| November 2008 |
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In This Issue: On-line Donations: You Need to Do It Now Managing Events Just Got Easier GiftWorks Users Report: Zigen Fund Earthquake Relief We Want to be One of Your Donors GiftWorks University Enrollment Grows Holiday Help Desk Hours On-line Donations: You Need to Do It Now!
Jack Nelson, President of the OROS Alliance, offers best-practices tips for easy implementation of online donations. 
You don't have to look further than the Obama campaign to see how strong a communications -- and fundraising -- tool the Internet is --- when used well. As many as 70+ percent of Americans are reported to be using the Internet regularly to communicate, learn, purchase, and maintain relationships. (Think how often you use the Internet!) Your nonprofit can't afford not to build a presence on this state-of-the-art information superhighway -- and be part of this significant revenue growth stream for nonprofits.Your fellow nonprofits are already using their websites to sign up new members, conduct blogs, take surveys, educate constituents, and link to other sites. Most important, they are asking for and accepting donations online! Your own constituents may already be expecting these services from you! In today's economic uncertainty, when traditional giving may decline, it's imperative to be able to offer the newest and easiest giving opportunities. Current estimates indicate that more than fifty percent of online users plan to donate to a nonprofit between now and the end of the year. Done correctly, online donations are the most efficient means for a nonprofit to receive funds. Setting up to receive online donations may seem like one of those technical hurdles you dread. But it needn't be. With a system like GiftWorks Online Donations, your donations are processed in real time, the money is deposited into your bank account, the donor is added to your donor management system, and the donor immediately receives a custom gift acknowledgement (i.e., instant gratification). For online donations, there are none of the often-overlooked costs and delays associated with accepting cash and/or checks such as opening the mail, making a deposit slip, depositing the money at your bank, manually adding the donation to your donor management system, generating an acknowledgment letter, and dropping the letter in the mail. Best practices for online donations:
OROS Alliance works exclusively with nonprofits in order to maximize their online effectiveness. Their primary niche is online donations and peer-to-peer fundraising solutions.  Managing Events Just Got EasierIntroducing GiftWorks™ Events: A new add-in to GiftWorks™ 2008 Standard and Premium.  Does your organization have events? Could they be managed better? New GiftWorks™ Events is the solution.
GiftWorks Users Report: The Zigen Fund Uses GiftWorks to Raise $100,000 for Earthquake Relief
 Wujing Harrison, Executive Director of The Zigen Fund, a nonprofit which supports rural grassroots development in China, was preparing to go China on May 22, 2008. On the 12th, the deadly Sichuan earthquake occurred. By the end of the week, her board had agreed that she should create a mailing seeking funds for earthquake victims -- ASAP. Using GiftWorks™ , Wujing prepared and mailed a postcard in two days; it raised more than $100,000. Zigen event with Beijing migrant workers. The Zigen Fund's requirements for donor fundraising software were clear:
The Zigen Fund was established in 1988 by Chinese immigrants (engineers, teachers and professors) with the goal of improving conditions of life in rural China. GiftWorks is excited to help them in their efforts! We want to be one of your donors!
In the 3rd quarter of 2008, GiftWorks donated $1,800 to customers who referred GiftWorks software to others. "We are extremely pleased to be able to put our beliefs into action: 'Our mission is to support your mission,'" says Mary Pat Donnellon, Executive Vice President of Mission Research. Are you ready to make a referral? It's easy. Just visit our referral page. We Thank These GiftWorks Clients Who Received Donations in the 3rd Quarter
Enrollment Grows at GiftWorks University
 GU's "Dean" Brossman Our university delivers GiftWorks training and addresses the topics you want to learn more about. Our 2008 curriculum focuses on how to use GiftWorks as part of your overall development strategy. Classes include:
"The GiftWorks U classes were excellent. I found the exchange between the instructor and the students to be concise, open, and thoughtful." Looking forward to 2009, we will expand the curriculum to include "Using GiftWorks with QuickBooks" and - in support of two new products - "Using Online Donations" and "Using GiftWorks™ Events." - Richard W. Kapaa, HI "Our goal is to provide you tools to strengthen your development efforts," says Denise. Visit GiftWorks U or call us at 888.323.8766 x2 for more information about training opportunities. Help Desk Hours The folks at the GiftWorks Help Desk stand ready to help you during our normal business hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday-Friday. Please note that the Help Desk will be closed on November 27, 28; December 25, 26, 31; and January 1, 2009 |
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