Thursday Buzz: Nonprofits Hit Fundraising Jackpot Online

Nonprofits are banking it from by fundraising via the internet.

The nonprofit industry raised almost $413 million online last year, an annual study from  (opens in a new tab) the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) and M+R found.

The 2015 M+R Benchmarks Study  (opens in a new tab) specifically looked at nonprofit activity online, seeing a 13 percent increase in online revenue and a 13 percent increase in the number of gifts between 2013 and 2014.

The study, which evaluated information from 84 organizations  (opens in a new tab), found that an average of $612 was raised for every 1,000 website visitors. The groups in the study include the American Red Cross, Human Rights Campaign, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

What does the data show? Online efforts work. The research found the average one-time gift was $82 last year, and the average monthly gift was $22.

Also, social media activity pays off. Nonprofits saw a 42 percent increase in Facebook fans and a 37 percent jump in Twitter followers overall.

The study looked at more than 2 billion emails from 37 million subscribers that brought more than 6 million online gifts to nonprofits and resulted in more than 7 million advocacy actions—even though response rates were down from the previous year.

Do your own benchmark: Beyond the study, NTEN and M+R are offering an online resource  (opens in a new tab) for organizations to plug in their own numbers and see how they compare. Throw the numbers in, and out comes an infographic specific to your needs.

Want to learn more? The groups have a webinar on the study  (opens in a new tab) coming up May 6.

Tackle a Chaotic Event-Planning Lifestyle

Rule 1 is SO hard -> 5 Rules to Help #EventProfs  (opens in a new tab) Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance @kellimwhite  (opens in a new tab) http://t.co/3viRxAnoYL  (opens in a new tab) @EventMB  (opens in a new tab)

— Jeannie Power, CMP, DES (@EventTechNomad) April 22, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

Event planning isn’t really a 9-to-5 gig. There are crazy hours and loads of clients, as well as a lot of specific details to nail down. But with enough dedication, there’s plenty of room for a work-life balance.

On the Event Manager Blog, meetings consultant Kelli White shared five rules  (opens in a new tab) that may help planners accomplish a such balance. They include some tough standards, including “create strict work hours,” “learn to unplug,” and even “take a vacation.”

Other Links of Note

Get a promotion? Congratulations! But now … there are a few things you should and should not do. Elizabeth Grace Saunders at Fast Company shares  (opens in a new tab) just what they are.

Teamwork is bigger than ever in this day and age. It is imperative with organizational changes and increased collaboration across industries. Noreen Seebacher has more at CMSWire  (opens in a new tab).

Be you. According to research, “pretending to be someone you’re not at work not only reduces job satisfaction, but also harms your health,” Jessica Stillman writes at Inc.com  (opens in a new tab).

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