Issue 39: Experience Generosity
Tim Sarrantonio
Generosity Experience Design | Empowering nonprofits to build a community of generosity
I’ll be honest, folks, some days, I get bummed out working in the nonprofit technology sector. Since it is ultimately a business, there are some barriers to overcome both internally and especially externally when it comes to putting people before money.?
I was recently speaking to someone in a similar position as me at another nonprofit CRM, and they were mentioning just how “heavy” things have felt and that as they get more integrated into the business, it also means getting pulled away from the purpose.?
Felt!?
That’s why Generosity Xchange was so powerful last week. Seeing our entire 200+ person company support the event and over 2,100 people register was a breath of fresh air. But honestly, it was the in-person experience that I had with Ben Williams at the Connect Center in Cohoes, NY, that really made it for me.?
Without the platform that Neon One provides, the backing of our leadership, the hard work of our marketing team, the support of our employees in other departments, and the broader nonprofit community finding VALUE in what we're doing, it wouldn't be anything other than an idea.
I will break down what you may have missed in the past week from us here at Neon One.?
Generosity in Action
Generosity Xchange happened, and it was awesome! Here’s a bit of a breakdown of the event by the numbers:
There is still time not only to register but win! There’s an opportunity to record a takeaway video right within the area where the recordings are and you’ll have a chance to win a fancy Staples gamer chair (the same comfortable one I use!)
Tips & Tricks
One of the big announcements coming out of Generosity Xchange was our partnership with Chariot, the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving. We had a great and energetic session with Mitch Stein , Nolan Martin , and Anna V. and I wanted to share a helpful article with you from their team that dives into DAF giving.
Here’s an excerpt from it; the whole article is here .
What Is a Donor Advised Fund?
A donor-advised fund, or a DAF, is a tax-advantaged financial account for charitable giving. These accounts allow donors to contribute assets, receive immediate tax deductions, and then recommend grants to 501(c)(3) organizations.?
Opening a DAF is like having your own personal foundation. Donor-advised funds allow donors to set aside funds for charity now and maintain flexibility in deciding when they want to give to their favorite charities over time.
The assets can be invested and grow tax-free, similar to an HSA or 401K account. Further, a donor only gets one tax receipt when they contribute to their DAF account. They don’t need to manage tax receipts from individual organizations every time they issue a grant out of their account.
Important note: a donor who uses a DAF has already decided how much money they want to give to charity. That means that rather than deciding if they have the budget to give every time they are asked, a donor can instead focus their efforts on identifying the most impactful organizations to support. Many individuals who choose to give 5% or 10% of their income to charity (either for religious or philosophical reasons) prefer DAF accounts because they make it simple to manage their philanthropic efforts.?
Common misconception: “A DAF is a tax haven.”?
Tax havens are places where people move their money to avoid paying taxes. While contributing to a DAF account does offer the typical charitable giving tax deduction, once money is put in a DAF, it can never be used for personal use. The donor does have flexibility as to when the money will ultimately be granted to a nonprofit.?
Data Dive
How do recurring donors behave during the end of the year? Will people set up recurring gifts on GivingTuesday? Will they do it at the end of the year? Should you focus on one-time gifts instead? Will the people who give this way during the end of the year stay engaged in the coming months?
This new research from Neon One breaks it all down. This extension of The Recurring Giving Report explores:
领英推荐
If you want to expand your recurring giving program during the end of the year, this resource is for you.
Community Spotlight
Just showing a bit of love from the event, here's some of the marketing team joining me and Ben during the closing ceremony!
Upcoming Events
I’m taking a break from the livestream and coaching in November, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have some great stuff coming up!
Nonprofit Tech Circle: 4 Ways to Simplify Your Day on GivingTuesday
November 6, 2024 | 1:00 PM ET
Running a GivingTuesday campaign is a great way to kick off your year-end fundraising by rallying both new and existing supporters to your cause. But, as with any fundraising campaign, it can be a lot of work—and most of it is done in 24 hours.
Can you do anything to make your life a little easier on GivingTuesday itself?
Yes! On Wednesday, November 6 from 1:00-1:30 p.m., we’re going to go over some practical steps you can take to make your GivingTuesday go as smoothly as possible!?
Nonprofit Social Media Summit
November 13-14, 2024 |?
Julia Campbell presents the nonprofit sector's only conference dedicated to making change go viral through the power of social media. WE ARE SO CLOSE TO OPENING UP THE REGISTRATION
Neon CRM Monthly Release: November 2024
November 19, 2024 | 3:00 PM ET
Are you ready to take your nonprofit’s engagement to the next level and simplify volunteer management? Join us on Tuesday, November 19th for our upcoming monthly release webinar, where we’ll showcase the latest improvements in Neon CRM designed to help your organization grow and thrive. This month, its volunteer enhancements and Quickbooks integration improvements!
Final Thoughts
Generosity Xchange is a highlight of our year at Neon One, but there’s so much more to do to help nonprofits prepare for GivingTuesday and the end of the year.?
I remember this being such a busy time, and I’m grateful to all of you who participated in this year's event in any way, shape, or form. I can’t wait to see what our team comes up with next year.?