Think outside the bus

Take a minute today to leave your house. Walk outside. Even if it's just on your patio. Appreciate something green. Use your own feet to transport yourself. Don't take your car or the bus. Wax Poetic.

Donors Choose

How cool is this site?

www.donorschoose.org/

You can donate online to classrooms throughout the country in need of financial resources for material, equipment or projects.

The material is delivered to the kids, and then you can see online exactly how your gift is impacting lives. Pictures, thank you notes, the whole deal.

Remember how I posted earlier about the new age of Philanthropy? This is it, right here. Donate and you get the practical, social and tribal benefits of philanthropy all in one place! The name of the site says it all. It's all about you and what you choose.

Embrace the unfamiliar

There's so much we can learn about marketing from everyday life! Here's a basic marketing lesson we can learn from Sukkot, the festival which Jews around the world are currently celebrating:

Embrace the unfamiliar: Jewish law dictates that we build outdoor booths and eat, sleep, and generally spend as much time as possible in them. Anything we would normally do in our houses, we now do in a temporary dwelling. We are commanded to pick up and leave our homes for an entire week. One of the many meanings behind this practice is to force us to look at the world from a new perspective. Nothing can achieve this as well as changing our place of dwelling.

There's a great song by John Mayer called The Great Indoors which describes our fear of the unfamiliar. He sarcastically recommends just sticking with what we're used to: Scared of the world outside you should go explore / Pull all the shades and wander the great indoors.

But it's the simplicity of his conclusion that is so compellingly relevant for us : So go unlock the door / And find what you are here for / Leave the great indoors.

Sometimes we spend so much time "inside", looking at things from our familiar, narrow perspective. We forget that there is a key. A key that opens the door and allows us to solve the simple problems that have been plaguing us for years. Just by stepping outside and looking at things from a different point of view.

Organizations would do well to learn from this simple life lesson. Sometimes we need to leave our old ideas behind, get up, and look at things from an entirely new perspective. Usually it's enough to inspire us to think creatively and innovate. And it's refreshing.

Philanthropy 2.0

Philanthropy is changing quickly. Organizations have to do more with less. Social media is changing everything. Donors are more particular about who they give to.

So how can nonprofits keep up?

Well, BBMG did some solid research and published a white paper which summarizes these changes and addresses what you can do to stay in the game. Their findings struck a chord with me so I thought I'd share a few of the main ideas with you:

Americans are re-evaluating what truly matters in their lives and seeking brands that deliver both value and values. Specifically, consumers are looking for brands that offer personal relevance, social purpose and meaningful participation.

1) Practical Benefits: How does this brand improve my life?

2) Social Benefits: How does this brand help me make a difference in the world?

3) Tribal Benefits: How does this brand connect me to a community that shares my values?

In this age of radical transparency, nonprofit organizations must show how they live their values in every action and interaction. By engaging the new consumer, yesterday’s nonprofit brands can move from legacy to leadership and become tomorrow’s passion brands. Demonstrating personal relevance, driving social impact and mobilizing a community of true believers ensures that consumers share in the conversation, help spark innovation and change the world.

You can check out the rest of their findings here.

Thanks ejewishphilanthropy for bringing this research to my attention.