The Nonprofits That Rule Social Media & The Web

posted by
Craig Van Korlaar,
Consultant and Project Manager
Create Etc.

A while back, you might remember seeing a beautiful infographic about the social media practices of the top 50 nonprofits. When I first came across it, I was really excited. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that these were not ranked in terms of social media use, but rather based on net income. This is absolutely a valuable metric, but I was curious how this data might vary if the list was based on organizations with the strongest social media presence...the ones we stand to learn the most from.

When I could not find up to date lists containing this type of information, I figured the first step would be to gather it myself. Here is a taste of five different lists I have built over the past few months. For a legend explaining how the rankings are computed, scroll down past the lists.

Top 10 Organizations in Terms of Facebook Likes

1. Invisible Children (Shot from 26th to 1st in under 2 weeks after release of the Kony 2012 video)
2. National Public Radio
3. WikiLeaks
4. TEDTalks
5. United States Olympic Committee
6. UNICEF
7. Livestrong
8. PETA
9. (RED)
10. Humane Society of the United States

View all 50 top nonprofits on Facebook (including logos & like buttons)  

Research Friday: Paying Volunteers A Stipend: Does It Work?

posted by
Carlton Yoshioka, Ph.D.,
Professor and Director
of Academic Programs
ASU Lodestar Center

Welcome to Research Friday! As part of a continuing weekly series, each Friday we invite a nonprofit scholar, student, or professional to highlight current research reports or studies and discuss how they can inform and improve day-to-day nonprofit practice.

Most researchers agree that low-income earners volunteer less (Wilson, 2012) and Pho (2008) extended this finding to include medium-wage earners. A related research question is the impact or positive incentive of volunteer stipends among low-wage earners (McBride, Gonzales, Morrow-Howell, & McCrary, 2011). Does the incentive of monetary support influence how people allocate their altruistic desires to help others? Is there a positive result for organizations that provide stipends for volunteers?

In March of this year, The Virginia G. Piper Trust funded an expansion of the Encore Fellowships program that originated in California. Experience Matters is a nonprofit organization that capitalizes on the time and talent of older adults (age 50+), who are seeking paid or unpaid positions that apply their skills to social purposes. According to Nora Hannah, CEO of Experience Matters, the Piper Trust support will allow Experience Matters to place adult volunteers with nonprofit organizations that are typically unable to afford this level of talent.

How To Rekindle The Passion You Once Had For Your Job

posted by
Mary Kaech, 
Project Assistant and Writer, 
 at Food for the Hungry

Working in the fundraising office of an international nonprofit can sometimes be a bit of a soul-killing experience. "The field" is hundreds or thousands of miles away, and it's hard for me to see that I’m "making a difference" when sitting behind a computer all day. This is why I’m grateful for our office volunteers.

For one thing, they’re just fun. We have volunteers of all ages, races, and walks of life. We have home-schooled kids and recovering addicts. Peter: a former mechanic who rarely smiles but keeps coming back, week after week, and Lorraine: a well-dressed socialite who buys every employee in our department a present on her birthday. I love getting to know them personally while hosting them in our office, and their attitudes remind me that my job is a privilege.

Volunteers walk in the door exuding that bushy-tailed enthusiasm I had as an intern. They’re sacrificial, hard-working, and grateful for the chance to serve. To the cause of fighting extreme poverty, they freely give their time— time they cannot get back— and to me, they give encouragement and the occasional kick in the pants. Their service reminds me that beyond just being thankful for my paycheck (so many of our volunteers are unemployed), I should be thankful to work in a place that allows me to exercise my beliefs and help others improve their circumstances— even if I may never meet those people.

If you need a reminder that your job is a gift and a responsibility, find yourself a volunteer or two. Shouldn’t we all work for our various causes with the ardor of those who are willing to work for free?

Mary Kaech is a native Arizonan who longs to see oppressed, marginalized people reach their full potential. She works full-time at an international nonprofit and loves volunteering with some of Phoenix’s 10,000+ refugees. In her spare time, she hangs out with her husband and friends, often feasting on wings and beer.

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Like this article? Get another! Click here to read Laura L. Bush's "Reflections of a Nonprofit Heart"

Research Friday: Generosity Expanded: The Impact!

posted by
Pat Lewis,
Senior Professional
in Residence
ASU Lodestar Center

Welcome to Research Friday! As part of a continuing weekly series, each Friday we invite a nonprofit scholar, student, or professional to highlight current research reports or studies and discuss how they can inform and improve day-to-day nonprofit practice.

Each year, through the publication of Giving USA, we learn about the generosity of Americans. In 2010, we gave nearly $300 billion in support of a wide variety of charitable causes—3.8 percent increase over the prior year. Almost all of this was given to causes within the United States. However, the 5 percent given to international causes reflected a 15.3 percent increase over the prior year, and was the largest percentage of growth among recipient areas. This level of increased global philanthropy is worth a further look. The Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Prosperity recently published its Annual Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances for 2010 and reported “financial flows to the developing world from the United States increased notably in 2010 to $326.4 billion from $226.2 billion in 2009,”¹ largely due to the improved economy. This support consists of four sources: U.S. government aid, capital investment, philanthropy and remittances. Accompanying the Annual Index is an Executive Summary. Both papers serve as resources for this blog post, which touches on only a few aspects of this global generosity. Data such as that presented in this annual study is important to track as we learn of the impact of investments such as these.

Is Cause Marketing Real Advocacy or Consumer Apathy at its Finest?

posted by
Audra Buras, 
Grants and Outreach Specialist, 
 Program for Torture Victims

In the world of nonprofit sponsorship, it’s no secret that cause marketing has rapidly become the most popular method for nonprofits and businesses to simultaneously make money. A lot of money.

According to a recent study, 90% of Americans want companies to tell them the ways they are supporting causes. And 83% of these consumers say that they wish brands would support causes.

Arguably, cause marketing is becoming something of a social movement.

I have seen my fair share of nonprofit marketing: the good, the bad, and the outrageous. My nonprofit experience runs the gamut from granting sick kid’s wishes, to helping torture survivors from around the world and even fundraising for first-class symphony orchestras. (Some days I question whether or not I might be a nonprofit junkie. All signs point to yes.)

The Nonprofit Publisher’s Perfect Storm

posted by
Ryan Johnson, 
Vice President, 
Publishing and Community
 for WorldatWork

I really hesitate to use the phrase “perfect storm” here, because it has become so over-used since the movie of the same name was released more than a decade ago. Nonetheless, I think it is descriptive for what nonprofit publishers, like me, have experienced recently. But I’m a first time blogger here, so before I invoke that well-worn (but apt!) cliché, I think some context is in order.

My job title indicates that I am responsible for publishing and community at a Scottsdale-headquartered nonprofit profession association. In case you haven’t heard of WorldatWork, we have more than 20,000 members and annual revenues of around $20 million. Although, we serve members around the world, our average member works in the human resources department of a large company (5,000+ employees) in North America. My guess is that we are larger than the average Arizona nonprofit, in both employees and revenue, but if part of your organizational mission is to deliver information, content or education, this story may resonate.

Research Friday: Research and Policy Briefs

posted by
Ahmad Naboulsi,
Master's Student of
Public Administration

Welcome to Research Friday! As part of a continuing weekly series, each Friday we invite a nonprofit scholar, student, or professional to highlight current research reports or studies and discuss how they can inform and improve day-to-day nonprofit practice.

Public funding for social programs is in a state of uncertainty due to our country's economic strain. While government-run programs are in direct risk of losing funding, nonprofit funding is precariously reliant on both a legislature driven to increase federal revenue, and philanthropists who expect tax relief for donating to charities. One proposed solution to increase federal revenue is to reduce the charitable deduction for high-income philanthropists. Many philanthropists and scholars oppose this idea, citing concerns about lower overall giving.

This policy brief examines how a charitable deduction cap of 28% of for high-income earners will affect philanthropic giving in the context of upcoming policy changes, current donor demographics, and the breadth and scope of nonprofit services.

Ahmad is currently pursuing a master's degree Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration at ASU's School of Public Affairs. He received his bachelor's degree in Social Relations and Policy from the James Madison College of Public Affairs at Michigan State University.

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Like this article? Get another! Click here to read Pat Lewis's "Research Friday: Financial literacy: understanding money for today’s activities and tomorrow’s security."