September 17, 2024

By RKD Group

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, nonprofit organizations may wonder how to navigate the flurry of digital noise that accompanies election season. Historically, elections haven’t had a negative impact on charitable giving—in fact, most election years see an increase. However, with the surge in political ads and messaging, nonprofits will need to adapt their digital strategies to stand out and maintain engagement with their audience. From adjusting budgets to account for higher advertising costs to cleverly crafting email subject lines that acknowledge the election without getting lost in it, nonprofits can take strategic steps to keep their digital presence strong during this competitive time. 

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By Ron Gifford, Dunleavy & Associates

As a man of a certain age, I’m cool with the fact that I’m not the target audience of most Tik Tok influencers. You see how that doesn’t bother me? Very demure.  

Now, some people would be quite upset to think that a global communication channel has effectively bypassed them. You see how I’m totally chill with that, though? Very mindful.

 And not everyone agrees with appropriating a younger generation’s cultural references to exude a faux sense of hipness. But you see how I did that to lure you into reading this far? Very cutesy (with apologies to Jools Lebron).  

Now, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then clearly what we have here is a failure to communicate. And that, of course, is not only a great quote from “Cool Hand Luke,” but also the theme of today’s musings. (For our younger readers, “Cool Hand Luke” is a movie starring Paul Newman, back when he was known for appearing on movie posters and not bottles of salad dressing). 

Ah, communications: the nonprofit bête noire. I bet that if you did a survey, the vast majority of all nonprofit strategic plans would include some variation on the following strategic priority: “Enhance communications with internal and/or external stakeholders.” And I’d also wager that during the discussion of this priority, more than one person threw up their hands and said, “why is this so hard?”

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Aspire Indiana Health named Dr. Andy Chambers as a staff psychiatrist. Dr. Chambers is a professor of psychiatry at IU School of Medicine and is director of the addiction psychiatry fellowship program.

Olivia Cloer was promoted to chief operating officer and chief of staff at Charitable Allies. Cloer was previously director of marketing and communications.

La Plaza promoted Soren Chamorro Gonzalez to deputy director. Chamorro Gonzalez previously served as the director of La Plaza’s Latino Opportunity Center. —Indianapolis Business Journal

Amber Ferrari has been named head of partnerships for Orr Fellowship. Ferrari was previously the director of marketing and culture with Stellar. — Indianapolis Business Journal

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $312,509 in community grants to address the broad needs of arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. See recipients 

The Kendrick Foundation is extending its commitment to mental health in Morgan County by investing over $620,000 in the School-Based Mental Health Initiative 2.0 for the 2024-25 school year. Building on the success of the initial phase, this initiative will continue to provide essential mental health services to students across the county’s public schools, supporting the well-being of youth and their families through partnerships with Adult & Child Health, Centerstone, and Youth First. Read more

The "Hope is on the Horizon" fundraising gala for Horizon House raised over $300,000 and was attended by over 240 guests. Proceeds will be used to further Horizon House's focus on serving as a "housing hub" for neighbors experiencing homelessness, combining their mission to support neighbors with integrated, comprehensive services with community partners and providers.

Indiana Youth Institute is accepting applications for youth-serving organizations that may be eligible for grant funding to pilot and/or implement customized strategies that improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, up to $20,000, and/or trauma-informed workplaces within organizations, up to $10,000. Grant applications are due September 27

Registration is open for the Best Places to Work in Indiana program. Nonprofits must have at least 15 full- or part-time permanent employees working in Indiana, having a physical operation in Indiana, and having been in business for at least one year. Apply by Nov. 22

Evidence-based research for grant proposals on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Central Library. This workshop will introduce resources for locating data and evidence-based research for your nonprofit organization’s grant proposals and answering critical needs statement questions. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register 

IndyVolved on Sept. 19 from 4:30-8 p.m. at Indiana State Fair, Agriculture Horticulture Building, 1202 East 38th Street. Meet and connect with 100 nonprofit and civic-minded organizations that are making a difference in Indy. Learn how to serve as a volunteer, lead on a board, or discover a new passion project. Presented by IndyHub. Cost: Free. Register

How to measure and convey impact webinar on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.  Tips on deciding what to measure, collecting and managing data, and conveying results in ways that are easy to understand — and inspiring. Presented by Chronicle of Philanthropy. Cost: Free. Register

Fearless asking: How to build an individual giving program on Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Central Library. An individual giving program is an important part of any nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. This workshop will help you understand the current fundraising environment and show you how to overcome your fears so you can ask confidently for the support your nonprofit needs. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register

Bridging gaps: Engaging boards across all backgrounds virtual workshop on Sept. 24 from noon – 2 p.m. Delve into the crucial aspect of board engagement, providing practical strategies to ignite passion and active participation among your board members. Presented by United Way of Central Indiana. Cost: Free. Register

Crafting year-end donor engagement surveys webinar on Sept. 25 at noon. Join this session to enhance your donor survey strategy, focusing on inclusion. Learn how to create surveys that authentically capture diverse perspectives and ensure accessibility. Presented by Nonprofit Learning Lab. Cost: Free. Register 

Opportunity Indianapolis (OI) on Oct. 10-11. OI serves as a crash course for civic-minded individuals who want to learn more about issues facing the Indianapolis community. Presented by Leadership Indianapolis. Cost: $650/ Scholarships available. Register

CASA East Central Indiana urgently needs 12 new advocates to support an increasing number of children needing courtroom advocacy. Join us for a fall training event on September 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at CASA's office, 3538 Mounds Road, Anderson. Enjoy dinner while learning how you can make a difference. Submit an interest form  

Gen X & Gen Alpha: Bridging the generational gap through giving {Podcast}

Gen X is poised to inherit $30 trillion, about $92,000 per person in the US, in the Great Wealth Transfer. We are also exploring the emerging influence of Gen Alpha, who, despite their youth, are already aligning with causes centered around equity, mental well-being, and authenticity.  

10 Creative ideas for company-wide volunteer days

Want to improve engagement and retention rates at your organization? Company-wide volunteer days may be just the ticket. A recent survey of employees showed that 71% say it is imperative or essential to work somewhere supportive of giving and volunteering.  

SPONSORS' INSIGHTS

InvigorateHR Reengineering employee engagement: The work world after the great reshuffle

Central Indiana Community Foundation 2024 cohort for Stronger Partners Brighter Futures unveiled. See the six members