Issue 31: People Are Magical

I get irked when people center nonprofit technology as the magic in the generosity experience.

For anyone who truly knows the beating heart of the nonprofit sector, technology is often the thing keeping the magic from showing itself. Digital confetti has warped the true point of what the generosity experience is supposed to do—connect people with each other.

Think about how you feel when you begin to get comfortable with someone and you can trust them.

Think about when you vibe with someone's interests and feel like you've found a new friend.

Think about knowing you can unwind and not have to hide your true self.

Think about that moment when someone "gets" the vision that you have outlined for the world.

That's magic.

It isn't technology that makes that feeling. It's the people.

This week’s newsletter is action-packed, so let’s get right into it.?

Generosity in Action

The countdown has begun! We are back for the fifth year of Generosity Xchange and I cannot wait to see you at this free virtual conference held on October 16 and 17.?

We are going to be giving away a lot of fun prizes in addition to all the fantastic sessions being planned, so register today for a chance to win a VIP swag box that I co-designed with Olga Moshinsky Woltman, MS .

Tips & Tricks

I’ll be touching on volunteering in my upcoming episode of Generosity Experience Live (reminder for August 22!) and wanted to share some great work from our content team. Here’s an excerpt from a comprehensive guide on volunteer management that the Neon One team put together.?

Finding the right volunteers is super important, but you must follow up by giving them all the tools they need to succeed. That’s where onboarding comes in.

A well-structured onboarding is crucial for setting the stage for a successful volunteer experience. It helps new volunteers understand the organization’s mission, values, and policies and prepares them for their roles.?

Here are 4 elements that your volunteer onboarding should include.

Comprehensive Orientation

A thorough orientation session is your chance to equip new volunteers with all the tools they’ll need to make a big impact. Here’s how to make it count:

• Welcome & Introduction: Start with a warm welcome to make new volunteers feel valued. Introduce them to your nonprofit’s leadership and staff, helping them put faces to names and feel part of the team. Share a brief history of the organization, highlighting key milestones and achievements to foster a sense of pride and belonging.
• Mission & Values: Provide an overview of your nonprofit’s mission, values, and goals, and explain how their volunteer work will contribute. Discuss the impact of the organization’s work in the community, using both individual stories and overall statistics to illustrate the difference volunteers make.
• Policies & Procedures: Explain important policies and procedures, including safety protocols, confidentiality agreements, and attendance requirements. Provide a volunteer handbook that includes all the policies discussed and additional information about the organization.
• Role-Specific Training: Offer training tailored to the specific tasks volunteers will be performing. This may include hands-on training, demonstrations, or instructional videos. Ensure that volunteers have the opportunity to practice their tasks and ask questions to build their confidence and competence.
• Tour of Facilities: Give volunteers a tour of your organization’s facilities (if you have them), including workspaces, restrooms, and emergency exits. Introduce them to key staff members and other volunteers they will be working with to foster a sense of community and teamwork.
• Q&A Session: Allow time for volunteers to ask questions and clarify any uncertainties. This can be done in a group setting or one-on-one, depending on the volunteers’ preferences. Encourage an open dialogue where volunteers feel comfortable voicing their concerns or seeking further information.

A well-structured orientation imparts necessary information and makes volunteers feel like they are part of a supportive community from day one.

Data Dive

I listen any time Woodrow Rosenbaum and Julia Campbell team up. Please make time to listen to this new Nonprofit Nation Podcast, where these two dynamos unpack what’s holding nonprofits back from truly stepping into a world of abundance.?

Community Spotlight

Truly listening as a tech company can be challenging. We have to wade through tens of thousands of feedback points through emails, NPS scores from the product, or our Suggestions Portal.

Yet, there’s something very powerful about unplugging and just getting a group of people together. Through an initiative led by Anna V. , we convene a Strategic Advisory Council every few months whose focus isn’t to talk about our products but to talk through Big Questions that plague our entire sector.

This can touch on the role of texting in operations, professional development opportunities, or examining deeply issues like Donor Advised Funds.?

This group is made up of nonprofit leaders who represent different perspectives from around the sector. This week was the first time we were able to gather everyone together—and they let me bring everyone together in the Adirondacks!

I want to thank Anna, Daniel Woodcock , Laura Woods, MBA , Liz Thomas , Michael J. Buckley, CFRE , Matt Guardabascio , Lindsey Jakiel Diulus, PhD, CFRE , and Rachel D'Souza for trusting me with your first official gathering and I know that the conversations had the past few days will have a ripple effect in helping us truly serve the needs of nonprofits.?

Upcoming Events

I already covered Generosity Xchange, but we’re also excited to present at next week’s Nonprofit Marketing Summit, which our partners at Community Boost are hosting.?

Check out Abby Jarvis ’s session on monthly donors and GivingTuesday on August 20 at 4pm ET. You can register for the entire conference here .

Brandfluence 2024 August 21, 2024 | 12:00 PM ET

Join us for the first of its kind one-day summit designed exclusively for nonprofits and social impact businesses. Empower your brand to raise more money and drive more meaningful change in your communities. Thrilled to be working with Taylor Shanklin on this one.

Register

Building One Team: Community Ambassador Program Design August 23, 2024 | 1 PM ET

Join me for our interactive live coaching workshop designed to educate nonprofits on building a successful Community Ambassador Program. Learn how to attract, recruit, and assess highly engaged volunteers who will passionately advocate for your mission and help unify your team of supporters, staff, and technology.

Register

Monthly Giving Summit September 5-6, 2024? 1:00 PM ET

Join Dana Snyder as she puts on THE virtual event experience dedicated to helping nonprofits build subscriptions for good. Thrilled to be working with Dana Snyder for this one.

Register

Final Thoughts

There is power in gathering together, listening, and engaging without any other pressure than figuring out your thoughts on a topic. Technology's biggest opportunity is to allow this type of thinking, yet we have often prioritized the right things when it comes to tech.

It can be tough to prioritize big-picture thinking, so I’m so grateful to Neon One for allowing me to allow nonprofit leaders to do so in a place that is deeply special to me.?

I hope we can continue to take the lessons learned in HOW and WHY gatherings, such as the Strategic Advisory Council, which must exist to build an equitable and thriving nonprofit technology company that truly serves the needs of nonprofits, especially the small to midsize ones.?

The reality is that many smaller nonprofits, in particular, are struggling to find their way when it comes to technology. The vast majority of nonprofit technology is either built incorrectly to actually address the core problems we have (cough, cough, digitizing payments isn’t going to be enough) or has stripped out the things that allow people to truly build an identity-centric strategy in building a community of generosity.

These things take time; perhaps taking our time actually to listen is what we truly need.

Till next week.?

Puzzle of the Week

Do your Neon One ADK Hunt! This was drawn by my oldest daughter, my entire family got involved to make this trip as comfortable as possible.?