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CDP PRESS
June 2011
Volume 9, Issue 6

5 Elements of a Great Call to Action 

 

kid with a megaphoneThe thrust of non-profit marketing is to get people to do something.  Whether you want them to donate, to volunteer or spread the words to others - you want them to get up and do something.  Here is a list of 5 elements of a good call to action:

Be specific, very specific.  People can't always take a big problem apart and turn it into bite-sized chunks.  If you can do this for them, they are more likely to get involved.  For example, the very real issues of homelessness, hunger and poverty can be overwhelming, but if each person buys one extra can of soup at the super-market, many people can be fed.  Give people a specific thing to do.

Make it doable.  People have a lot of demands on their time nowadays.  Make the call to action something simple, but also something that will encourage them to do more next time.

Have a first task.  Not everyone is willing or ready to donate right off the bat.  How can you build into these people for the future?  It can be as simple as getting their email address.

Make it easy.  This is a great idea: have someone go through the steps of making a donation.  Are there any unnecessary steps?  If you have donating available on your website, how many clicks does it take to finally make the donation?  Ask your current donors if they have any suggestions to make giving more easily accessible.

Document yourself.  People learn in different ways.  Some enjoy reading, but most would rather have pictures, illustrations and, even better, video.  If you can film what you are asking someone to do, they will feel more comfortable with the process knowing what to expect.

For the original article, go to Katya's blog here.

Facebook Giveaway
Hamilton Joes

CDP is sponsoring Opening Night for the Hamilton Joes baseball team!  We would love for you to join us so we're giving away 4 tickets for the June 14, 2011 game against Cincinnati Steam.   

 

Here's what you have to do:

 

  1. Click on this link and "like" us on Facebook.
  2. Mention us in your Facebook status: "Community Development Professionals offers great no-cost trainings for non-profits! And they're giving stuff away on their Facebook Page!" (If you want to link directly to us, start by typing "@Community" and click our page in the drop-down options.)
  3. Tell us once you post the status by commenting on our page.

 

We will announce the winners on our Facebook page.

Dollar SignFunding Opportunities

 For assistance in researching these or other grant opportunities, contact CDP.  
   
 

Baseball Tomorrow Fund
Major League Baseball
SUMMARY:  The mission of BTF is to promote and enhance the growth of youth participation in baseball and softball throughout the world by funding programs, fields, coaches' training, and the purchase of uniforms and equipment to encourage and maintain youth participation in the game. Grants are designed to be sufficiently flexible to enable applicants to address needs unique to their communities. The funds are intended to finance a new program, expand or improve an existing program, undertake a new collaborative effort, or obtain facilities or equipment.
ELIGIBILITY: BTF provides grants to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in both rural and urban communities.
AWARD: BTF awards an average of 40 grants per year totaling more than $1.5 million annually. The average grant amount is approximately $40,000.
DEADLINE: Grants are offered quarterly.  Next deadline is July 1st, 2011.
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/btf.jsp?content=about

Grants to Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Migrant Programs for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Programs
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
SUMMARY: The primary purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to provide financial support to selected Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Migrant Programs for child abuse prevention programs and activities that are consistent with the goals outlined by Title II of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.  This legislation specifies that one percent of the available funding from Title II will be reserved to fund Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Migrant Programs. The goal of the programs and activities supported by these funds is to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of abuse or neglect within the Tribal and Migrant populations. The funds must support more effective and comprehensive child abuse prevention activities and family support services, including an emphasis on strengthening family life and reaching out to include fathers, that will enhance the lives and ensure the safety and well-being of Migrant and Native American children and their families. Some examples of programs that may be funded include, but are not limited to, voluntary home visiting, respite care, parenting education, mutual support, family resource centers, marriage education, and other family support services.
ELIGIBILITY: Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and migrant programs with the capacity to establish, maintain, and evaluate community-based programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect are eligible to apply. Applicants must specify if they are applying as a "Tribe" or "Tribal Organization" or "Migrant Program". Non-profit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status) are eligible to apply if they operate or plan to operate migrant programs. Collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts are acceptable, but applications must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the grant.
DEADLINE: July 5, 2011
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CA-0147

NEA Arts in Media, FY2012
National Endowment for the Arts
SUMMARY: The Arts Endowment's support of a project may start on May 1, 2012, or any time thereafter. Through this category, the National Endowment for the Arts seeks to make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through every available media platform including television, radio, the Internet, interactive and mobile technologies, digital games, and satellite. By increasing the accessibility and impact of the arts, the Arts Endowment aims to strengthen the creativity of our nation. Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk & traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art.
ELIGIBILITY: State, county, city or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
DEADLINE: September 1, 2011 - Applicants are required to submit their applications electronically through Grants.gov.
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/AIM/index.html

Bridging Cultures Implementation Grant
National Endowment for the Humanities
SUMMARY: In setting forth its vision for the National Endowment for the Humanities, Congress declared that "the humanities reflect the high place accorded by the American people to the nation's rich cultural heritage and to the fostering of mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups." To help Americans better understand our own rich cultural heritage, while enhancing public knowledge of and respect for others both here and abroad, NEH has launched the Bridging Cultures initiative. The initiative encourages projects that explore the ways in which cultures from around the globe, as well as the myriad subcultures within America's borders, have influenced American society.
ELIGIBILITY: State, county, city or township governments, Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, private institutions of high education.
DEADLINE: August 2, 2011
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/BridgingCulturesImplementation.html  
In This Issue
5 Elements of a Great Call to Action
Facebook Giveaway
Funding Opportunities
Tip of the Month
Community Calendar
Useful Resources
MonthlyTipTIP OF THE MONTH 
The Difference Between SPAM and BACON  

Bacon


It's the taste, right?  Email providers have become increasingly adept at catching SPAM emails and dumping them right in the junk bin.  But now, more than ever, our inboxes are being bombarded with what is being called "BACON" - email that a person has signed up to receive, but usually doesn't read. 

Unsubscribe.com made up a great illustration of stats surrounding email BACON.  According to the graphic, it takes approximately one minute to unsubscribe to BACON.  If it takes too long to unsubscribe from an email, they may just go ahead and report it as SPAM.  This can be a serious problem for non-profits because once something is marked as SPAM, others who do want to read email updates may no longer be able to receive it through their email provider.

Make it easy to unsubscribe from a newsletter and you'll have less people reporting it as SPAM.  And while you're at it, make sure that emails sent to supporters are relevant and then they won't want to unsubscribe.

If you are looking for an email marketing service, check out this page for a comparison of the top 10 email marketing services.
About CDP Press 
CDP Press is a free publication for local government officials, non-profit professionals and educators who are working together to develop viable communities.  

Community Development Professionals
332 Dayton St.
Hamilton, OH 45011
(513) 858-1738

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Community Calendar

 
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Sat, June  4, 2011, 9a-4p
Back to Basics
CDP Bridgeworks Training
The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH
Description This is the basic training for CDP's non-profit partners and recommended as a precursor to CDP's other trainings and workshops. Organizations will learn the six components of organizational development and will be given the tools they need to address each component effectively. This training is highly interactive and requires active participation on the part of each attendee. Organizations are required to commit to action items at the end of training and are offered a certificate upon successful completion of training and action items. Organizations are encouraged to send the Executive Director, 2 or more Board members and 1 or more key staff persons to this training. (Full day training)

Mon-Wed, June 6-8, 2011

National Conference on Volunteering and Service

http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/  

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

Description For the thousands of individuals devoted to redefining citizenship for the 21st century through volunteering and service, the conference provides a worldwide voice for this movement.  Volunteer and service leaders have an unparalleled opportunity to learn, connect and take home dynamic strategies to create greater impact and effectiveness in meeting social needs through service and volunteering.

Registration Online registration will begin at $375 until May 23.


Tues, June 14, 2011, 9a-4p
Forming a Non-Profit

CDP Bridgeworks Training 

The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH
Description This workshop is designed to save you hundreds of dollars in set-up costs by walking you through the process of applying for your own 501(c)(3) incorporation. You will leave this course with a solid understanding of the paperwork required, a step by step procedure to incorporate a new non-profit, and the general responsibilities of operating a non-profit organization. This is a hands-on workshop appropriate for individuals interested in forming a new non-profit organization.

Thurs, June 23, 2011, 9a-12p
Image Development

CDP Bridgeworks Training 

The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH
Description The Image Development workshop focuses on assisting organizations with creating an Image Development Plan. Participants will learn creative ways to market their organization and use the media to promote the programs and services of the organization. This workshop is appropriate for Executive Directors, Directors of Development, Marketing Directors, Board members or other staff persons involved in marketing and public relations. Half-day workshop. 

Tues, June 28, 2011, 1p-4p
Understanding Budgets
CDP Bridgeworks Training
The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH
Description
Understanding Budgets is a workshop designed to educate participants on the basics of non-profit budgeting. This training covers topics such as the benefits of budgets, characteristics of budgets, defining key financial terms, and steps for effective budgeting. This workshop is appropriate for Executive Directors, Board Members, Bookkeepers and other key staff persons involved in accounting procedures.

Thurs, July 7, 2011, 9a-4p
Resource Development through Grant Writing
CDP Bridgeworks Training
The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH
Description
This full-day workshop is designed to increase your success in seeking funding through grants. This course will teach you when to seek grant proposals, how to get organized, how to develop a skeletal proposal, and how to tweak it to meet the needs of either public or private funders. The scope of training includes developing unsolicited proposals, and responding to Requests for Proposals (RFP's) and Notices of Funding Availability. You will leave with an enhanced understanding of the grant process and an increased ability to develop competitive proposals. This course is appropriate for both novice and experienced grant writers.

Wed-Fri, July 13-15, 2011
2011 National Conference on Ending Homelessness
National Alliance to End Homelessness
https://help.endhomelessness.org/events/17#/events/17
Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, Washington, DC
Registration Early registration until Tues, May 31, 2011 for $475. Discount for multiple registrants from the same organization. Regular registration ends Wed, Jun 22, 2011 for $525.  For more information, see website above. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011, 9a-4p
Volunteer Recruitment and Management
CDP Bridgeworks Training
The Center for Community Revitalization, Hamilton, OH

Description Volunteer Recruitment and Management is a full-day workshop focusing on topics such as how to recruit and retain volunteers, record keeping for volunteers, and the role of volunteers in non-profit organizations. This workshop is appropriate for Executive Directors, Board members or other staff persons involved in volunteer management.  

 
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332 Dayton St.
Hamilton, OH  45011
Phone: 513-858-1738