into the framework of engagement for local businesses.

  • Meetings and activities for SOAR’s Co-Op happen within brick and mortar business locations to promote developing partnerships and potential sales/service
  • In-kind donation opportunities by a business help to offset the frequent “ask” for donations, which is a common complaint contributing to donor fatigue

Use it as a platform to develop a model for giving back

  • SOAR’s Co-Op increases communication, which promotes being on the same page as well as resolving conflicts
  • The Co-Op becomes a central donation/distribution hub when the right parameters are in place. This relieves businesses from constantly being asked and potentially feeling that if they do not comply they will lose business
  • Communities thrive when people give back in meaningful ways. Meaningful depends on knowing each other’s likes and dislikes and caring enough to always make it a positive experience.

Offer the program as a marketing opportunity

  • Trainings and networking events are built into the program, which promote the development of professional relationships
  • People have an opportunity to “be the trainer” and at the same time promote their business. This is when getting to know the business owner or who they have working in their shop truly makes a difference. Someone operating a cash register may have previous experience in event planning. They can be the experts in the field when it comes to training nonprofits on the topic at Co-Op meetings. It’s shining the spotlight on talents and creating goodwill at the same time

Added Bonus!

  • The fee to participate in the Nonprofit Cooperative is adjustable. The total left over at the end of the year is equal to a fundraiser.

The participation fee does not raise a lot of money although there are ways to expand upon the model to make fundraising more affective. For example:

  • Events have sponsors
  • Activities and increased sales at Main Street business locations develop into positive stories. Use these when writing grant requests

SOAR works with organizations to implement the Nonprofit Cooperative

  • SOAR shares the message of how the Co-Op benefits an organization’s mission
  • An organization chooses to develop a Nonprofit Cooperative in their community, which adds a longer philanthropic arm to their mission
  • SOAR analyzes the potential for success through discovery with key stakeholders and additional research. A proposal is presented when a better than average rating is achieved.
  • A partnership develops between SOAR and the organization, which normally lasts through the implementation phase or up to one year

Creating Positive Experiences

A positive experience begins with the right intent – an opportunity to offer something meaningful to another person. Only 4% of people voice their complaints to you about something you’ve done. Are they voicing their dismay to others? You bet. Begin by recognizing how you feel. If there’s any feeling you have that maybe, just maybe, you offered bad service to someone or said something, which may have been taken the wrong way? The first step is to ask, “Is everything alright? Is there anything I can do to make things better?” If the person says, “Everything is fine.” You have to take their word for it and then, create positive experiences. It takes 12 positive experiences to delete one negative.

Positive experiences to think about:

  • Asking “Is everything alright? Is there anything I can do to make things better?”
  • Sending a personal note letting the person know you value your relationship with them
  • Add a benefit for them related to what they value. A person with a business would like to know you sent someone their way
  • Invite the person out for coffee or lunch to get to know them better
  • Ask this person to share their expertise by offering an opportunity to do so
  • Communicate openly
  • Show appreciation
  • Make interactions simple and easy
  • Understand expectations and then go above and beyond
  • Recognize efforts they make
  • Listen and acknowledge their ideas
  • Watch your body language during interactions to make sure you’re open and friendly
  • Always say something positive to this person
  • Add this person’s name into conversation with them
  • Draw attention to personal connections
  • Tell this person a “secret” so they know you better
  • Be as transparent as possible
  • Remain caring, professional and polite
  • Be yourself
  • End conversations in a polite way: have a good day, have a nice night, see you soon, talk to you later…
  • Be positive and create positive feelings
  • Invite this person to join a club, experience, event
  • Anticipate and be attentive
  • Find an emotional connection – a common bond
  • Empathize

Customer service has reached a new level, and in fact, has entered into the realm of being more personal. Our lives have become much more of an open book because of social media. Maintaining positive relationships are most-important for keeping your life in tune, on a positive note, so to speak.

Email iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org OR, schedule a call to get your questions answered about how to create positive experiences in your community.

Taking it Easy on Donors

Donors have a giving heart. They are asked more often than not to consider giving. Ask a donor, “What can I do for you?” and they will probably sidestep the conversation. It’s not something they’re comfortable discussing. It’s not supposed to be about them in their mind because it’s about others.

Understanding how a donor feels is important. You show a quality mindset when you take time to understand their intent and then provide opportunities for them to benefit. It is a nice way to “give back.” These six powerful words, “what can I do for you,” have the ability to transform a situation. It’s a way to shift the discussion and put the energy back on making someone else happy. In this case, it is your donor.

Consider this – more than half of all people who visit a nonprofit’s website do so from a mobile device according to Mobilecause.com. This is an old statistic so the numbers are much higher now. What does your website look like on a mobile platform? Check it out on your phone and make sure it is user-friendly. Is there a donor button? It’s not just about having a “donate now” button because a “donor” button is more about the emotional component of why they give. A donor button is about telling your story, and also about sharing with donors the benefit of why giving to your organization is important. The button explains what’s in it for them? This is that uncomfortable situation again. But, it’s true. What’s in it for them? They can feel good about giving to a cause and get a spiritual kudo just about anywhere. They can get a tax benefit for specific kinds of donations. Sure, this works. But, they can also GIVE to any organization to get the same rewards. Why would they give to yours?

Setting yourself up for success begins on the backend. It’s your opportunity to set the stage first. Begin by doing this:

  • Check your mobile platform for your website’s format and message. This is the the way most people are seeing you. Connect with your website designer as necessary to update for mobile changes
  • Be up to date on social media, other online sites, and with phone messaging systems. Call yourself and your answering system through the office. What message do you hear? Do you have recent posts on social media and on your website? It takes time and is often put on the bottom of the list. Dedicating a couple of hours each week to this process, or finding a volunteer to do it, makes the world of difference in the end
  • Make a list of the ways you’re giving back to donors and add to the list while remembering, each donor is different and it takes some time to discover the intricacies of what’s most important to them. This is about taking the time for discovery and then taking the time to establish a plan to let your donor know they are your most important asset.

The people you serve are most important to your mission. The people who help you serve are your greatest asset. An asset is the people volunteering, working for you, or those who provide a means for your service. A donor, a sponsor, or a foundation provide the means by giving money for your mission to continue. Taking it easy on donors is key to your success.

For additional information on coaching through the fundraising process – connect with SOAR with Network Fundraising. The programs are cost-effective and focused on your mission. There’s not a cookie-cutter approach to taking it easy on donors, providing the right message or opportunities to be involved, and engaging the public. Each situation is different. SOAR coaching offers the training and then the follow up. The Leader’s Program creates sustainability through a year-long program. Click Here!

Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

Over the TOP Fundraising Team

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coloraful V of peopleDon’t go alone! How long have we been preaching this to our kids. “Partner up!” It’s that simple.

The V-formation develops and runs your fundraiser successfully. What in the world!? A V-formation is a group of birds, flying in a flock, to get to where they want to go. That’s not me!

Are you sure? Wouldn’t you get further if you led a V-formation (Volunteer Formation)? It’s about managing your time effectively. WE ARE ALL TOO BUSY. Of course, we are. We don’t have time to hover over the nest. There are bigger and better things for fund raisers to be doing. Like…meeting new people and developing relationships.

We recommend building your V-formation first: Assigning roles and managing the process. BE THE LEADER!

SOAR helps people develop roles and manage processes.

V-formation is Everyone who…

  • Shares the cause and tells the story of how they are connected to your mission
  • Engages donors and sponsors (increases donations and lower costs)
  • Answers the following question with yes – “will this decision help us raise more money for our cause?”  If the answer is no, spending time on that item is avoided

Sample Roles for your team

1. Event Coordinator

2. Marketing Collaborator

3. Hospitality Chief

Building a strong V-formation depends on communication. There are lots of ways we communicate. People do have preferences. Figure them out!

Learn more about SOAR’s Annual Coaching Program by clicking here.

Wondering about the “800?” Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

The Business to do it First in a Community WINS!

Step one: One person decides they want to spearhead the cause marketing program in their community and they are backed by their company to explore the ROI. It’s a perfect opportunity for a community relations person in a marketing department. It’s the way to develop a lasting, sustainable way to improve business, and it comes out of the goodness of your heart! It’s people to people marketing, relationship development, at its best.

SOAR opens doors for a new business owner to expand their market.

Look at this great list of perks you get when you choose to develop a nonprofit cooperative:

  • You are the only one being trained by SOAR in your county to implement the cooperative (as long as you remain in the program)
  • SOAR backs the program with 100% positive results for growing market share
  • You’re introduced to a philanthropic tool to market a business (cause marketing)
  • You learn a proven method to grow your market and achieve success
  • There are opportunities to create social impact
  • You’re guided to establish your role as the “Community Connector”
  • You become spotlighted as a prominent organization in the community because you’re giving in a sustainable way to a vulnerable segment of society
  • A reflection of change is prepared, through monthly progress reports, for the leaders of your company

Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

We help you:

  • Establish communications within your community for the cooperative
  • Put together an effective growth plan

WHY A NONPROFIT COOPERATIVE?

Small communities (county population under 30,000) have put together nonprofit cooperatives to enhance individual success through group success. It’s the philosophy of giving back in order to move forward. Gayle Gross, founder and CEO of SOAR with Network Fundraising, lives by this philosophy. She gives nonprofits in small communities an opportunity to create their own success by developing a cooperative program. This program is usually spearheaded by a business hoping to create social impact by becoming the “community connector.”

BENEFITS OF A NONPROFIT COOPERATIVE

The Nonprofit Cooperative relieves donor fatigue. People get tired of being asked over and over again for money. Imagine – you are the business, which relieves this stress for other people in town. They will admire your effort. You become a hero in their eyes. Your business becomes the one people frequent and refer people to.

Donor fatigue happens a lot in small communities. It’s where the ratio of nonprofits to potential donors is lopsided. It is quickly apparent, the Nonprofit Cooperative lessens burnout for fundraising professionals. There’s an immediate support system among peers, nonprofit events cease to overlap, and people in the community begin to see the benefit of their unity. Organizations gain credibility. Marketing is often done together and this helps to reduce costs for the nonprofits who do not have expendable income.

WHO BENEFITS MOST IN A COMMUNITY?

Everyone!

  • For-profit businesses have the opportunity to spearhead the program and they get in touch with nonprofits in the community. All nonprofits have their network of followers. The for-profit also becomes the “community connector” in their area, which is a powerful marketing tool
  • Nonprofits learn how to collaborate effectively to increase their bottom line. There’s greater awareness and opportunities
  • The community is relieved of donor fatigue

WHY LISTEN TO SOAR’S FOUNDER AND GET INVOLVED?

Why listen to Gayle? It’s in your best interest if you want to grow market share and make money. There’s proven success 100% of the time. It pays to know where your money is going and if it will have the most impact. Follow her plan and it is guaranteed to grow beyond your expectations.

Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

Nonprofits Collaborate in Teller County, Colorado To Create Impact

The Nonprofit Cooperative in Teller County, Colorado is a project of SOAR with Network Fundraising. Organizations represented at the meeting on January 8 were:

  • Mountain Top Cycling Club
  • Teller County Farmer’s Market Association
  • Woodland Park Farmer’s Market
  • Woodland Park Main Street
  • Colorado Phoenix Project
  • Junior Achievement of Teller County
  • Pikes Peak Rotary Club
  • Lighter Side of Christmas Parade
  • Woodland Park Wind Symphony
  • Teller Safe Harbor
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Friends of Mueller State Park
  • UC Health
  • Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds
  • Pikes Peak Historical Society
  • DayBreak – An Adult Day Program
  • Pikes Peak Lions Club
  • Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church

Helping nonprofits develop into a collaborative effort is what SOAR is doing in Teller County. Organizations work together and create impact for their community through economic vitality. As a result of the meeting on January 8th, TCRAS changed the date of a fundraiser they have because it overlapped with something Habitat was doing on the same day.

Participants of the cooperative effort receive training on how to be impactful. It’s not a membership organization, it’s people who choose to work together for the better good of the organizations they represent.

Cooperative means everyone gets a vote, decisions are made as a group, and there’s greater potential for success while everyone works in tandem. Do you want to learn more about bringing this project to your small community? It increases exposure, opportunities, and market share (fundraising). Set up time to learn more about the program and how to be a participant. Email: iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com

Moving forward, an organization in the cooperative of Teller County has 23 opportunities to market their program. This includes attending trainings, collaborative networking events, participating in together-marketing campaigns, and attending happy hours.

The goal is to make SOAR’s project available in communities with less than 30,000 people. Be part of the movement and connect today.

Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

Event Planning, Marketing and Fundraising Through Events

Event Planning

Start with the idea and a simple plan. This is what you present to the people who will help you implement the idea.

  • Idea and simple plan (what, when, how, cost). Make sure to check the community calendar to make sure there’s no overlap with another event
  • Present to the people who will help to implement (include time commitment, role, and what’s in it for them). This is usually your board and/or volunteer team

Prepare to “give back” in a way that’s meaningful to the individuals helping you. It is important to know what this is before you ever ask anyone to do something for you.

Events are most-successful when the person leading the charge is not bogged down in the details. The “leader” becomes the person managing relationships and conducting follow up amongst the team.

Marketing An Event

  • Reserve marquees & sign space
  • Add to Community Calendars
  • Create social media posts and ask people to help by sharing (peer to peer)
  • Determine where you want to distribute advertisements (poster, banners, fliers) to determine quantity
  • Design and print marketing materials at least one month in advance and distribute (Have a catchy title and KNOW why people want to attend – make sure they understand WHY!! Make it personal)
  • Personal invitations to key stakeholders at least three weeks out (call is best) explaining the benefit to them for coming to your event. This could be a marketing initiative for them. They may get recognized. Your team can come up with a “script” and sit down to make calls together. This makes it fun
  • Keep a running list of people coming and provide a follow up message or call a few days before the event

Fundraising Through Events

  • Get to know the people attending your event
  • Have a volunteer with you, assisting with keeping track of the people you (leader) speak with. Write down suggested follow up, which is meaningful to an individual
  • Collect contact information from people who attend, a drawing can help if there’s no registration process
  • Develop a cultivation plan for deepening relationships with the people you meet (Thank you mailed, follow up email with something of interest for them, invitation to join organization’s Facebook page. These are all a good start!)
  • At your event, have information about the NEXT event/activity people can attend. It’s important to always have something coming up to invite people to. This can be a collaboration with another organization if you want. Think about who you’d like to partner with

Follow up is ongoing once a person becomes a donor.

Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

Help a Donor Choose your Cause

Details below are given to businesses in order to help them choose a cause for their donation.

Excerpt from blog by Abby Quillen.

With more than 1 million non-profit foundations and charities in the U.S., it may be daunting to decide on a cause to support. Paradoxically, the more choices available, the harder it is to make a decision and act. Use these tips to find a cause that fits your company and gets results.

  • Find a charity that aligns with your company’s values
    What does your business do? What is your mission? If you’re in food service, for instance, maybe you’ll reach out to a non-profit focused on urban food insecurity or recycling. Or if you’re in the financial sector, you could look at one of the many nonprofits devoted to increasing financial literacy. Finding a charity that aligns with your company’s values is a great place to start.
  • Focus on impact
    Do you want to help women start small businesses, communities rebuild after disasters, children learn to read, or needy families have access to nutritious food? Visit a charity evaluator website, such as GiveWell, the Open Philanthropy Project, or the Foundational Research Institute, to compare the costs and effects of different interventions.
  • Do your research
    Before you commit to a cause, make sure it’s legitimate by checking a charity watchdog site such as CharityWatch, Charity Navigator, or BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Ideally, a charity should spend a majority of its funds on programs, not fundraising or administration.
  • Pay a visit
    By partnering with a local non-profit, you can help people in your local community and make it a better place to live. You’ll also have opportunities to sponsor team volunteer work days or local charity events. Before you partner with an organization, visit and observe their work first-hand.
  • Verify tax-exempt status
    Donations that meet certain requirements are tax-deductible. Before you commit to a cause, verify the non-profit group’s tax-exempt status by checking with the group or visiting the IRS website, and talk to your tax expert.

IMG_3399Gayle Gross developed a way for people to SOAR. Very valuable information is shared above, which is an the excerpt from the full article linked here at Zerocater.  Aligning a non-profit with a business to create social impact is paramount for today’s cause marketing approach. Gayle knows this and works with organizations to determine the best way to move forward in developing collaborative networking. There’s a program she helps organizations implement. It is the Nonprofit Cooperative. Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org