Help Us Help UK Video Games-focussed Charity, Special Effect

Special Effect is UK charity that helps people with physical disabilities play and enjoy video games, using specially designed tech - from modified joypads to eye-control - to bring friends and family together. Games, says the charity, can have a profoundly positive impact on therapy, confidence and rehabilitation.

Spotlight

OneOC

OneOC's mission is to accelerate nonprofit success. With volunteer, training, consulting and business services, we help Orange County’s nonprofits become as effective and efficient as they are passionate about their missions. Our services are fully integrated, and strengthened through partnership with other local service providers. Together, we work to accelerate the success of Orange County nonprofits, enabling them to reach their full potential.

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Nonprofit Management

Going Virtual: Tips For Planning An Effective Virtual Nonprofit Fundraiser

Article | July 29, 2022

Agile nonprofits are turning to virtual fundraisers to fill the fundraising gap. Limiting public gatherings to fewer than ten people has forced many nonprofits to postpone or cancel their annual events, which is a major problem for so many organizations that rely on spring fundraising season to generate a significant portion of their annual revenue. A virtual event is any organized meet-up that takes place online rather than in a physical location. They can range from one-on-one meetings to large-scale events with thousands of attendees. Major benefits of hosting a virtual event include guests being able to attend from the comfort of their homes and organizations being able to reach an unlimited audience anywhere in the world.

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Nonprofit Management

Important CARES Act updates for nonprofit organizations

Article | July 13, 2022

Enacted late last month, the CARES Act COVID-19 relief bill includes emergency support for individuals, businesses, public health organizations and nonprofits. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created through the CARES Act included up to $349 billion in potentially forgivable loans to eligible small businesses and nonprofits to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Just this week, the Small Business Administration announced that PPP funding had been depleted as organizations across the country applied for loans.

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Fundraising

7 Essential Tips to Make Your Nonprofit Mobile-Friendly

Article | July 15, 2022

In 2011, only 11% of traffic to Classy fundraising campaigns came from mobile devices, but by 2018, it was over 50%. Not only does having a mobile-friendly campaign increase your interactions with donors, but it also builds their trust in your organization. Classy’s report Why America Gives found that 41% of donors said they’d have lower trust in how a nonprofit would use their funds if they couldn’t easily donate online or via their mobile device.

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Nonprofit Technology

Utilize an Email Marketing Strategy to Drive More Donations

Article | June 13, 2022

When creating your nonprofit fundraising and donations strategy, email marketing should be on the top of the list of channels to use to support your efforts. However, 70% of nonprofits do not have an email marketing strategy, despite 26% of online donors saying email marketing is what inspires them to give. Email marketing can help nonprofits reach their fundraising goals by helping expand reach, develop a loyal donor base and drive more donations. Build an Email Marketing Strategy Implementing email marketing may seem intimidating to some, but once you have an effective strategy in place, it will act as a blueprint and support all your goals moving forward. When you start building your strategy, it’s important to spend time developing a unique strategy that aligns with your mission and goals. Consider these questions: Who is your target audience? How are you collecting email addresses? What types of emails will you send? What types of content do you want to share in those emails? What will your emails look like? What is the layout? What is the design based on? How often do you plan to send emails? What platform will you use? Does it integrate with your donor database and have all the features you need to implement your strategy? Email marketing is the most effective and successful when there's a strategic plan in place. Creating a detailed strategy that answers the questions above will provide your nonprofit with the stepping stones needed to set your email marketing efforts up for success and help meet your overall fundraising goals. Send Emails Once you have a strategy and execution plan in place, you’re ready to start sending your messages to your audience. Email subscribers want to hear from you, but you need to be sure you are sending engaging messages to the right audiences. When you start sending your emails, plan to send a mix of different messages to your audience. Email marketing is an effective channel to not only fundraise but to help subscribers stay engaged and keep donor retention high. A great example would be to include advocacy emails in your plans. Advocacy emails include newsletters and impact stories. These types of emails help your subscriber feel valued as a donor as they’re seeing the direct impact of their support. As you start and continue to send emails, always track each email's performance. This helps you determine what is working and what is not working. By tracking key metrics, like click-through rates, conversation rates and donations per email, you will be able to continuously improve your strategy and the emails you are sending. Follow Best Practices As you begin to execute your email strategy, there are a few key best practices I recommend following to help increase engagement, donations, and overall performance of your emails. Personalize the email for your subscribers. Personalized emails can generate donations up to six times more compared to a generalized email. Make sure your emails are well-designed with compelling imagery that helps the donor visualize your mission and the impact of their donations. Provide clear calls to action in each email you send and always include a “Donate” button in all your communications. Include social sharing buttons and links to your social channels in all your email communications. Emails with social sharing buttons increase click-through rates by as much as 158% and help expand your reach by allowing donors to recommend and share your nonprofit with their network. Create an email cadence so you are regularly communicating with your audience throughout the year. For every 1,000 fundraising emails delivered, nonprofits raised $78, so it is in your best interest to continuously send messages to your subscribers. Start by sending emails monthly and then experiment with increasing the frequency of emails per month and see what works best for your nonprofit. Utilizing email marketing is key to having a successful fundraising strategy for your nonprofit. By building a well-thought-out strategy and implementing it, you will be able to engage, retain and convert subscribers into a loyal donor base.

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Spotlight

OneOC

OneOC's mission is to accelerate nonprofit success. With volunteer, training, consulting and business services, we help Orange County’s nonprofits become as effective and efficient as they are passionate about their missions. Our services are fully integrated, and strengthened through partnership with other local service providers. Together, we work to accelerate the success of Orange County nonprofits, enabling them to reach their full potential.

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Nonprofit Management

MB2 Dental Launches Charitable Organization

MB2 Dental | July 15, 2022

The dental partnership organization, MB2 Dental, has launched its own charitable Foundation – The MB2 Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to provide financial assistance to its 5,000 plus employees in the event they experience unforeseen, life-altering hardships such as natural disasters, extended illnesses, injuries, and more. Team members may nominate themselves or others for consideration for a monetary donation. The work of the Foundation will also include providing donations to local charities and organizations at the request of MB2 Dental's doctor partners and employees. The Foundation thrives through the generosity of its team members. Funding for the Foundation will come from MB2 Dental's doctor partners and team members through optional paycheck deductions and other fundraising events. "The number one priority of any family is to take care of each other; this is our dental family, With affiliated practices in over 35 states, supporting our doctor partners and their teams in any way possible is a top priority. The individuals who make up our MB2 family have always been ready to jump into action and help one another without hesitation. The Foundation allows us to streamline this." -Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva CEO and Founder, MB2 Dental. MB2 Dental's previous charitable initiatives include annual doctor-led mission trips and donating to local organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, The Genesis Women's Shelter, and Salvation Army. MB2 Dental also annually conducts The Elves Initiative, a cause led by Dr. Villanueva encouraging MB2 Dental home office employees to nominate coworkers, family, friends, and neighbors for financial assistance around the holidays. The success and growth of the Elves Initiative served as inspiration for the MB2 Family Foundation. About MB2 Dental- Dallas, Texas-based MB2 Dental is a first-of-its-kind Dental Partnership Organization (DPO) founded and led by dentist and entrepreneur CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, with a mission to empower dentists to preserve their profession. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver's seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth. MB2 currently partners with dentists and specialists in more than 35 states.

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Fundraising

Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary fundraising campaign ends a success

Warm Up America! | June 21, 2022

Warm Up America! (WUA!), a national nonprofit that collects hand knitted and crochet items like hats, scarves, and gloves, has long been known for its charitable contributions around both the United States and the world. Founded in 1991 by Evie Rosen, a knitting instructor and philanthropist endorsed by TIME Magazine and Oprah Winfrey, WUA! has since donated over 1.4 million items to people in need made by over 30,000 volunteers. Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary was in 2021 and to celebrate, the organization raised money all year long to continue its mission of providing warmth to people in need. Volunteers who donated $30 or more to the organization were given access to 90 knit and crochet patterns for 7" by 9" blanket sections - WUA!'s prime need. Since its anniversary in 2021, Warm Up America! has raised over $80,000. We are truly speechless at the generous monetary and material donations we've received from our volunteers and corporate partners. We couldn't sustain our organization without their support and we look forward to their continued partnership in helping us fulfill our mission." Jenny Bessonette, executive director of Warm Up America! WUA!'s ambitious volunteers, who set a goal of making 199,130 sections (1991 + 30) by the end of May, exceeded their target by over 10,000 sections. The 210,956 sections they donated are the most ever collected in one year. This number of sections amounts to over 4,300 adult blankets. The blankets made from these sections are going directly into the hands of people who need a dose of warmth and love. All money raised for WUA! goes directly toward operating costs. The biggest expense is shipping - WUA! sends hundreds of boxes a year containing items made by volunteers to organizations helping people in need. As WUA! continues to grow, so do its shipping costs. Monetary donations are the best way to support Warm Up America! in its mission of providing warmth to people in need. About Warm Up America! Started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for people in need, Warm Up America! is a charity that has warmed people's lives since 1991. Founder Evie Rosen came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and others joining them together into blankets, which quickly caught on. Thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country, today Warm Up America! distributes warm blankets, hats and other items to tens of thousands of people in need.

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Nonprofit Management

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation Announces 2022 Charity of Choice

CAPTRUST | June 18, 2022

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation (CCF), an employee-run 501(c)(3), announced its 2022 Charity of Choice, receiving a $100,000 grant: The Green Chair Project. Additionally, five nonprofits were selected to receive CCF national grants of $25,000 each. Founded in 2007, the CCF's mission is to enrich the lives of children in communities we serve. Through the end of 2021, the CCF has awarded over $3.879 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country that help children. Fundraising is primarily via employee payroll deductions that are matched by CAPTRUST. The Green Chair Project will receive a $100,000 grant to support its mission of providing the essentials of home to neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis, or disaster in Wake County, North Carolina. The grant will directly support Green Chair's Sweeter Dreams program, providing beds and cribs to 400 children and babies in Wake County who lack a safe place to sleep. In addition to the funding, Green Chair will receive support from CCF volunteers throughout the year. We are so grateful to be selected as the CAPTRUST Community Foundation's 2022 Charity of Choice. The CCF's trust in our mission ensures that more children in need in Wake County, North Carolina will have a safe and comfortable place to sleep." Jackie Craig, Green Chair's co-founder and chief executive officer In addition to its work with The Green Chair Project, the CCF selected five charities that will receive national grants of $25,000 in 2022. The five recipients are: Communities In Schools of Wake County. CIS Wake surrounds students in Wake County, North Carolina, with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Families Together. Families Together moves families in Wake County, North Carolina, and surrounding counties from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support, and connection to community resources. Kinetic Kids, Inc. A San Antonio, Texas, organization that supports children with special needs and their families through adapted sports, fine arts, and educational programs. Sunrise Day Camps Association. Sunrise supports children with cancer and their siblings nationwide through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive summer day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered free of charge. TABLE. TABLE's mission is to create equitable access to healthy food and provide nutrition education to children in Orange County, North Carolina. "We recognize the immense needs of children across our communities as we all recover from the effects of COVID-19," said Philip D'Unger, president of the CCF and manager, wealth planning, at CAPTRUST. "We are incredibly excited and fortunate to work with this year's Charity of Choice, The Green Chair Project, as well as the national grant recipients, who all do amazing work in their respective communities." About the CAPTRUST Community Foundation The CAPTRUST Community Foundation was organized in 2007 to provide CAPTRUST employees with opportunities to participate as a group in community outreach efforts. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. About CAPTRUST CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance for individuals and families. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis/fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs. With more than 1,100 employees across 70 locations nationwide, CAPTRUST oversees more than $100 billion in assets under management and more than $750 billion in assets under advisement (as of March 31, 2022).

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Nonprofit Management

MB2 Dental Launches Charitable Organization

MB2 Dental | July 15, 2022

The dental partnership organization, MB2 Dental, has launched its own charitable Foundation – The MB2 Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to provide financial assistance to its 5,000 plus employees in the event they experience unforeseen, life-altering hardships such as natural disasters, extended illnesses, injuries, and more. Team members may nominate themselves or others for consideration for a monetary donation. The work of the Foundation will also include providing donations to local charities and organizations at the request of MB2 Dental's doctor partners and employees. The Foundation thrives through the generosity of its team members. Funding for the Foundation will come from MB2 Dental's doctor partners and team members through optional paycheck deductions and other fundraising events. "The number one priority of any family is to take care of each other; this is our dental family, With affiliated practices in over 35 states, supporting our doctor partners and their teams in any way possible is a top priority. The individuals who make up our MB2 family have always been ready to jump into action and help one another without hesitation. The Foundation allows us to streamline this." -Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva CEO and Founder, MB2 Dental. MB2 Dental's previous charitable initiatives include annual doctor-led mission trips and donating to local organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, The Genesis Women's Shelter, and Salvation Army. MB2 Dental also annually conducts The Elves Initiative, a cause led by Dr. Villanueva encouraging MB2 Dental home office employees to nominate coworkers, family, friends, and neighbors for financial assistance around the holidays. The success and growth of the Elves Initiative served as inspiration for the MB2 Family Foundation. About MB2 Dental- Dallas, Texas-based MB2 Dental is a first-of-its-kind Dental Partnership Organization (DPO) founded and led by dentist and entrepreneur CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, with a mission to empower dentists to preserve their profession. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver's seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth. MB2 currently partners with dentists and specialists in more than 35 states.

Read More

Fundraising

Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary fundraising campaign ends a success

Warm Up America! | June 21, 2022

Warm Up America! (WUA!), a national nonprofit that collects hand knitted and crochet items like hats, scarves, and gloves, has long been known for its charitable contributions around both the United States and the world. Founded in 1991 by Evie Rosen, a knitting instructor and philanthropist endorsed by TIME Magazine and Oprah Winfrey, WUA! has since donated over 1.4 million items to people in need made by over 30,000 volunteers. Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary was in 2021 and to celebrate, the organization raised money all year long to continue its mission of providing warmth to people in need. Volunteers who donated $30 or more to the organization were given access to 90 knit and crochet patterns for 7" by 9" blanket sections - WUA!'s prime need. Since its anniversary in 2021, Warm Up America! has raised over $80,000. We are truly speechless at the generous monetary and material donations we've received from our volunteers and corporate partners. We couldn't sustain our organization without their support and we look forward to their continued partnership in helping us fulfill our mission." Jenny Bessonette, executive director of Warm Up America! WUA!'s ambitious volunteers, who set a goal of making 199,130 sections (1991 + 30) by the end of May, exceeded their target by over 10,000 sections. The 210,956 sections they donated are the most ever collected in one year. This number of sections amounts to over 4,300 adult blankets. The blankets made from these sections are going directly into the hands of people who need a dose of warmth and love. All money raised for WUA! goes directly toward operating costs. The biggest expense is shipping - WUA! sends hundreds of boxes a year containing items made by volunteers to organizations helping people in need. As WUA! continues to grow, so do its shipping costs. Monetary donations are the best way to support Warm Up America! in its mission of providing warmth to people in need. About Warm Up America! Started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for people in need, Warm Up America! is a charity that has warmed people's lives since 1991. Founder Evie Rosen came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and others joining them together into blankets, which quickly caught on. Thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country, today Warm Up America! distributes warm blankets, hats and other items to tens of thousands of people in need.

Read More

Nonprofit Management

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation Announces 2022 Charity of Choice

CAPTRUST | June 18, 2022

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation (CCF), an employee-run 501(c)(3), announced its 2022 Charity of Choice, receiving a $100,000 grant: The Green Chair Project. Additionally, five nonprofits were selected to receive CCF national grants of $25,000 each. Founded in 2007, the CCF's mission is to enrich the lives of children in communities we serve. Through the end of 2021, the CCF has awarded over $3.879 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country that help children. Fundraising is primarily via employee payroll deductions that are matched by CAPTRUST. The Green Chair Project will receive a $100,000 grant to support its mission of providing the essentials of home to neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis, or disaster in Wake County, North Carolina. The grant will directly support Green Chair's Sweeter Dreams program, providing beds and cribs to 400 children and babies in Wake County who lack a safe place to sleep. In addition to the funding, Green Chair will receive support from CCF volunteers throughout the year. We are so grateful to be selected as the CAPTRUST Community Foundation's 2022 Charity of Choice. The CCF's trust in our mission ensures that more children in need in Wake County, North Carolina will have a safe and comfortable place to sleep." Jackie Craig, Green Chair's co-founder and chief executive officer In addition to its work with The Green Chair Project, the CCF selected five charities that will receive national grants of $25,000 in 2022. The five recipients are: Communities In Schools of Wake County. CIS Wake surrounds students in Wake County, North Carolina, with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Families Together. Families Together moves families in Wake County, North Carolina, and surrounding counties from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support, and connection to community resources. Kinetic Kids, Inc. A San Antonio, Texas, organization that supports children with special needs and their families through adapted sports, fine arts, and educational programs. Sunrise Day Camps Association. Sunrise supports children with cancer and their siblings nationwide through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive summer day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered free of charge. TABLE. TABLE's mission is to create equitable access to healthy food and provide nutrition education to children in Orange County, North Carolina. "We recognize the immense needs of children across our communities as we all recover from the effects of COVID-19," said Philip D'Unger, president of the CCF and manager, wealth planning, at CAPTRUST. "We are incredibly excited and fortunate to work with this year's Charity of Choice, The Green Chair Project, as well as the national grant recipients, who all do amazing work in their respective communities." About the CAPTRUST Community Foundation The CAPTRUST Community Foundation was organized in 2007 to provide CAPTRUST employees with opportunities to participate as a group in community outreach efforts. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. About CAPTRUST CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance for individuals and families. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis/fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs. With more than 1,100 employees across 70 locations nationwide, CAPTRUST oversees more than $100 billion in assets under management and more than $750 billion in assets under advisement (as of March 31, 2022).

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