Buy The Gift of Education For a Charity This Season

This year, if you’re thinking about a way to make a charitable donation in between your shopping, I want you to consider giving the charity of your choice the gift of an annual subscription to 501 Mission Place, the education and learning community we’ve built to help nonprofits and charities grow their capabilities. Through regular lectures and interviews, plus one-on-one interactions inside our member forums, we share the experience of people deep in the nonprofit space like Estrella Rosenberg from Big Love Little Hearts, John Haydon, Rob Hatch, Marc Pitman, and many others.

The monthly subscription rate is $27 US a month, but we’re pleased to announce a new annual rate of $297 (that’s one month free when you buy a year at a time), when you register here. We should note that we donate 10% of our earnings to a different charity, in the spirit of giving and in support of our mission.

As the holidays are upon us, think about spending the equivalent of a few family dinners out at a restaurant on helping a charity stretch their own dollars further and improve their mission capabilities. And if you’re a corporation and you want to spring for 1 or 5 or 10 of these gifts to keep 10 worthy causes in the know, let me know via our contact form and we’ll work with you to deliver that generous gift!

Thank you, and I hope this finds you well.

Join 501 Mission Place

(To be clear: 501 Mission Place isn’t a nonprofit: we work with nonprofits, but we donate 10% of every month’s earnings to a different charity. Your gift subscription is not subject to a tax rebate, but it sure is a nice gesture.)

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http://twitter.com/JGoldsborough JGoldsborough

Very cool project, Chris. Happy to share it. Question for you…I hear from people all the time — myself being one of them :) — through IABC, etc. who just want to get involved and help out nonprofits with communications projects to give back and gain experience. Any role for those folks in 501 Mission Place? Thanks.
http://twitter.com/JGoldsborough JGoldsborough

Very cool project, Chris. Happy to share it. Question for you…I hear from people all the time — myself being one of them :) — through IABC, etc. who just want to get involved and help out nonprofits with communications projects to give back and gain experience. Any role for those folks in 501 Mission Place? Thanks.

http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

Interesting. Maybe some kind of “matchmaking” opportunity? I like the idea of it. Is that what you meant?

http://twitter.com/JGoldsborough JGoldsborough

Sure, could be. Really was thinking there are a lot of PR pros out there, young and old, who might want to lend their skills to help a nonprofit through a project like this. A matchmaking opportunity would definitely be one way to make that happen. Open to continued brainstorming. Just thought it might be a cool way for people to “join the mission” (pardon the pun) :). Thanks.

Jay

This to me is another example of brand extension without understanding. You mention the word donation yet what you are suggesting is not a donation. It demonstrates clearly that there are folks that want the income stream from doing business in this sector without truly understanding this sector.

http://johnhaydon.com John Haydon

Jay – For those folks who think that buying a 501 Mission Place membership for their favorite nonprofit executive is a great idea, what would you call it? A gift?

I’ve been working in the nonprofit sector for years, and don’t see what misunderstanding Chris has. Not saying your wrong, just trying to understand your perspective. :-)
http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

I’m with John. I’m not sure what else to call it. When someone with money buys something for a nonprofit, isn’t that a donation?
http://FundraisingCoach.com marcapitman

Jay: I replied to you on my blog but will reply here too. The first part is the same, the second is new.

You surprise me. If we expected all of our donors in business to totally understand our industry BEFORE helping us, we’d be sunk.

Having run your own conference for nonprofit education, you of all people know that professional development is often the first thing cut when charities tighten their belt. So it is a gift. And one that could pay back far more than a straight gift of cash.

Not sure why you’re so twisted by this.

Jay

Mark,

There is no way you could spin a nonprofit wanting money off mission. You are well aware that nonprofits spend hours to decide strategically where dollars will go to advance the mission. Having somebody suggest that donors should ignore that work and forget discussing with a nonprofit what donation could have the greatest impact clearly does not understand this space or get this business.

Ask feed the children if they would like this membership or feed 60 kids, ask the folks at Rosie’s place would they like the 200 bucks to care for the homeless or membership in this thing that “could pay off”, ask the folks at Toys for Tots, ask African Wildlife do they want membership or rather the money to conserve 10 acres of land.

You surprise me that you would suggest not making a cash donation and to be supporting the sales concept that takes the decision away from the very people you wish to have this network serve. If you, as a nonprofit professional, are really suggesting that people not give outright gifts to a charity but instead should fund this membership instead then I think we will have to agree to disagree. To me it is the distinction of an exchange of a buck or a changed life. I could only ever suggest a changed life.

http://twitter.com/RobHatch Rob Hatch

Jay -

I’m happy we’re having this conversation. I understand your point very clearly as there were many times when I would have prefered a cash donation to just about anything. However, I don’t think that anyone is suggesting that ‘donors ignore the strategic planning’ and ‘forget discussing’ with a non-profit what their needs are.
For years I have watched Chris talk about relationships as well as encourage people to donate cash to a number of non-profits. I read his suggestion as simply an option and one that presumes relationship. As in, ‘hey, you might know a non-profit ED who could benefit from talking with other non-profit EDs, so consider a membership to a forum that provides just that’. No one suggested not talking to the ED before hand or blindly donating a membership to 501 to the CEO of the Red Cross.
To me, it’s about a choice and it’s about relationships. Should someone know a NPO leader who woud want this, but can’t afford it, it seems like might be a good fit. That’s it.

Jay

Rob,

I appreciate your thoughtful response. These are times of shrinking margins and people seeking new revenue streams. The nonprofit industry is currently being bombarded with new “experts” who really have very little understanding of this business. Your networks lead sales person hit a nerve with using the holiday season to fund this network for an organization. I did not read any reference to helping an NPO that really wants to be a part of the network, that would have been a very different reading experience. This is a time of year to feed hungry families, give a child a toy or shelter. I think new ventures into this sector need to lead with a level of real appreciation of nonprofit industry not simply an understanding of the for profit world.
Rob because of this exchange I have just contributed this morning to Toys for Tots and I will pass on joining the network. I would have loved to read your message in the original blog post. Happy Holidays and perhaps folks who read this might consider making a gift right now to help someone enjoy this holiday season.

http://twitter.com/RobHatch Rob Hatch

Jay -

I’m happy we’re having this conversation. I understand your point very clearly as there were many times when I would have prefered a cash donation to just about anything. However, I don’t think that anyone is suggesting that ‘donors ignore the strategic planning’ and ‘forget discussing’ with a non-profit what their needs are.
For years I have watched Chris talk about relationships as well as encourage people to donate cash to a number of non-profits. I read his suggestion as simply an option and one that presumes relationship. As in, ‘hey, you might know a non-profit ED who could benefit from talking with other non-profit EDs, so consider a membership to a forum that provides just that’. No one suggested not talking to the ED before hand or blindly donating a membership to 501 to the CEO of the Red Cross.
To me, it’s about a choice and it’s about relationships. Should someone know a NPO leader who woud want this, but can’t afford it, it seems like might be a good fit. That’s it.
http://FundraisingCoach.com marcapitman

Funny. In my world, “gifts in kind” are a way people support my organization. Of course I always ask for the unrestricted gift. But if a donor wants to help in a way other than an outright gift that supports our strategic vision and mission, I’m definitely interested.

It seems a sole focus on outright gifts is like putting a kink in the donation hose.

Jay

Sorry Marc just not buying what you’re selling, I am sure many people will. Best of luck with your new venture.

http://twitter.com/charityestrella Estrella Rosenberg

Jay, I’m confused as to why this wouldn’t qualify as a donation. I’ve donated a membership to the Foundation Center to just about every non-profit I’m closely involved with for the last 7 years and receive a tax letter for my in-kind gift. According to the IRS, that’s a donation.
http://twitter.com/charityestrella Estrella Rosenberg

Jay, I’m confused as to why this wouldn’t qualify as a donation. I’ve donated a membership to the Foundation Center to just about every non-profit I’m closely involved with for the last 7 years and receive a tax letter for my in-kind gift. According to the IRS, that’s a donation.

http://www.netwitsthinktank.com frank barry

@chrisbrogan @johnhaydon @marcapitman … I’m diggin’ what y’all have going on here. Well done. I talked with @CharityEstrella a couple weeks ago and let her know that I’d love to find a way to support/help/give-to the work you are doing.

No immediate ideas are coming to mind, but I thought I’d directly let you know so that if anything comes to mind as you go you’d think of me. :)

@franswaa

http://twitter.com/charityestrella Estrella Rosenberg

Hey, my friend! After we talked I checked out all the stuff you write about over at Blackbaud and had some different ideas than the ones we discussed before. I’m in NYC the next few days but let’s chat on Monday :)

http://www.netwitsthinktank.com frank barry

Awesome! I’ll shoot you and email and we’ll get some time to chat set up.

http://twitter.com/JGoldsborough JGoldsborough

Very cool. Thanks for the heads up ;).
http://twitter.com/JGoldsborough JGoldsborough

Very cool. Thanks for the heads up ;).
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Buy The Gift of Education For a Charity This Season

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