Wrapping Up 2009 with Gratitude

On behalf of the entire GiftWorks team, I would like to thank the nonprofit community for a great year working together.  We recognize that 2009 has been one of the most challenging years for the nonprofit sector we serve and care so much about.  We also are humbled and gratified by how many nonprofits are choosing and using GiftWorks fundraising software to help navigate their organizations through this economic storm. Our team remains strong and committed to serving and helping you as we tackle 2010 together.

I would also like to take a moment to thank the GiftWorks team for their voluminous accomplishments in 2009.  We released GiftWorks 2010 Standard and GiftWorks 2010 Premium.  We taught hundreds of classes and presented hundreds of webinars.  We answered thousands of phone calls and answered tens of thousands of emails.  We nurtured and grew wonderful partnerships:  Techsoup Global, our 900+ consultants, and our fourteen state nonprofit associations are among the highlights.  Our client base has grown considerably (we are at the 10,000 client threshold!), and we are thrilled to have so much to offer our ongoing clients as their organizations grow and change.  It has been a lot of hard work, and well worth it.

From our team to yours, we wish you the very best in 2010 and beyond. 

Nonprofit Survey: Managing in Tough Times

Hi everyone,
Here's a link to a study by the Bridgespan Group about nonprofits managing through tough time: http://www.bridgespan.org/managing-in-tough-times-survey-update-november-2009.aspx that was covered in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

None of us will be surprised to learn that many of the deeper effects of the recession are just starting to fully play out with nonprofit organizations.  But, the study astutely points out that, "while the hardship of prolonged financial pressure cannot be overstated, many organizations appear to be making the difficult decisions that may gain them stronger footing as market conditions improve in the future."

We are seeing evidence of that here with our current and prospective nonprofit clients.  The organizations that are going to get to the other side of this situation stronger are making a conscious effort today to reach out and connect with their core supporters.  They recognize that their relationships have never been more important than right now.  We are glad that so many are choosing GiftWorks to help manage and sustain these critical relationships.

As Bridgespan reports, "While tough times force hard choices, they can also bring people together. As a result of the recession, many nonprofits are reaching out and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders. Indeed, 69 percent of organizations we surveyed are developing new plans to communicate with stakeholders, 88 percent are investing more deeply in relationships with core funders, and 77 percent are engaging their boards or a subset of their boards to address the financial ramifications of the downturn. Reaching out to key supporters is often a nonprofit’s first line of defense in a crisis."

I hope you find this report helpful.  Please do share your insights in managing your organization through the Great Recession.  

Learning from the Best

We were delighted today to have hundreds and hundreds (wow!) of organizations attend our webinar on "The Development Plan: The Foundation of Success."  Presenter Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, is a real fundraising guru who was able to make the all-too-often intimidating planning process clear and achievable for organizations of all sizes.  The foundation of your success really is a good plan - please email us at info@missionresearch.com if you would like a copy of Linda's powerpoint.  Also please comment here if you attended and would like to share a key take-away with your peers.

We will be offering webinars with top-notch gurus like Linda every month going forward.  Do let us know via email or by commenting here if there is a topic you would find helpful to you as you work to achieve your mission.

For January, we will have Ruthellen Rubin, CFRE, presenting on how to get your Board of Directors involved and engaged in your fundraising efforts - another popular and timely subject!  Stay tuned for more information!

GiftWorks in Hong Kong!

We are proud to announce our partnership with TechDonation in Hong Kong to bring GiftWorks to the many NGOs headquartered there.  We share a common goal to empower organizations with best possible tools and technology to achieve their mission. This partnership is part of our ongoing work with TechSoup Global, where we are bringing the power and simplicity of GiftWorks to even more organizations doing critical work across the globe.

GiftWorks continues to spread worldwide.  We currently have customers in almost 30 countries including Canada, Australia, Singapore, China, Scotland, France, South Africa, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

We welcome our friends in Hong Kong to the GiftWorks community!