In 2009, we witnessed a seminal moment in a shift to social networking. In July, 2009, according to this Morgan Stanley report you see here, social networking users surpassed email users. And that is AMAZING. The Shift to Cloud 2 really took hold in 2009. But what does it mean?
Today’s generation uses facebook, twitter, and lots of other social apps. They are logging in multiple times a day, connecting with friends on Facebook, business colleagues on LinkedIn, and everyone on Twitter.
This is the future and this is the way people expect to communicate with others. This is the new norm for communications and will only get more powerful over time.
Lot of information on this chart.
Two most common ways to “give back” are what I know some of you refer to as “tipping” – leaving a buck for charity here or there at the supermarket, etc; and of course check by mail. But what I really want to focus on is some of the generational differences.
Gen Y most likely to give in small ways -- $1 at checkout type of gift. No one prevalent channel beyond that -- as likely to give via website as check, same numbers at gift shop, event, etc. More than 1-in-10 say they have participated in mobile philanthropy. Giving thru SM more prevalent than other generations, but still small.
Gen X true multi-channel givers -- more likely to give through many of these channels than other generations. Most likely to make online donations (though still a little less than good old check). Both X and Y more likely to participate in something like Gap Red campaign where part of the proceeds fr third party vendor purchase goes to charity. In focus groups we heard that this is a way that they can easily and affordably be charitable. Win-win (i.e. Gap – “I shop there anyway, and it’s a way to feel good”).
X using monthly debit more than other cohorts. –NOT REALLY -- THE DIFFERENCE IS WITHIN THE MOE
Matures (and Boomers) most likely to mail in a check. A third of Matures have made tribute gifts. More have given via phone solicitation than other generations (though still just a quarter).
THE INTERESTING STORY IS GEN X
Direct donation most prevalent, but more likely to be first form of support as age
Y (followed by X) more likely to check out the charity’s website as a way to get involved. Also more likely to attend an event and volunteer. Finally, Y most likely to promote charity to others through email, FB, etc.
Suggests that younger groups need to go through one or more cultivation steps to build a relationship that can lead to a financial transaction
Q12: When you first learned of [Top Charity], in what ways did you become involved with the charity/group?
Blue numbering indicates significance at the 95% confidence level
File building challenges
Lacks organic, paid, and social tools to collect emails
Don’t leverage collection opportunity as chance to start profile building
Constituent Data Challenges
Don’t take steps to learn more about prospects or recent donors
Don’t know how to collect key data—including implicit and explicit preferences or interests
Don’t Leverage the donor data they might already have to make the right ask—set gift string, dynamic, write-in, etc.
Channel Noise Challenges
Trouble making a message stand out from the pack—including their own messaging or that of peers
Storytelling lacks personal connection—sterile and numbers based
Lack a connection sans an event—disaster, crisis, etc.
Don’t match the right message and channel to the audience—varying content by audience type, email vs. social, etc.
Best practice: Make “ask” for email address prominent; Collect as little info as possible initially; Make landing page for “Register” a second form for collecting additional information. Whatever information was first submitted has already populated the database, but now you have the chance to augment that, and response rates on this second form are usually very good. We have found completion rates of 40-60% on the second page, but even if they don’t complete it, you still have their information.
Also, note the opt-in for postal main and text messages…
Registration – two step, with expanded info in first step: American Diabetes – collect interest preference on the first screen. They have also added a matching gift incentive for registration.www.stopdiabetes.com
Does your organization have a corporate relationship that could provide a matching donation to signups?
Acquire + Learn
Best Practice: Use two-step registration to keep initial signup simple, and encourage additional information as a second step.
Registration – two step w/premium on second step: St. Joseph’s Indian School (have a 12% signup conversion after a lot of testing)http://www.stjo.org/site/PageServer?pagename=stjo_homepage
By the way, why do they ask for an email address? What do you think they will do with that information? How would YOU use it?
What could your organization give away as a premium in exchange for a full mailing address?
Acquire + Learn (based on address, zip code)
Best Practice: Provide a reason for constituents to provide you with their address other than “We want it, that’s why”. What is the benefit to them?
Registration – two step: Sacramento SPCA – collect email on first page, additional contact info and cat/dog preference on second pagehttp://sspca.org/
Acquire + Learn
Information collection/advanced profiles: Mito Actionhttp://mito.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=2461.0&dlv_id=7061&printer_friendly=1
An email to the entire housefile
A survey landing page asking the same profiling questions as MITO asks in their phased registration
A thank-you confirmation page once the survey is submitted
An incentive to participate
Great results:Total Recipients: 2,196Unique Opens: 947 (43.24%)Unique Click-Throughs : 471 (21.51%)Total Click-Throughs: 583Recipient Actions: 386 (17.63%)
Email capture + fundraising ask: WGBH asks for email addresses in the context of their different content areas (sign-up on Curious George page adds you to Parents email list). Then the landing page of the signup invites you to make a donation in support of that content area.
http://www.wgbh.org
Pledge w/ Interest capture and Fundraising integration: Nature Canada - water conservationhttp://supporter.naturecanada.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=water_pledge&autologin=true (also show pre- and post-emails)
Acquire + Learn + Engage
This is the monthly national newsletter from Nature Conservancy. 80% of the content is the same for all subscribers, but 20% is conditional, based on the constituent’s state
Merging personal data with fundraising ask
Subject line creates curiosity
Email gives me a chance to verify my information and make any corrections (so that any direct mail gets delivered correctly)
Renewal ask (even though I am not a donor)
Jewish National Fund
Several options for personalized products that tie directly back to the organization’s mission:
Donation of $18 to plant a tree in Israel; you can do this in someone’s honor or memory and receive a personalized certificate
A donation can also purchase personalized invitations and table signs for a special occasion like a wedding or a Bat Mitzvah
For an $1,800 donation a glass tile will be embedded into a memorial wall. The plaque will be personalized with the name of your child, his/her hometown and date of the occasion, as well as the name and home country of a child who perished at the hands of the Nazis.
National Black AIDS Awareness Day Campaign
Highlighted the story of an African-American client
Website Homepage, Email, and Facebook Status drove constituents to a landing page
UN Foundation Nothing but Nets Campaign
Allows donors to select a tangible outcome for their donation in terms of nets purchased.
Takes personalization to the next level by translating that number into a “warm fuzzy”: two best friends, five pregnant mothers, etc.
Then takes the personalization another step further by allowing donors to gift their donation to a friend and generate either an eCard or downloadable PDF card for their friend.
For many orgs this can mean Causes. But, for orgs such as PETA, this means incorporation of an actual donation form directly within a Facebook Page.