<p>Fundraising on Donor360 is not only fun and free, but it’s also incredibly easy! In this blog, we’ll go over how to start your first campaign, so you can quickly start raising funds for your non-profit or for a charity you support!</p><p>To get started you’ll first need an account. If you don’t have a Donor360 account yet, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">here</a>.</p><p>Once you’ve logged into your Donor360 account, you’re ready to start your first fundraising campaign. From your Donor360 dashboard, click ‘Start New Campaign.’ This will bring you to our beautiful campaign builder. As you begin to populate the entry forms, you’ll begin to see your campaign page preview take form on the right side of the screen. Use the arrow in the upper middle part of the screen to toggle back and forth between mobile and desktop views. Then, follow the steps below to create your first campaign!</p><h3><strong>1. Enter the Charity You Want to Support</strong></h3><p>From the dropdown list, you’ll select which charity you want to support. Their name, EIN, and address will populate as you begin to type. If you don’t see the charity you want to support, try using the exact name they use for their tax returns. You can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guidestar.org/search" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">GuideStar’s</a>&nbsp;free search to help you find their exact name. If you still can’t find the charity you want to support on our database, they may not be recognized as a 503(1)(C) tax-exempt entity yet. Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sydney@donorthreesixty.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">sydney@donorthreesixty.com</a>&nbsp;for more information.</p><h3><strong>2. Craft Creative Campaign Details</strong></h3><p>Next, enter a creative campaign name. We recommend using something that has to do with what you’re raising money for, a seasonal or holiday focus, or just something simple and fun.</p><p>Examples are:</p><ul><li>New Year Pick-Me-Up for a campaign featuring coffee</li><li>An Even Sweeter Valentine’s Day for a seasonal campaign featuring chocolates and teddy bears</li><li>St. Mary School’s Scholarship Fundraiser for a campaign benefiting a school’s scholarship fund</li></ul><p>Below, pick a URL for your campaign - something that is easy to say and remember so people can find your campaign directly. We recommend using the name of your fundraiser. Enter your fundraiser goal, start date, and end date. Finally, write a paragraph or two about the organization you’re raising money for, why people should support them, and something fun about this fundraiser in particular. Click next when you’re done.</p><h3><strong>3. Add Photos and Media</strong></h3><p>Next, you’ll come to the media section of your campaign. Here, you can choose photos to add to your campaign page. We recommend using high-quality images that showcase what you are raising money for or something that has to do with the theme of your fundraiser. You can select up to five images. You can also enter a video here by entering an embed code from a video hosting source.</p><h3><strong>4. Pick the Products</strong></h3><p>One of the most exciting parts of building a fundraising campaign with Donor360 is choosing which products you’d like to sell. Our catalog is full of amazing USDA-certified organic and Fair Trade products that are good for the earth and people! You can pick up to six products to vend for each fundraiser. We recommend picking products that have to do with your theme, such as chocolates and teddy bears for a Valentine’s Day fundraiser.</p><h3><strong>5. Submit Your Campaign for Review</strong></h3><p>After you’ve filled out all of your campaign details and picked your products, go over the campaign preview to make sure everything looks correct. When you’re satisfied with your campaign, click ‘Submit Details.’ Our campaign specialists will review your campaign for authenticity and will approve it within 24 hours.</p><h3><strong>6. Share It and Watch the Funds Come In</strong></h3><p>Once your campaign is approved, you’ll be able to share the page link on your social media pages, in newsletters, and on your website. From your Donor360 dashboard, you’ll be able to see details about your campaign, like how much you’ve raised and who has donated. Happy fundraising! Need more help? Get in touch with one of our campaign specialists at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sydney@donorthreesixty.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">kristen@donorthreesixty.com</a>.</p>

medium_online-fundraising-strategy.jpg

small_online-fundraising-strategy.jpg

thumbnail_online-fundraising-strategy.jpg

online-fundraising-strategy.jpg

Gaining support through online fundraising has great potential, but if you don't have an effective online fundraising strategy, your efforts can fall short. Donor360 is committed to helping you achieve your fundraising goals for serving the greater good! Read on for our tips on improving your online fundraising strategy.

8 Ways to Improve Your Online Fundraising Strategy

<p>In recent years, concern about the potential dangers of harsh chemicals in baby and children’s products has led to a rise in organic baby foods and clothing. However, many parents haven’t yet considered that their children’s toys may contain harmful additives and chemicals. Toy manufacturers are often more concerned with profits than with making a safe product.&nbsp;All parents want to protect their children from potentially harmful materials, especially when they are in important developmental stages. Organic toys for children are a healthy alternative made from eco-friendly, safe materials.&nbsp;</p><h1 class="ql-align-center">What’s wrong with non-organic toys?</h1><p>The corporate toy market produces goods that are easily constructed and cheaply disposable, which are good for passing trends and changing interests. This approach isn’t necessarily good for the environment or for the children who will be repeatedly exposed to their products.&nbsp;</p><p>From the oil extraction to produce LEGO sets to the artificial stuffing pumped into cheap plushies and the heavy metals in paints that pose exposure risks for kids, the toy industry often overlooks safety and environmental health when making their products. In fact, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/environmental_risks/docs/scher_o_121.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">Scientific Committee On Health and Environmental Risks in the EU</a>&nbsp;found that there was a considerable threat in the inhalation of CRMs (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic) from multiple toys on the market.&nbsp;</p><p>Teething babies can be exposed to harmful materials on the surface level of toys as they erode over time from continuously being bit. In the long term, plastics, formaldehyde, and even common fire retardants used in toys can present health risks to kids’ skin, hair, and eyes both immediately and later in life according to the same report from the EU.&nbsp;</p><h1 class="ql-align-center">What makes organic toys better?</h1><p>Conscious consumers and parents are choosing to buy organic toys for several reasons. Organic toys tend to be safer for children as well as safer for the environment. Because the corporate toy industry hasn’t produced many organic toys yet, buying organic toys often supports small businesses as well.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Organic Toys are Safer For Children</strong></h2><p>Organic toys for children are built with the clear intention of keeping children safe from CRMs and other byproducts of inorganic production. To even earn the label of being an organic toy, the product must be completely grown and processed organically, with no chemical additives in the manufacturing process. Dyes come from natural plant sources, stuffing and plush are sourced naturally, and hard materials can be made from wood without pesticides.&nbsp;</p><p>The Global Organic Textile Standard is an international cooperative managing the definition and labeling of organic textiles. For toys, this mostly applies to stuffed animals and plush toys. Toys labeled as ‘organic’ by the GOTS must be made from at least 95% organic fibers or can be labeled as ‘made with organic materials’ if it’s made from at least 70% organic fibers. Children’s toys can be reviewed under&nbsp;<a href="https://global-standard.org/the-standard/gots-key-features/ecological-and-social-criteria" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">these global standards</a>&nbsp;to test their organic quality.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Organic Toys are Safer for the Environment</strong></h2><p>Organic toy manufacturers have also adopted a more eco-friendly approach than other toy brands. By creating longer-lasting products, with recycled and organic materials, they’ve minimized waste. It’s an approach that’s disrupted the toy industry. Industry giants have followed in that leadership, with LEGO planning to replace its storied plastic bricks with new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/lego-pledges-to-ditch-plastic-packaging-for-recyclable-paper-bags" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">bio-bricks made of organic materials by 2030.</a>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Organic Toys Support Small and Ethical Businesses</strong></h2><p>Larger corporations and big businesses are the most likely to deliver non-organic toys to children. Taking the time to find small companies that care about the safety of children and the environment is a great way to support small business and the organic toy industry. By refusing to buy dangerous toys that are harmful to the environment, you can ‘vote with your dollar’ to reject the irresponsible side of the toy-making industry. Supporting the manufacture of organic toys supports the small businesses that have pioneered the success of similar products.&nbsp;</p><p>One of our favorite organic toy manufacturers is Bears for Humanity. They produce a variety of stuffed animals, such as eagles, giraffes, and classic teddy bears. The toys are hypoallergenic, free of harmful plastics and chemicals, and 100% certified by the GOTS. Bears for Humanity also uses a ‘Buy one, give one’ model, which means that whenever you buy a toy from Bears for Humanity, a child in need also receives a stuffed animal. “It’s a gift to feel good about,”&nbsp;they say.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><img src="http://localhost:1337/uploads/bears_for_humanity_toys_9533918819.jpg"></p><p><br></p><h1 class="ql-align-center">Support the Organic Toy Industry &amp; the Greater Good</h1><p>Bears for Humanity plush toys can be purchased on Donor360 through several fundraisers already being hosted.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/campaign/kidstoparks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">These</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/campaign/heartofemerson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">campaigns</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/campaign/ElaynasBearsthatCare" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">feature</a>&nbsp;Bears for Humanity organic toys. Or, if you're looking to raise money for a good cause, then you can use Bears for Humanity's organic toys to further your own fundraisers. Sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">here</a>&nbsp;to start your first fundraiser on Donor360.&nbsp;</p>

large_organic-toys-for-children.jpg

medium_organic-toys-for-children.jpg

small_organic-toys-for-children.jpg

thumbnail_organic-toys-for-children.jpg

organic-toys-for-children.jpg

In recent years, concern about the potential dangers of harsh chemicals in baby and children’s products has led to a rise in organic baby foods and clothes. However, many parents haven’t yet considered that their children’s toys may contain harmful additives and chemicals.

Are Organic Toys Safer for Children?

<p>The coffee industry is in a state of emergency. Coffee is&nbsp;one of the most in-demand commodities on the planet, with the global coffee industry worth over $200 billion. Yet, many coffee farmers struggle just to feed their families.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This global coffee crisis is due to the incredibly cheap price of coffee. Coffee farms, many of which are located in developing countries, are struggling to cover their costs, let alone make a profit. They are forced to lower their standards, lower wages or fire workers, and grow in a hazardous or unsustainable way. We contribute to this problem when we purchase cheap coffee from companies that value ease and speed over quality and fair wages.&nbsp;</p><h1>You Can Help by Drinking Fair Trade and Organic Coffee</h1><p><img src="https://donor360-media.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/img_6000b0a86ddf02-11321120-65094247-md.jpg" height="151" width="227"></p><p>All of us can impact the coffee industry in a positive way. By purchasing Fair Trade and organic coffee, you can ‘vote with your dollar’ for a quality product, ethical farming practices, and fair living wages for coffee growers. Read on to see how drinking Fair Trade and organic coffee can help with the global coffee crisis.</p><h2><strong>Fair Trade Helps Farmers Get Paid Fairly</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;The incredibly cheap price of coffee is one of the main culprits of the global coffee crisis.&nbsp;Something called the ‘C Price’ largely dictates what a coffee grower can sell a bag of coffee for on the market. The ‘C Price’ is what coffee is sold as a commodity for on the New York Stock Exchange. Although this doesn’t directly control how much a supplier will be able to sell their coffee for, it is the basic guideline for anyone buying or selling coffee.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;The C Price dropped from $2 a pound in 2014 to a 14 year low of 89 cents a pound in 2019. At this price, almost any coffee producer would be selling at a loss. This means debts pile up, laborers’ wages are slashed or they’re fired, and communities go hungry.</p><p>&nbsp;Although the reasons for the volatile coffee price are complex, Fair Trade Coffee offers a solution. The Fair Trade minimum price guarantees those who sell on fair trade terms at least $1.40 per pound, or $1.70 per pound if the coffee is also certified organic. This is only a minimum benchmark, and if the market price goes over the benchmark, then coffee growers would be able to trade at a higher price.&nbsp;Having a minimum price helps coffee farmers make smarter investments, hire and pay workers with confidence, and feed their families.</p><h2><strong>Fair Trade Terms Help Communities</strong></h2><p><img src="https://donor360-media.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/img_6000b0bb6d3c26-03949820-42569568-md.jpg" height="342" width="228"></p><p>An estimated 90 percent of globally traded coffee comes from developing countries, and the global coffee crisis has&nbsp;hit poor, rural communities the hardest. In some cases, the health and welfare of an entire community depend on the success of a single farm. In places like Guatemala, coffee farmers who are forced to operate at a loss because of the falling market price of coffee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/06/19/why-are-people-leaving-central-america/?sh=5c9f071b6c51" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">sometimes abandon their farms and attempt to migrate to the US</a>&nbsp;in hopes of a better life.&nbsp;</p><p>Fair Trade coffee is sold with terms that help communities. On top of the minimum benchmark price, producers also earn an extra $.20 on each pound of coffee sold on fair trade terms for their Community Development Fund. From this fund, coffee farmers in their cooperative can vote democratically on how they want to allocate their funds.</p><p>Farmers can put this money towards supporting their communities on a social, economical, or environmental level. At least 25 percent of this money must go to improving their own operations, by leveling up their productivity and quality initiatives. This helps farms be more resilient in the face of climate change and a volatile market.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Fair Trade Encourages Healthy Growing Practices</strong></h2><p>When farmers are operating at a loss due to lowered market prices, they often are forced to cut costs by any means. They may begin to use unsafe methods to grow their crops more cheaply. In some cases, they are compelled to fire workers and rely on chemicals more than labor. Instead of growing coffee in its natural, shady environment, they may grow hybrid plants in full sun. These hybrids can be harvested more quickly and planted more densely. This puts the farm at risk of soil erosion and destroys the natural balance of the local ecosystem.&nbsp;</p><p>When farmers are being paid an adequate amount for their products, they are able to maintain healthy growing practices and invest in environmentally sustainable processes. Although Fair Trade USA doesn’t require coffee growers to operate organically, they do offer a premium price for organic coffee. They also have an Agricultural Production standard that, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairtradecertified.org/news/fair-trade-coffee-myths" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">Fair Trade USA website</a>, includes ‘a range of environmental protections with criteria related to efficient water usage; protection of biodiversity, forests, and waterways; prevention of the use of GMOs and reduction of harmful pesticides; utilization of techniques for integrated pest management and soil health; and waste disposal management.’</p><p>Luckily, more organically grown coffees are certified as Fair Trade than ‘conventionally’ grown coffees. Between 1998 and 2018, Fair Trade USA certified around 1.06 billion pounds of organic coffee. They only certified 780 million pounds of conventional coffee.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Organic Coffee Is Grown Without Chemicals</strong></h2><p>Meeting the huge demand for coffee around the world, at incredibly cheap prices has not been easy on farmers. As a result, farmers are forced to grow coffee in a way that puts themselves, the environment, and the consumer at risk.&nbsp;</p><p>Conventionally grown coffee is one of the most heavily chemically treated foods in the world. Growers use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides in order to increase production with less manpower. These chemicals are harmful to the workers who handle them and to surrounding communities who are subjected to them through air or water.&nbsp;</p><p>Farmers grow organic coffee without chemicals. You know that by drinking an organic cup of joe, you’re not inadvertently contributing to the poisoning of a village’s water supply. Organic practices include feeding the soil with natural products, like compost, and often help the entire ecosystem of a farm become more healthy and viable.&nbsp;</p><h1>You Can Do Something About the Global Coffee Crisis</h1><p><img src="https://donor360-media.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/img_6000b3b1bf2bd2-24330911-61787460-md.jpg" height="244" width="366"></p><p>By drinking Fair Trade and Organic coffee, you can have a positive impact on the coffee industry. Fair Trade and organic coffee are more expensive and that is a&nbsp;<em>good</em>&nbsp;thing. If you value the lives and livelihoods of the people&nbsp;who grow and produce your coffee, then you should want them to get paid what their coffee is worth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;not less.&nbsp;</p><p>Unfortunately, our society has come to value cheapness and convenience more than quality, and this has detrimental effects on the world at large.</p><p><strong>As conscious consumers, we should be happy to switch our thinking from ‘cheaper is better,’ to ‘I am happy to pay a higher price for products that are good for the earth and people.’</strong></p><p><em>Ready to buy some awesome, Fair Trade and organic coffee? Double your impact by purchasing your next batch of Fair Trade and organic coffee from a Donor360 fundraiser. Thirty to fifty percent of your sale will go directly to a charity, instead of big business. See some of our live fundraisers&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/campaigns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);"><em>here</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em></p>

large_img_128-lg.jpg

medium_img_128-lg.jpg

small_img_128-lg.jpg

thumbnail_img_128-lg.jpg

img_128-lg.jpg

Coffee is one of the most in-demand commodities on the planet, but many coffee farmers struggle just to feed their families. Find out how drinking Fair Trade and organic coffee can help with the global coffee crisis.

Why Drinking Fair Trade and Organic Coffee Matters

medium_img_543-md.jpg

small_img_543-md.jpg

thumbnail_img_543-md.jpg

img_543-md.jpg

Fundraising on Donor360 is not only fun and free, but it’s also incredibly easy! In this blog, we'll go over how to start your first campaign.

5 Easy Steps to Start a Fundraising Campaign

<p>Chocolate is one of the great loves of humanity, but few people know or think about the harm it can cause to farmers, communities, and consumers. Like many consumer products on this planet, when produced in bulk, low-costs become the highest value, while quality and safety fall by the wayside.&nbsp;</p><p>At Donor360, we want to ensure that any chocolate you buy or vend is good for people and the earth. This is why we only partner with organic and Fair Trade chocolate companies, like Alter Eco, Olive and Sinclair, and TCHO.&nbsp;</p><p>In order to ensure that your chocolate is safe and ethical, it’s crucial to buy and vend high-quality organic and Fair Trade chocolate. Here’s why:&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>1. Organically Grown Cacao is Good for the Earth&nbsp;</strong></h2><p>Cacao is the plant that chocolate is produced from. Like many crops, it’s susceptible to pests and diseases. In many places that produce cacao, in what’s known as the cacao belt (within 30 degrees of the equator), restrictions on pesticides and chemicals used on crops are much less regulated than in the United States. These synthetic pesticides and herbicides can have harmful effects on the environment around them because they kill species that are necessary to maintain a natural and healthy eco-system.&nbsp;</p><p>Organic chocolate is grown without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Instead, organic pest deterrents are used, along with biodynamic fertilizers. This helps the land that the cacao is grown on stay healthy and natural and preserves its eco-system.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>2. Organic Chocolate is Better for You</strong></h2><p>Organically produced and made chocolate is grown without the use of dangerous herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer and contains only organic ingredients. Many big-name chocolate and candy companies use wax, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and coloring, and GMO ingredients in their products. All of these additives have been linked to health concerns.&nbsp;</p><p>When you buy organic chocolate, such as Alter Eco from Donor360’s marketplace, you know that your chocolate was grown without contaminants such as herbicides and pesticides. You also know they contain only organic and NON-GMO ingredients. This means you’ll be eating a much purer and healthier product.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>3. Organic Chocolate is Healthier for Farmers</strong></h2><p>Not only is organic chocolate better for your health, but it’s also better for farmers and their communities. Farmers on non-organic farms have to work amongst harmful chemicals, which are linked to serious health complications. As many cacao farms are located in developing countries, they are less likely to have safety measures, such as productive gear, to ensure the health and wellness of their workers.&nbsp;</p><p>Farmers on organic farms work with natural products that are not harmful for their health. Buying organic chocolate helps to keep farmers and workers abroad safe.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>4. Fair Trade Chocolate Means Workers Earn a Living Wage</strong></h2><p>Traditionally-grown and produced chocolate bars may be grown by child-laborers. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/ListofGoods.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">a report by the U.S. Department of Labor</a>, 2 million children work in the cacao sector in West Africa alone. Even if child labor is not used, many cacao farmers and laborers will not earn a fair living wage from their work. Companies that place the importance of a cheap final product over quality and integrity don’t pay cacao farmers what their product is worth.&nbsp;</p><p>Fair Trade chocolate companies, such as TCHO, source their cacao fairly, make sure that everyone on their supply chain is earning a fair, steady living wage and that no child or slave labor is used.&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Shop Donor360’s Marketplace for Organic and Fair Trade Products</strong></h2><p>Two of Donor360’s values are environmental stewardship and fair wages and trade. This means that all of the products in Donor360’s catalog are USDA organic or Fair Trade certified. We want to make sure that the chocolates that you are buying or vending for fundraisers are good for people and good for the earth. You can feel good knowing that the chocolate that you’re vending to raise money for your kids’ school is sourced without the use of child labor!</p><p>To learn more about our chocolate partners, TCHO, Olive and Sinclair, and Alter Eco, visit our catalog. Ready to start fundraising with Donor360 and vend amazing, organic and Fair Trade chocolate? Sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 123, 255);">here</a>!</p>

large_img_28-lg.jpg

medium_img_28-lg.jpg

small_img_28-lg.jpg

thumbnail_img_28-lg.jpg

img_28-lg.jpg

In order to ensure that your chocolate is safe and ethical, it’s crucial to buy and vend high-quality organic and Fair Trade chocolate.

Why We Love Organic & Fair Trade Chocolate Brands

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Donor360 provides nonprofits and advocates a modern method to effectively fundraise for all kinds of causes. Donor360’s unique approach combines the concepts of GoFundMe and Amazon with a curated catalog of exclusively ethical, organic, Fair Trade, and cruelty-free products. The platform is an ecosystem where nonprofits, advocates, conscious-minded corporations, and forward-thinking brands can all benefit from one another.&nbsp;</span></p><h1><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Over $14,000 of Ethical Goods Sold in Just a Few Days</span></h1><p><a href="https://www.savingpenguins.org/shop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Saving Penguins</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> is a nonprofit whose mission is to save the rapidly declining population of African Penguins. They created their Donor360 fundraising eShop in 2022 and are already seeing massive success. In just a few days, Saving Penguins was able to raise over $14,000 for their African Penguin Nest Project. In their eShop, they sell exclusive, branded, organic apparel and plush toys, as well as specially-designed penguin nests to raise money to save African Penguins from extinction.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Each time a supporter purchases an organic cotton t-shirt, Saving Penguins receives 50% of the purchase price. When supporters purchase an organic cotton penguin plushie, the organization receives 100% of the product value. The funds are sent directly to the Dallas Zoo, which funds the African Penguin Nest Project.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Penguin lovers are also able to sponsor specially-designed “penguin nests,” that are made to </span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/23/africa/african-penguin-nest-project-c2e-spc-intl-scn/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">mimic the nests</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> penguins use in the wild. Because of the changing climate and human involvement, the natural material that African Penguins used to build their nests is no longer available. Conservationists spent years designing man-made nests that could provide a safe and comfortable home for penguins to breed and live in. These homes are now saving many penguins from perishing in the harsh, hot South African climate, and hopefully will help bring the penguins’ dwindling population back from the brink of extinction.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fundraising Made Easy</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saving Penguins is just one example of how Donor360’s unique approach to fundraising can make a huge difference for nonprofits and their projects. Donor360 is completely free to use, making it an extremely powerful and accessible tool for fundraising. Setting up a shop takes only a few minutes, and shops can be embedded directly into an organization’s website. If you are ready to start earning more funds for a cause you care about, register today and open a new avenue of fundraising through ethical eCommerce.&nbsp;</span></p>

large_bernd-dittrich-1y8wPq5zJYA-unsplash.jpg

medium_bernd-dittrich-1y8wPq5zJYA-unsplash.jpg

small_bernd-dittrich-1y8wPq5zJYA-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_bernd-dittrich-1y8wPq5zJYA-unsplash.jpg

bernd-dittrich-1y8wPq5zJYA-unsplash.jpg

Donor360 provides nonprofits and advocates a modern method to effectively fundraise for all kinds of causes. Donor360’s unique approach combines the concepts of GoFundMe and Amazon with a curated catalog of exclusively ethical, organic, Fair Trade, and cruelty-free products. 

eShop Highlight: Saving Penguins 

<p>Here are step by step instructions to embed a YouTube Short video url into a campaign/eShop:</p><p><br></p><ol><li>Go to your Short video on YouTube.</li><li>Click the share button &amp; copy the Short video link or URL or&nbsp;<strong>Copy the URL from the address bar directly</strong>.</li><li>Open any editor or notepad or new tab window on your browser (to prevent it from directly opening in-app) and&nbsp;<strong>Replace "Shorts" with "Watch" on the URL</strong>.</li><li>When it opens as a regular video click on the share button again and click on the Embed. After that copy url code and paste the same into your campaign/eShop video url field.</li></ol><p><br></p><p>That’s it, you’re good to go :)</p>

large_BFG-Web-Banner conflict (2).jpg

medium_BFG-Web-Banner conflict (2).jpg

small_BFG-Web-Banner conflict (2).jpg

thumbnail_BFG-Web-Banner conflict (2).jpg

BFG-Web-Banner conflict (2).jpg

Learn converting YouTube Short video into a embed url that works on your Campaign/eShop on Donor360

Embed YouTube shorts into a campaign/eShop

<h1><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">How to Start Your Teddy Bear Drive on Donor360</span></h1><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Starting a teddy bear and toy drive on Donor360 is incredibly easy. Begin by heading over to </span><a href="http://www.donorthreesixty.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">www.donorthreesixty.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> and sign in to your account dashboard. If you don’t have an account already, make sure to sign up first.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">1. Start a New Campaign</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Once you’ve signed in and are on your dashboard, click </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Start New Campaign</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">. First, you’ll choose what charity you want to support. With Donor360, you can support any of the 1.6 million registered local or national charities in the United States. You’ll need to enter the charity’s exact name or EIN. If you don’t know it, you can find it on </span><a href="http://www.guidestar.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">www.guidestar.org</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">2. Design Your Campaign Page&nbsp;</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Donor360 provides beautiful, ready-made campaign pages. Our campaign builder allows you to see how your campaign will look as you edit it in real time. As you input information on the left of the screen, you’ll see the content populate on the right.&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span style="color: rgb(67, 67, 67); background-color: transparent;">Add Descriptive Details</span></h3><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Under the </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Details</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> tab, you can enter some basic information about your holiday teddy bear drive. Here you will choose a name for your campaign, for example </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Holiday Teddy Bear Drive Benefiting the Children of Louisville.</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> You’ll be able to create your own campaign URL. We recommend picking something easy to remember so people can find your campaign directly.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Next, you’ll pick the monetary goal for the drive. Remember that 30% of the teddy bear or plush toy price will go to the chosen charity and donors will also have the option to add a cash donation when they check out. You can decide how/when your campaign will end - either on a set date or when a certain dollar amount is reached. You can check the charity’s website to see if they need in-kind donations for the holidays by a certain date.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">The last step on the details page is to tell people about your drive by adding a description. This is your opportunity to give some details about the charity you’re supporting and get donors excited about the cause. If you’d like, you can also add a video here to give supporters an inside look at the nonprofit’s work and goals.&nbsp;</span></p><h3><span style="color: rgb(67, 67, 67); background-color: transparent;">Add Engaging Media</span></h3><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">In the </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Media</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> tab, you have the option to add 1-5 photos that show what your fundraiser is all about. With the charity or organization’s permission, you can use photos from their website to highlight the specific cause you’ll be raising money for. Another option is browsing for stock images online or using photos from past teddy drives you have done.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">To make your campaign really pop, you can add a video to give donors a look at who they will be helping. If you can’t find a video from the organization on YouTube or Vimeo, you can record a short clip describing why this charity would benefit from donations and why it’s close to your heart. When finished, just add the video’s YouTube or Vimeo embed code to your description to bring it to life.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">3. Choose Your Favorite Plushies to Collect</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Now, it’s time for the fun part! Take a scroll through the </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Products</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> tab to choose which plush toys you’d like to include in your holiday campaign. You’ll find all sorts of critters from bears to monkeys to turtles! All plushies are made by </span><a href="https://www.bearsforhumanity.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Bears for Humanity</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> and are organic, Fair Trade and eco-friendly. To make things even sweeter, each time a bear is purchased, Bears for Humanity will donate a second bear to a child in need. </span></p><p><img src="https://cms.donorthreesixty.com/uploads/2_8a93e70812.jpeg"></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">4. Check and Submit</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Before you submit your campaign details for approval, have a look over everything to make sure it looks right on the campaign preview. Once you’ve got everything looking the way you want, click </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Submit Details.</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> Your campaign will be reviewed by our team and approved within 24 hours.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">5. Set Up Donation Configuration</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Directly after you submit your campaign for approval, you’ll be able to set up shipping details in </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Donation Configuration.</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> To have toys delivered directly to the charity, toggle on the </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Ship for Free to Charity </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">option. When the order is shipped directly to the charity’s address, donors will receive a tax receipt for their entire order.&nbsp;</span></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">If you have any questions about setting up or running your teddy bear or toy drive with Donor360, feel free to reach out to sneha@donorthreesixty.com.</em></p><p><br></p>

large_fundraise.jpg

medium_fundraise.jpg

small_fundraise.jpg

thumbnail_fundraise.jpg

fundraise.jpg

Starting a teddy bear and toy drive on Donor360 is incredibly easy. It's as easy as Register > Create > Share. Learn how to create and share your own Teddy Bear Drive today.

How to Start A Teddy Bear Drive on Donor360

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Search engine optimization, or SEO, involves making changes to a website’s design or content in order to attract more organic search traffic. Strategic and consistent use of SEO builds your website’s credibility and authority, giving the website a better chance of ranking high in search results. More organic search traffic means that a nonprofit’s mission, stories, and goals will be on display for more potential donors, volunteers, and advocates.&nbsp;</span></p><h1><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Why Strong SEO for Nonprofits is Essential</span></h1><p><img src="https://cms.donorthreesixty.com/uploads/Adobe_Stock_236987927_40db808084.jpeg"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">With </span><a href="https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share#monthly-201803-201903-bar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">over 90%</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> of the search engine market value, Google has enormous potential to connect nonprofits to current and future supporters. It’s no surprise with the massive amount of searches that Google receives, it has become a very competitive space. Nearly </span><a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-first-page-clicks/374516/#close" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">30% </a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">of Google users will click on the first organic search result that comes up, compared with just 2.5% of users that may click on the tenth post. Very few users will ever continue onto the second page of results. The fight to rank in the top posts leads websites to use paid services like Google Ads, which allow websites to pay to put ads on their content in exchange for better rankings.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">4 Tips to Boost Your Nonprofit’s SEO</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Most nonprofits and charities likely do not have endless funds to pour into their SEO strategy. The good news is a solid SEO strategy doesn’t have to involve paid ads. Choosing the correct keywords, building high-quality content, building backlinks, and optimizing for user experience all can help to drive more free, organic traffic to your cause.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">1. Keywords</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Keywords allow you to strategically direct your content to a motivated audience that wants to know more about your organization’s cause. There are many tools available that can help you choose the best keywords to use to create content. Various factors are involved when determining whether or not to use a keyword, but two of the most important are search volume and competition. Search volume gives a good indication of how many people are currently searching for a keyword, and a competition or difficulty score will tell you how much content around that keyword already exists.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">When planning content, create a list of potential keywords then run them through free sites like </span><a href="https://serpstat.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Serpstat</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> to determine search volume and competition level. Once you have a list of good keywords that have the potential to rank, you can use them to create content for your website pages and blog. Blog articles can be built around individual keywords or you can go back in and add keywords to previously written articles. Keywords should also be used in titles, headings, and subheadings when appropriate. If you are having trouble coming up with potential keywords, try putting another keyword into </span><a href="https://keywordtool.io/google" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">keywordtool.io</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">, which will generate a list of related keywords or phrases.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">2.&nbsp;Create Quality Content&nbsp;</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Every day Google is getting smarter at determining how well a website’s content is able to answer users’ questions and concerns. While keywords provide a roadmap that content can be built around, it’s important that the content is useful, accurate, and informative. When planning new blogs, have a look at similar posts that are currently ranking well on Google. In your article, try to fill in any content gaps that these articles may have missed. If possible, it’s always a good rule of thumb to write an article with a larger word count than the current highest-ranking articles.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">3. Use Backlinks to Boost SEO&nbsp;</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">The correct keywords will guide you to write sought-after content. Providing thorough and engaging articles based on these keywords will help your organization’s articles rank high in search results. Once content begins to rank, supporters, advocates, journalists, and related organizations can link directly to your nonprofit’s articles on their own websites and in their blogs.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Backlinks can help to expand an organization’s name, mission, and goals to new audiences and increase the chances of connecting with motivated donors or supporters. They also boost your credibility within google’s algorithm. Over time, building up high-quality backlinks from trusted websites with authority will help </span><a href="https://www.digitalmarketing.org/blog/how-to-increase-website-traffic-and-use-backlinks#:~:text=Backlinks%20help%20websites%20increase%20their,actually%20increase%20your%20website%20traffic." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">drive traffic</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> to your organization’s content as well. To help create more opportunities for backlinks, nonprofits can offer to write guest blogs for similar organizations or related websites, as well as invite guest writers to write for their blogs.</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">4. Optimize Your Website</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">A website should be easy and straightforward to navigate. A site map can help lead visitors to find engaging, accurate, and thorough content. The content provided should accurately reflect the keywords chosen. It can also be of great benefit to consider optimizing a website for different types of devices. </span><a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7808-google-search-ranking-mobile.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">Mobile optimization</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> is especially important these days, as so many people use their phones to work, communicate, and connect. Factors such as </span><a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-speed-update-is-rolling-out-now-for-all-users/260293/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">website speed</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> also impact your website’s ability to rank well.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grow Your Organization’s Reach with Strategic SEO&nbsp;</span></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">SEO strategy is multi-faceted and always evolving. There are ways to optimize searchability for an organization’s website, social media, email, and whatever other outlets they use to provide content to supporters. If done correctly, optimizing SEO for separate channels can have a compounding effect since vital keywords will be shared throughout an organization’s media and marketing materials. Over time these small practices can lead to new relationships with donors and volunteers as well as stronger bonds with current supporters.&nbsp;</span></p>

large_AdobeStock_243104248.jpeg

medium_AdobeStock_243104248.jpeg

small_AdobeStock_243104248.jpeg

thumbnail_AdobeStock_243104248.jpeg

AdobeStock_243104248.jpeg

Search engine optimization, or SEO, involves making changes to a website’s design or content in order to attract more organic search traffic. Strategic and consistent use of SEO builds your website’s credibility and authority, giving the website a better chance of ranking high in search results. More organic search traffic means that a nonprofit’s mission, stories, and goals will be on display for more potential donors, volunteers, and advocates. 

4 Factors That Boost SEO for Nonprofits

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There are many channels available to nonprofits to communicate and interact with their supporters. It is important to tell your </span><a href="https://www.donorthreesixty.com/blog/storytelling-the-best-nonprofit-marketing-strategy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">nonprofit’s story</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> through different platforms in order to connect with supporters whose donations habits vary. YouTube is a channel that takes some time to establish, but once up and running it can be of huge benefit to nonprofits and charity organizations. Whether you are looking to expand your nonprofit’s advocate and donor base, market for an upcoming fundraiser, or keep supporters engaged and inspired, YouTube has a lot to offer.&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://cms.donorthreesixty.com/uploads/Adobe_Stock_330161857_2c69b5af3e.jpeg"></p><h1><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">YouTube: Modern Marketing for a Nonprofit&nbsp;</span></h1><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nearly </span><a href="https://socialimpact.youtube.com/why-youtube/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">a third of all </a>internet users<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> regularly watch YouTube videos. Video has a unique ability to engage people and can be a powerful tool for storytelling. YouTube is accessed by people across many different demographics, including students, professionals, teachers, parents, and everyone in between. The platform offers a way to share content that informs, teaches, and inspires, as well as a way to open direct lines of communication with one’s audience. Youtube is free to use, and if used correctly can actually be of huge financial benefit when marketing a nonprofit.</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Tap into an Enormous Pool of Potential Supporters&nbsp;</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nearly </span><a href="https://socialimpact.youtube.com/why-youtube/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">1.5 billion</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> people use YouTube each month. YouTube is more than another social media channel, it is an enormous search engine that can connect a nonprofit to motivated supporters. YouTube reaches more people between the ages of </span><a href="https://socialimpact.youtube.com/why-youtube/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">18 and 34</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> than any U.S. cable network. Young adults of this age group live large parts of their lives online and are big consumers of social media. It's no surprise that they also </span><a href="https://www.charitableimpact.com/blog/differences-in-giving-by-generations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">prefer to go online</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to connect with and donate to their favorite charity organizations. YouTube offers a great way to effectively communicate with this large, motivated audience of volunteers, donors, and advocates.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Viewer engagement for posts on Instagram or Facebook generally peaks very quickly and then quickly loses traction. YouTube videos, on the other hand, tend to gain more interest over time. Nurturing a community on YouTube is a commitment, however, during this period of growth, sharing content builds trust with supporters and creates a sense of unity among viewers. As you share your nonprofit’s mission, triumphs, and challenges, supporters, and volunteers gain valuable insight into an organization’s dedication to its cause and how they can fit into that purpose.</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. Supporters can Donate Directly from YouTube</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The </span><a href="https://socialimpact.youtube.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">YouTube Social Impact</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> program was created to support nonprofits using YouTube to market for their causes. The program includes vital information on how to use YouTube effectively as a tool for marketing for a nonprofit, as well as stories of other nonprofits who are currently using YouTube to create a bigger impact. A nonprofit’s supporters are able to make </span><a href="https://socialimpact.youtube.com/how-to/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">direct donations</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> from the organization’s videos. YouTube also equips nonprofits with special “Link Anywhere” cards that enable them to link to any URL. These tools give nonprofits the ability to use their content to its fullest when it comes to driving motivated donors to give. For organizations that build up a large following, YouTube ads can be inserted into videos creating yet another stream of income for the nonprofit’s mission.</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. YouTube Allows You to Communicate Directly with Supporters</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Video offers a unique way to connect with an audience on a deeper emotional level. Sharing videos of the work your organization is doing gives supporters an inside look at who or what benefits from the program and why it is so necessary. Sharing regular content of a program’s progress shows supporters that their donations are making a difference and reinforces why they continue to donate their money or time to the cause. The comments section allows supporters to share stories, ideas, and motivation behind their dedication to the organization. This sharing of ideas builds a sense of community among donors and the nonprofit and helps supporters feel personally connected to the cause.</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. Video is a Pow</span>erful Way to Tell a Story</h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Video has been a powerful marketing tool for a long time as it enables viewers to connect on a deeper emotional level than images, text, or audio alone. Nonprofits are beginning to tap into this previously lesser-used medium to connect with supporters, donors, and advocates in an innovative way. Video can be used to give a complete picture of a nonprofit’s work. While written stories or testimonials are powerful, video allows for an inside look that lets viewers connect emotionally with the story they see. If possible, try to include videos of the population, place, or people that are impacted by your nonprofit's program, including personal testimonials when appropriate. In this </span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2021/04/26/10-ways-nonprofits-can-leverage-visual-storytelling/?sh=1569b12389ec" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">article</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">, 10 leaders from Forbes Nonprofit Council discuss why video is so impactful for a nonprofit’s audience and engagement rate.&nbsp;</span></p><h2><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Create Deeper Connections with Your Nonprofit’s Audience</span></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In the end, a nonprofit’s audience is one of its most valuable assets. Without a motivated base of support, it would be very difficult for nonprofits and charity organizations to accomplish their goals. Taking the time to expand and nurture an audience pays off in more ways than one. Aside from increasing donations, channels like YouTube can also help a nonprofit connect with new volunteers and advocates, share ideas and stories, as well as communicate and maintain relationships with supporters. </span></p>

large_AdobeStock_419893758.jpeg

medium_AdobeStock_419893758.jpeg

small_AdobeStock_419893758.jpeg

thumbnail_AdobeStock_419893758.jpeg

AdobeStock_419893758.jpeg

There are many channels available to nonprofits to communicate and interact with their supporters. It is important to tell your nonprofit’s story through different platforms in order to connect with supporters whose donations habits vary. YouTube is a channel that takes some time to establish, but once up and running it can be of huge benefit to nonprofits and charity organizations. Whether you are looking to expand your nonprofit’s advocate and donor base, market for an upcoming fundraiser, or keep supporters engaged and inspired, YouTube has a lot to offer. 

Donor Three Sixty Blog - Page 6

8 Ways to Improve Your Online Fundraising Strategy

Are Organic Toys Safer for Children?

Why Drinking Fair Trade and Organic Coffee Matters

5 Easy Steps to Start a Fundraising Campaign

Why We Love Organic & Fair Trade Chocolate Brands