Capital campaigns are a big deal, because, well, you’re trying to raise a building here. You need a campaign that will catch people’s imaginations, make them want to stick with you for the long haul and hopefully, donate more than once.

This sounds like a job for…social media! Everyone's talking about social media campaigns as the way to fundraise, but what does that look like in practice for a non-profit?

It looks a little something like this.

Blogs, Youtube videos, Twitter, Powerpoint presentations: what do they have in common? Storytelling.

If your non-profit is working on a social media plan, you're going to need to think about how your non-profit tells stories. Read the rest of the post on what you need to know here.

This week on Social Ch@nge we're looking at getting visual and we need your input. How do you get the big picture across to your coworkers? Ever used mind maps, charts, brainstorming webs or stick figures to get across your strategy? When, exactly, do you need to get visual at your organization?

Whether it’s blogging, communicating with donors, or trying to lure Facebook users to a cause, your writing skills have never been more important. On Twitter, your masterful haiku skills might come in handy - but beyond that, what does it mean to write in the age of distraction?  Thankfully, Cory Doctorow comes to the rescue.  I read this article a little while ago, and his advice keeps rattling around.  I particularly like his idea of leaving a rough edge when you work.  Read Cory’s advice…

Here’s the news you’re waking up to this morning.  Reading the news any day of the week can leave you clenching your fists. But you can do more about this than shake your head while you drink your coffee. Here’s how you can do something about news that makes you angry - get online and make a difference! (More...)

Budgets are an inescapable reality of non-profit life, and they’re especially important when everyone’s panicking about economic crisis. Here’s a step by step guide on how to make a budget, and start 2009 off panic-free. (More...)

This year's going to be different! Tackle 2009 head on by putting these five basic resolutions into practice and kiss your non-profit office headaches of 2008 goodbye.

"New Year's Resolutions" Original Photo by Flickr user Ian Turton, CC Licensed

1) I will back up my computer every two weeks.

I have recently been learning another language and when I explained what I do, the need for the word 'volunteer' came up fast. 'What's the word for someone who works without pay?' I asked.

'A slave.' said my teacher.

Ah, yes. You know non-profit slaves! People with smarts and ethics and education who you stuck photocopying pages for an hour. Or markering a poster. Those slaves, the ones that don't come back after your first slave meeting.

Your nonprofit has a fabulous website. You attract thousands of admirers each day. You update it with fresh content, you communicate with your donors. You rock.

You've also invested blood, sweat, tears and cash into the beast. So is it possible to make some money back from your website?

Having a decent website is a given for most nonprofits. It's a key communication tool, with your stakeholders, the media, donors, the world. Given that, let's assume that your website has some inherent value for your organisation. But can you actually create a revenue stream from your website?

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So, do you understand the electoral system yet? Thoroughly digested those platforms and polls? With both a Canadian and an American election on the go this autumn, there’s a lot of indigestible info out there. We’re going to show you some sites that will hopefully help you stay on top of it. More...