Our organization is a nonprofit for nonprofits. To continue our effect, the number of donations in the virtual warehouse has to increase. It is key to get the word out and we are starting closest to home.
What we know for sure is that nonprofits are faced daily with endless calls from donors wanting to give items that nonprofits do not take in or have no need or space for at that time. The goal is for nonprofits to automatically refer those donations to DonorsResource.org.
The tricky part is coming up with quick easy language (in lieu of the book of Job) for nonprofits to grasp and go that referring to our website is helping donors, those in need and serving the ultimate common goal of our community.
There is more than enough to go around. We need help proving it.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Antacids
A N'awlins funk band, Mingo Fishtrap from Austin, one of the best cities in the states performed at concerts in the park last night.
My seven year old daughter with her impeccable timing asked me for a snowcone about eighty thousand times within 10 seconds during a horn solo.
She comes skipping back with a bucket and a straw. What happened to the scoop of crushed ice on top of that flimsy white paper cone thing? Dont ask me why but I took a sip and about went into sugar shock.
Do you remember the day when you would eat snickers, doritos, and drink a coke in one sitting? If I did that now I'd have to be rushed to the hospital and have my stomach removed.
What a great time in life to be a kid, so innocent, impressionable and equipped with little stomachs of steele.
My seven year old daughter with her impeccable timing asked me for a snowcone about eighty thousand times within 10 seconds during a horn solo.
She comes skipping back with a bucket and a straw. What happened to the scoop of crushed ice on top of that flimsy white paper cone thing? Dont ask me why but I took a sip and about went into sugar shock.
Do you remember the day when you would eat snickers, doritos, and drink a coke in one sitting? If I did that now I'd have to be rushed to the hospital and have my stomach removed.
What a great time in life to be a kid, so innocent, impressionable and equipped with little stomachs of steele.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Couch Commentary
Last night on America's Got Talent the first group up did this cloggin', jumping, running routine that made me feel tired, fat and old just watching it. At the end of their performance one of the dancers said. "This is amazing, we were just dancing in our garage not long ago and now we are here."
It gave me a twinge on so many different levels to hear that dancer speak. We began our nonprofit out of our homes. Today, we are online connecting with and helping organizations a bazillion times our size and receiving registration requests from as far away as Pakistan.
Not to get a nose bleed from atop my soap box, but its true that we as a people are more alike than we are different. I'm like that dancer (well, you know, not in the physical sense) but in having a a having a dream.
It gave me a twinge on so many different levels to hear that dancer speak. We began our nonprofit out of our homes. Today, we are online connecting with and helping organizations a bazillion times our size and receiving registration requests from as far away as Pakistan.
Not to get a nose bleed from atop my soap box, but its true that we as a people are more alike than we are different. I'm like that dancer (well, you know, not in the physical sense) but in having a a having a dream.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Stake Out
Saying that I'm morally outraged is a bit dramatic. One of my neighbors put their trash in my garbage can. At some point during the day I noticed that the lid was not closed because it had been over stuffed.
For days I stewed about putting a 8 foot sandwich board in front of my trash can that reads "SAY NO TO FREELOADING" with a circle around and a line through the words "free loading."
There are bushes and shrubs near the crime scene that I could hide in and leap out at the perp and scare them straight.
Here I am thinking of a stake out to take down one of my neighbors. Is sharing really one of my favorite playground rules? Or should I stipulate sharing with permission?
For days I stewed about putting a 8 foot sandwich board in front of my trash can that reads "SAY NO TO FREELOADING" with a circle around and a line through the words "free loading."
There are bushes and shrubs near the crime scene that I could hide in and leap out at the perp and scare them straight.
Here I am thinking of a stake out to take down one of my neighbors. Is sharing really one of my favorite playground rules? Or should I stipulate sharing with permission?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Only if its Broke
For weeks I've known that I would be speaking last night at the IIABO (Independent Insurance Agent's of Oregon) convention in Sun River about DonorsResource.org.
The emcee, Marc Baker called my name I walked on the stage in my usual stance filled with confidence ready to bring it home. Strong start followed by nothing. My mind went blank. "....products....when we got started...long pause...I'm nervous". Yes, I actually said that outloud. "Products?!" DonorsResource.org has NOTHING to do with products. We are about donations. Good grief. I somewhat recovered at the end, but barely.
Fortunately two things happened. The sound was not loud enough for the 200 plus people in attendance to hear me. Secondly, several people speaking after remembered what in the hell it was I trying to say and compensated nicely.
Strangely enough I didnt try to take my life with a toothpick after leaving the stage.
Anyone that knows me would say for certain that my yap is equipped with duel engines that could power a 747 to china and back. I have over 11 years of speaking in front of large groups, never missing a beat. What was so different?
The not-so-bright idea to write out my presentation came to me. So I did, then walked away from it, read it again, printed out a copy, and rehearsed it again.
What I know for sure is that I'm an off -the-cuff kinda gal and my ability to deliver a speech did not need to be fixed.
The emcee, Marc Baker called my name I walked on the stage in my usual stance filled with confidence ready to bring it home. Strong start followed by nothing. My mind went blank. "....products....when we got started...long pause...I'm nervous". Yes, I actually said that outloud. "Products?!" DonorsResource.org has NOTHING to do with products. We are about donations. Good grief. I somewhat recovered at the end, but barely.
Fortunately two things happened. The sound was not loud enough for the 200 plus people in attendance to hear me. Secondly, several people speaking after remembered what in the hell it was I trying to say and compensated nicely.
Strangely enough I didnt try to take my life with a toothpick after leaving the stage.
Anyone that knows me would say for certain that my yap is equipped with duel engines that could power a 747 to china and back. I have over 11 years of speaking in front of large groups, never missing a beat. What was so different?
The not-so-bright idea to write out my presentation came to me. So I did, then walked away from it, read it again, printed out a copy, and rehearsed it again.
What I know for sure is that I'm an off -the-cuff kinda gal and my ability to deliver a speech did not need to be fixed.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Pay It Forward
December of '05 Deborah and I launched Sisters of the Community, the parent organization of DonorsResource.org. Literally, we went head first and asked questions later. The amount of work and planning that goes into building a nonprofit, to our surprise, was no different than a for profit business.
We were both adorned with the thickest pair of rose colored glasses. Surely, because we were starting a nonprofit that helped low-income families with household goods we were a shoe in. To boot, there was no other nonprofit in the Portland-area providing this service.
Donations and media coverage were abundant. However, as things quickly unraveled we lacked many steps from a website to our actual 501 (c) (3) filing and knowledge of which order and level of importance such vital functions should happen and when.
We knocked on many doors. There were people, that we remain abliged that certainly helped along the way with pieces of the puzzle and with encouragment and goodwill sent us to the next door.
Over the past several months I've had the pleasure to meet with three nonprofits to share the process of building their vision, greatly reducing the number of doors they will have to knock on. This is another fulfilling, and probably my most favorite way to be a part to be of the change that I want to see.
We were both adorned with the thickest pair of rose colored glasses. Surely, because we were starting a nonprofit that helped low-income families with household goods we were a shoe in. To boot, there was no other nonprofit in the Portland-area providing this service.
Donations and media coverage were abundant. However, as things quickly unraveled we lacked many steps from a website to our actual 501 (c) (3) filing and knowledge of which order and level of importance such vital functions should happen and when.
We knocked on many doors. There were people, that we remain abliged that certainly helped along the way with pieces of the puzzle and with encouragment and goodwill sent us to the next door.
Over the past several months I've had the pleasure to meet with three nonprofits to share the process of building their vision, greatly reducing the number of doors they will have to knock on. This is another fulfilling, and probably my most favorite way to be a part to be of the change that I want to see.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Curls and Dippity-Do
The thought was to update the look of our homepage and post a visual of what we do. This same image needed to speak to a wide range of people and interests and capture my affliation as the founder.
Fast forward to the day that the photo is being shot of me. My hair was flawless, curly and springy. You know those times when you find excuses to walk by the mirror just to get another look?
In the actual picture my cute, springy curls looked like snap on hair and my butt was sticking out about three feet from behind the boxes. Bless my web wizards heart, he photo shopped it out and then called me. "Della, look at these two pictures...now you see it, now you don't...isnt that cute?"
The picture itself was outstanding with the setting, lighting and items on the table looking so colorful, distinctive and cheery. The message was captured in a single shot.
Two days later all of the updates were live on the homepage. I emailed a note to a variety of eyes asking for post feedback. All of which were in favor of the concept and the connection.
I now know how the Oprah's of the world feel. I was singled out of the photo about my smile, the color of my shirt, and asked if I'd ever had a picture taken before.
At the end of the day It's good to know that I'm around those that care enough to be honest.
Fast forward to the day that the photo is being shot of me. My hair was flawless, curly and springy. You know those times when you find excuses to walk by the mirror just to get another look?
In the actual picture my cute, springy curls looked like snap on hair and my butt was sticking out about three feet from behind the boxes. Bless my web wizards heart, he photo shopped it out and then called me. "Della, look at these two pictures...now you see it, now you don't...isnt that cute?"
The picture itself was outstanding with the setting, lighting and items on the table looking so colorful, distinctive and cheery. The message was captured in a single shot.
Two days later all of the updates were live on the homepage. I emailed a note to a variety of eyes asking for post feedback. All of which were in favor of the concept and the connection.
I now know how the Oprah's of the world feel. I was singled out of the photo about my smile, the color of my shirt, and asked if I'd ever had a picture taken before.
At the end of the day It's good to know that I'm around those that care enough to be honest.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Carmel Latte
For months now our marketing and communications, has been talking to me about blogging. Sending me information, other "cool" blogs, soft pitches, ideas and formats, and finally death threats only for me to avoid and ignore. I wasn't even trying to get it.
What does DonorsResource.org have to do with blogging? Our goal is to get people in need hooked up with those who want to give. Blogging? Still not feeling it.
Today over coffee with Vic it hit me like a ton of bricks and her cattle prod that sharing through writing is working on my ultimate vision. Essentially we are about sharing. Sharing is the cirriculum for kindergarten and it is one of my favorite playground rules.
Vic knows how to get one laughing. I almost choked on my doughnut. It was one of those old fashioned ones, perfect union of cake meets malt. Delicious. Vic, a woman to know; co founder of the nonprofit Itafari, executive coach, author, mother, grandmother and wife. http://www.deadritaswisdom.com/
I was feeling the groove of blogging and then Vic lowered the boom about twitter.
What a gift to have had time with such a generous and graceful woman.
Vic, you rock sister. Thanks for the half time show.
What does DonorsResource.org have to do with blogging? Our goal is to get people in need hooked up with those who want to give. Blogging? Still not feeling it.
Today over coffee with Vic it hit me like a ton of bricks and her cattle prod that sharing through writing is working on my ultimate vision. Essentially we are about sharing. Sharing is the cirriculum for kindergarten and it is one of my favorite playground rules.
Vic knows how to get one laughing. I almost choked on my doughnut. It was one of those old fashioned ones, perfect union of cake meets malt. Delicious. Vic, a woman to know; co founder of the nonprofit Itafari, executive coach, author, mother, grandmother and wife. http://www.deadritaswisdom.com/
I was feeling the groove of blogging and then Vic lowered the boom about twitter.
What a gift to have had time with such a generous and graceful woman.
Vic, you rock sister. Thanks for the half time show.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
