Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

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Mission-Aligned Money Management

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While many nonprofits are working hard to make ends meet, some are fortunate to have built up a surplus or reserve—and with that comes the opportunity to invest in ways that can support and even grow their mission. However, traditional investment strategies don’t always align with a nonprofit’s values or purpose. That’s why we recently hosted a class on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, led by our friends at Blue Marble Investments. They shared how mission-aligned and sustainable investment options—such as fossil fuel–free portfolios—can perform on par with traditional investments while staying true to your organization’s ethics.

Check out a recording of the presentation here.

The Value of Nonprofit Board Service

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Did you know there are more than 1,500 charitable nonprofit organizations in San Luis Obispo County? By law, each of them must be governed by a board of directors.

Serving as a director on a nonprofit board offers valuable benefits to both you and your community. You’ll develop leadership skills, expand your network, and make a meaningful impact on a cause you care about. Your volunteer service ensures the organization stays mission-focused and effective, supporting positive change and enhancing the quality of life in your community.

In the video below, Spokes CEO Michael Simkins addresses members of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, sharing deeper insights into the benefits of nonprofit board service—and why it’s a valuable opportunity for everyone. He emphasizes the importance of local employers supporting and encouraging employee involvement, highlighting the transferable skills employees gain and bring back to the workplace.

Interested in serving on a nonprofit board but unsure about the responsibilities and level of commitment involved? Spokes offers a free, live 45-minute online class—Board Service 101—quarterly.

Register for an upcoming live session:

June 10

September 9

December 9

Or, view the following recording of a past Board Service 101 class:

Nonprofit Storytelling

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In our recent Board Academy session focused on Fundraising and Resource Development, we discussed the importance of storytelling. To create a lasting emotional connection with the general public, media and donors, your board of directors––and actually every member of your organization––should be prepared to tell their own impactful story as it relates to your organization’s mission.

Given recent executive actions affecting nonprofits, storytelling to donors, media and Congress is increasingly critical. You need to be able to effectively communicate why your organization is important, and what would happen if it wasn’t here?

Here are some components of effective nonprofit storytelling from ChatGPT:

1. A Relatable Protagonist

  • Focus on a real person, group, or community that has benefited from your work.
  • The protagonist should be someone your audience can empathize with.

2. A Compelling Challenge

  • Highlight the struggle or problem the protagonist faced before your nonprofit stepped in.
  • Make the challenge specific, urgent, and emotionally resonant.

3. A Clear Resolution (Impact of Your Work)

  • Show how your nonprofit’s intervention made a difference.
  • Use concrete details, data, and personal testimonials to illustrate success.

4. Emotional Connection

  • Use emotions like hope, joy, or perseverance to engage your audience.
  • Show, don’t just tell—use vivid descriptions, quotes, and imagery.

5. A Call to Action (CTA)

  • Inspire your audience to take action (donate, volunteer, share the story, etc.).
  • Make the CTA clear, direct, and easy to follow.

6. Authenticity and Transparency

  • Stay true to the story and avoid exaggeration or manipulation.
  • If using real individuals, obtain permission and respect their privacy.

7. Multi-Channel Delivery

  • Use visuals, videos, and testimonials to enhance engagement.
  • Adapt your story for different platforms (social media, website, email, video, etc.).

Check out this Forbes article for more storytelling tips and tools. If you’re looking to invest in your storytelling abilities, the annual Nonprofit Storytelling Conference is a great resource.

Analyzing a New Fundraising Campaign

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During a recent Development Directors Roundtable, a participant expressed disappointment that a new fundraising campaign, which she had been excited about and had high hopes for, was yielding low returns. A discussion ensued about whether to bolster efforts—or throw in the towel.

While everyone agreed the campaign seemed like a strong idea, it was suggested that some further analysis was necessary.

I found an article from OneCause that offers a few reasons why taking time to analyze your fundraising campaign or event is worthwhile:

  • It helps you track how your campaign is doing so you can make adjustments and improvements along the way.
  • It tells you how well the campaign performed against your goals.
  • It puts benchmark data in place that you can use to improve future fundraising campaigns.

HERE are their 5 Tips for Analyzing Your Online Fundraising Campaigns.

The Culture-Building Concept of “Porpoising”

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In our recent workshop, Cultivating a Robust and Collaborative Nonprofit Culture, the Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits leadership team introduced us to the idea of “porpoising.” This concept involves a deep-dive into your organization to uncover valuable insights at all levels. When nonprofit leaders periodically porpoise and practice observant listening amongst the organization’s diverse groups, they can detect signs of trouble before things spiral out of control. To build trust, be present, visible, and respectful when someone shares a problem or issue. To maintain trust, demonstrate action on the information given. Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits suggests that “no news is bad news” and “bad news is good news if you do something about it.” If things are quiet for too long, it may be time to porpoise. And if you find bad news, it presents a great opportunity to find—and celebrate—solutions together.

More information on the Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits principles, including porpoising and the Bad News is Good News philosophy, can be found here.

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