Re: Non-Profit Causes

After further review I decided to add some more to my outline. I've also decided to post-pone leading a Cause Mixer for now. I'm going to demonstrate the outline I created though in an upcoming speech at Toastmasters -showing how to guide someone towards choosing a cause to support.

I have also reorganized the Categories to make things simpler to follow/choose from. I've also compiled an Excel spreadsheet of these categories and various charities I have come across that fall under them. I am awesome.

1) Identify your Cause:

-Is it Local, National, or International?

-Is it Established (Over 10 years old) or New (Under 10 years old)?

-Is it a Cause (St. Jude's or The Red Cross) or a Campaign/Fundraiser (Relay for Life)

-Is it a "Treatment" (Something that helps solve a current problem like Meals on Wheels) or a "Cure" (Something that helps solve a larger/underlying problem like poverty itself)

2) Which of the 5 Categories does it fall into?*

-Environmental/Nature/Animal

-Tangible Donations: Food, Clothing, Construction Work

-Health: Disease/Disorder/Medical

-Quality of Life/ Natural Disaster/ Inhumane Conditions

-People: Overcoming Struggles/ Social Contributions

3) What does the Cause need?**

-Tangible Items

-Monetary Contributions

-Expertise/Guidance/Services

-Time/Participation/ Volunteer Activities

4) What can YOU Give?

-Tangible Items

-Monetary Contributions

-Expertise/Guidance/Services

-Time/Participation/ Volunteer Activities

-Art/ Music/ Writing/ Speaking/ Creative Promoting

*To clarify the 5 Categories further:

Environmental/Nature/Animal = World Wildlife Federation, The Humane Society, The Gentle Barn

Tangible Donations = Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Gifts in Kind

Health: Disease/Disorder/Medical = Shriner’s Hospital for Children, AID's Foundation, Autism Speaks

Quality of Life/ Natural Disaster/ Inhumane Conditions = Free the Slaves, KIVA, Invisible Children

People: Overcoming Struggles/ Social Contributions = Boys and Girls Clubs of America, DARE, Girl Scouts

**To clarify what Causes Need further:

Tangible Items = Second Harvest, Promise of Pencils, Children’s Hunger Fund

Monetary Contributions = American Heart Association, Rising International, AID's Foundation

Expertise/Guidance/Services = Usually for Newer Causes that need help building a website, creating brochures, marketing, getting registered...

Time/Participation/ Volunteer Activities = Beautiful Day, YMCA, Toastmasters

5) Strategies/ Things to Keep in Mind:

-Know what is your "Why?" -your reason for contributing to your specific cause

-Use clear messaging, bold branding/imagery

-What part of the cause do you/others respond to most?

-Who are you trying to reach/inspire with your cause?

-Make your "Call-To-Action" clear

-How can you promote the cause? (Social Media v. In-Person)

-Refer to successful/established causes as examples

-Create a sense of immediacy and importance

-Find a way to show people that Reality as-is is unacceptable so they seek to actively change it through your cause 

-Campaign for you cause passionately -like a Politician (but without the lies)

-Do not promote more than 5 causes (People will associate you with a cause, but if you have too many people won't be able to identify you with one cause in particular and it will be harder for them to follow you/support your causes)

-Use holidays/events to your advantage (like "Cancer Awareness Month)

-Keep things strait-forward and simple 

For guidance on different causes to choose from, check out: www.CharityNavigator.org