The Wethos Collective -- Blog

Lots have changed in social media fundraising. New algorithms pop up on what seems like the daily, just when you think you have cracked your engagement right. And yet, nonprofit communicators can't afford to ignore these changes.

No matter what your work status, be it full-timer, freelancer, or somewhere in-between I think we can all agree that taxes are THE WORST. Sure they pay for important things like roads, and schools, and a variety of other things that our society needs to function, but at times they can seem needlessly complicated and difficult to get right. Oftentimes freelancers feel the sting of tax woes more than most folks because they are more likely to have a much more complicated tax situation than others. Fear not dear American taxpayer, there’s hope for you yet! Knowledge is in fact, power, and the better you can arm yourself with the right knowledge about taxes, the better off you will be.

The first time I worked on a website redesign, it was not pretty. Not the design of the site but the process. I had copy and pictures and figured we’d need to review layouts. So the button that leads to the donation page should be — wait. Who is making sure the donation page will work and be connected to all the right accounts after we change web hosts? Does the vendor do this? Will the project still be on time? What on earth is a merchant account or payment processor and why do we need two?!

To this day, I remember is what it felt like to ask a question, anticipate getting some super expensive or horribly complicated answer, and get laughed at by the web developer (good times).

Thankfully, I’ve worked with many more freelance developers (graphic designers, printers, consultants) who listened to my fumbling questions and said, “I hear that you’re concerned about or interested in X, and I can answer that, but I think the question you really want to be asking is Z.”

These were professionals who asked me questions to understand the context within which my organization was working, dug deeper into what success looked like, and held up a mirror to help us see our blind spots — rather than trying to skate by in them.

Tip #1 Own what you know. Also, own what you don’t know.

You don’t need to know anything to ask someone, “What else should I be thinking about? What have I missed? What questions would you have that I have not asked?”

Whether you’re debating switching from 9-to-5 to full-time, being-your-own-boss kind of work, or graduating from college and knowing that traditional isn’t for you — that first gut feeling should only be considered the beginning of the conversation you should be having with yourself.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

The best fundraisers are authentic friends. They genuinely care about the wellbeing of their donors, understand their needs and what drives them and, when it’s time to “make the ask”, aren’t trying to pitch or sell. Rather, they are giving their donors a gift -- the gift of an opportunity to find meaning, purpose, and connection.

With an ever growing focus on technology, today’s businesses can’t afford to have a mediocre website. A nonprofits online presence is not only vital for success but necessary for survival. Fortunately, the benefits of having a highly functional, professional, and innovative website are in reach, which means so is online success for your nonprofit.

Nearly 15 years ago, I helped launch a nonprofit organization with zero dollars in our bank account and a handful of volunteers. Since then, we’ve learned and grown (and laughed, and cried), overcoming roadblocks in funding and marketing and volunteer management and more. We owe our growth and triumph over those challenges to a number of factors, but the most important one is, of course, the people we’ve worked with. Throughout my work, our organization has had a need for a variety of types of talent. We work with volunteers, employ hourly and salaried staff, and hire contractors and freelancers. From the freelance world, I’ve worked with freelance graphic designers, board development consultants, and web developers, each offering a degree of flexibility, the agility that only working for one’s self can bring, and great results.