Simple Fundraising
“Simple Fundraising” Book Pre-Release
Get Your Copy Early Before the Rush
Every NonProfit wants to learn how to fundraise well and this new resource from Scott Michael Ringo is just the ticket. Just being released in August is his new book “Simple Fundraising”. This book will teach you how to develop step-by-step fundraising strategies and formulas to create and maintain a stable donor base. Never before has the processes to develop continual and simple funding for a nonprofit been broken down so simple that anyone can do it. Scott brings his 12+ years in the developing successful nonprofits and 26+ years in the business arena to the forefront to present easy to understand, and simple to implement fundraising strategies.
As the founder of Ocean Grand, his hands-on approach to helping nonprofits all over the world raise the funds they need is is written so anyone can understand and implement it. Instead of wonder where the funding you need is, a few hours in “Simple Fundraising” will help you instantly discover and begin receiving it.
After reading “Simple Fundraising,” with basic effort any nonprofit can finally tap into the funding they need. Every nonprofit needs this book in their library. A simple read and you gain over a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
Act now because the first 500 copies of the book that are ordered in advance as PDF books are discounted to $19.95. Once ordered and paid for you will immediately be emailed a link to download your copy.
Once the book is released to book stores and internet June 1, the price of “Simple Fundraising” will be $29.95. Get your copy now in PDF format by clicking the button below.
NonProfit Set-up
Are you interested in starting your own nonprofit? Ocean Grand can help you get your very own nonprofit set-up in about 3 weeks very affordable. Then help you to find the funding you need and run it successfully. Click this link to get all the information www.oceangrand.org/start-501c3
Corporate Design Solutions
Running and funding a nonprofit can be an easy task but much like building a house without a hammer and nails, attempting to build a successful nonprofit without the proper tools is just as crazy. Because we are dedicated to helping nonprofits become successful, Ocean Grand gives every nonprofit the ability to obtain these important tools at up to a 60% discount. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net
Every NonProfit needs professionally designed and printed marketing materials to make your nonprofit a success. Why not get those materials designed now at a substantial discount and start your marketing efforts from the beginning looking your best while attracting serious donors.We know from the hundreds of nonprofits we have helped all over the world, there is no better investment or a better price in which to get your nonprofit’s image looking its best. Ocean Grand Design Studios is a state-of-the-art professional design studio that has designed for top names. In addition to the 60% savings on the complete design package, Ocean Grand will give you tremendous savings on all your print needs as it is a professional print house as well. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net
With professionally designed and printed marketing materials it only takes one (1) serious donor to donate back in one month the investment you made in your marketing materials.
It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who They Know
It makes a huge difference in the caliber of donors your nonprofit attracts as to how your nonprofit image looks. When you ask CEOs and successful people to pass on the information about your nonprofit, you want them to have great looking material they are proud to pass on. Handing out professionally designed marketing materials can make the difference, and there is no better time or better price to get those created than with this offer. You are going to need everyone you know talking about your nonprofit, and just like any business, being able to equip others to retell your story right is key. Get a complete corporate branding solution including:
- Logo
- Business Card Design
- Letterhead Design
- Envelope Design
- Website
- Tri-fold Brochure
- Glossy Presentation Folder
- Social Media Package (Twitter and FaceBook)
Some of Ocean Grand’s other services:
Some of our products:
- Custom Photo Books (any amount of pages)
- Wedding Albums
- Graduation Announcements
- Baby Announcements
- Wedding Invitations
- Wedding Announcements
- Personalized Stationary
- Photo Enlargements (canvas, print, framed)
- Photo Packages
- Photo reprints
- Personalized Christmas Cards
- Personalized Holiday Cards
- Family Greeting Cards
- Portrait enlargement and framing
Other Services:
- Logo
- Business Cards
- Customized Thank You Cards
- Customized Greeting Cards
- Customized Christmas Cards
- Corporate Letterhead
- Corporate Envelopes
- Flyers any size edge to edge printing
- Brochures any fold
- Postcards with customized mailing services
- Magnets
- Banners
- Websites
- Counter cards, Business Cards, Referral Brochures
- Ongoing Flyer Creation
- Double-sided PDF Brochures for emailing
- Interactive Online Brochures
- Corporate Style Sheets
Anything graphic design, branding, and print media related!
Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net
Sexy New Form of NonProfit
Discovering and Exploring the Easiest Way to Start and Run a Nonprofit
I like to work smart, not hard. I currently run several nonprofits and have for many years but have never kept any bookkeeping, done any accounting, or ever been to the bank to make a deposit. I have been able to run these nonprofits from anywhere in the world and not one on my staff does any of these types of activities, but instead devotes 100% of their time to our projects, not office work. One hundred percent of everyone’s time that is involved in our nonprofits is spent on developing our programs, fundraising, and executing our programs. In fact, running our nonprofits is so easy that anyone could run a successful nonprofit. The difference is in how we run our nonprofits, by working smart not hard. Read on and I will explain the easy way to run a nonprofit 501c3 versus the hard ordinary way. You can then decide for yourself which you prefer.
The New (not so new) Way of Starting a Nonprofit
Many spend weeks, months or even years wading through the process to start, learn to fund and run a successful nonprofit. Many refer to starting their own nonprofit as a “dream” because it seems like getting a nonprofit formed is such a hard thing to accomplish. However, starting, learning to fund and running a successful nonprofit is something we help people do every day with just a few easy steps. Running an independent nonprofit, for many, has become outdated, cumbersome and not very agile to make quick effective changes when needed. Yet there is a sleek, sexy, and streamlined form of nonprofit coming on the scene.
Let’s explore a process of starting a nonprofit you may not have known even existed. There is an easy way to start and run a nonprofit and then there is the ordinary way which is a lot more difficult. After reading this post you may decide that anyone could run a nonprofit, and I believe they can. Many who I talk with do not know that a nonprofit can be started and efficiently ran with 501c3 status through an entity called a fiscal sponsorship. Simply put, a fiscal sponsorship allows a nonprofit project to be created inside of an already existing independent 501c3 nonprofit. This eliminates the creation hassle and IRS approval that takes many months including the absorbent fees to do so. By starting a nonprofit through fiscal sponsorship, an organization can have nonprofit status in a few weeks without much in the way of start up fees. This enables those that want to do nonprofit work an easy and inexpensive way to form and run a nonprofit while having it up and running within weeks, with many added benefits.
Fiscal Sponsorships are becoming a quite popular and a much sought way of starting and running a nonprofit. In this short post I will introduce you to the Fiscal Sponsorship way of setting up and running a nonprofit to help you explore this option as a viable and less expensive way to have your nonprofit organization up and running with less hassle than you ever thought possible.
What Every NonProfit Needs
The main reason an organization would want to have tax exempt nonprofit status is to appeal to its financial contributors by granting them tax deductions on their gifts. The second reason tax exempt status is appealing is to gain access to grants (free money that does not have to be repaid) that is available from any number of government and foundation organizations. Fiscally Sponsored nonprofits as well as independent nonprofits both enjoy these two sought after benefits. However, there are more things to consider when starting a nonprofit.
The Painful Part of a NonProfit Business
A main consideration in starting either a fiscally sponsored or independent nonprofit is in the amount of administration that can be associated with running either of them. A real factor in running any business is the time or ongoing expenses you will spend accomplishing the administration. Many times a fiscally-sponsored nonprofit frees up the majority of the employees’ time to do the actual projects instead of the administration and paperwork.
The administration for a nonprofit is a real consideration, and you are either going to do it yourself, hire staff to do it, or outsource it to professionals (bookkeepers, CPAs, etc.). Many find that doing the administration for a nonprofit is time consuming, tedious and labor intensive. Those that decide to hire staff or outsource the administration find that option expensive. What if there was a way to get all the administration done at a fraction of the cost while not having to do it yourself?
All the Fun, None of the Paperwork
Many find, by setting up a fiscally sponsored nonprofit, they can have all the benefits of a nonprofit they desire and none of office work they don’t. Ocean Grand understands that office work can get in the way, while consuming large amounts of time, and instead has a virtual staff that takes care of all the nonprofit’s administration, accounting, bookkeeping, banking, and even the quarterly and end of the year filings. Imagine the ease of starting a nonprofit and not needing to worry about any of the office work and instead are free to spend all your time doing fundraising and programs, leaving the office work to a highly trained and efficient staff.
Through a fiscal sponsorship, Ocean Grand sets your fixed costs on administration at 8% which is much lower than outsourcing it would ever be. In addition, the virtual administration staff that will be working on your nonprofit paperwork is highly experienced in nonprofit administration so you know the work will be done right every time.
Work Smart Not Hard
For many years I have enjoyed the benefits and joys of running several fiscally-sponsored nonprofits and never once had to think about the time or expense of their administration. Instead, I have been able to concentrate 100% of my time and energy on the continued success of the programs and fundraising and leaving the administration and office work to a highly trained staff that only costs a fraction of what hiring professionals or even my own in house staff would cost. A fiscally-sponsored nonprofit affords me all of the pleasure and benefits of a nonprofit without all the hassle usually associated with running a business. Along with me, thousands around the world enjoy this simple and effective way of running a nonprofit. Through Ocean Grand, in just a couple weeks you could have your own nonprofit operational at just a fraction of the cost of setting up and running an ordinary much more difficult nonprofit.
NonProfits that are fiscally sponsored have been around for over 40 years and the reason you are not familiar with them is that they operate, do the same great nonprofit work, enjoy the same benefits and look just like any other nonprofit.
Click here to learn how you can Start and run a NonProfit the Easy Way
Summer Nonprofit Funding Opportunities
Spring is here and with it is a whole summer of opportunities for activities to bring crazy amounts of funding into your nonprofit. Yes, summer has a plethora of free and inexpensive opportunities to get your nonprofit in the publics eye and raise amazing amounts of funding. Read on an I will help you put together a plan to make this summer one of more fun than you have ever had while raising great funding for your nonprofit.
You need to remember that if you have a nonprofit, then you have avenues into funding that are as easy as asking for them. Summer is a time for being outdoors and it does not matter where you are in the world there are summer activities that are just beginning to bloom. With the right strategy you can piggy back on thousands of hours of work that others have done for you getting masses of people together to learn about your nonprofit. Below I will let you in on where to find all these people that are eager to learn about your nonprofit and then help you put together a strategy to capitalize on them.
See below how Ocean Grand can get your image looking its best to grab donors attention with up to 60% off on all of our design and printing.
Festivals, Art Shows, Boat Shows and Concerts
For months all over the country teams of people have been working diligently preparing for festivals and other summer events to bring hundreds of thousands of people to these events. If you grab the opportunity, they have brought all of these people together in one place to learn all about your nonprofit and have the opportunity to support it. If you love to be outdoors, meet people, and share the vision of your nonprofit, then this summer these events are your ticket to doing all three.
You can be raising donations for your non profit by doing just about anything. As a non profit you should take advantage of events that are already planned and organized in your area and make them into fundraisers for your organization as explained below. Just about any activity could raise money for your favorite charity even if the charity is not a charity that is officially recognized for the event. Why not raise money for your favorite charity through events that are already happening all around you.
How to Use Outdoor Festivals, etc for Fund Raising
- Start by finding all the events around you in a 50 mile radius
- Contact the organizer and ask if they are giving away or discounting display space to nonprofits
- Ask the organizer if your nonprofit could be a featured charitable cause for the event
- Could a portion of the proceeds go to benefit your nonprofit? Ask.
- Grab tent space or booth space if it is affordable, 1000’s will come by your display during the event.
- You could simply grab a stack of your professionally design and printed business cards and brochures to hand out as walking through the event.
* See the check list below of the things you need to show up with to be prepared.
** Also see below How to Turn Any Event into One That Sponsors Your Nonprofit
Other Easy Fund Raising Events for the Summer
- Organize a Car Wash
- Walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, running and swimming events
- Craft Festivals
- Rummage Sales
- Golf Tournaments
- Tennis Events
- Bingo and Casino Nights
- Wine Tasting Parties
- Auctions
- Summer Concerts
- Art Shows
- Boat Shows
- Vegetable Festivals (strawberry festival, etc)
- Air Shows
- Ice Cream Socials
- Church Summer Events
There is a lot more than this but these will get you started.
List of Things You Will Need for Summer Fund Raising
- Business Cards and Brochures- At the very least you will need a few thousand professionally designed and printed business cards and tri-fold brochures. Resist the temptation to design them and print them yourself. Everyone knows the when you printed them yourself and nothing says more about your nonprofit than the materials you are willing to hand out. Have some pride and hand out good looking and well designed stuff.
- Display Booth- If your going to do a booth or tent then you need a well designed banner and trade show display. Again if you are not willing to spend a little money on your nonprofits image then don’t expect others to donate to it. People like to invest and donate to successful programs. It does not have to be elaborate but professionally designed and printed banners and a table top display will make you look like your serious about your program.
- Web Site or Blog- People that you hand out business cards and brochures to are going to want to visit a web site or blog to see if your legitimate. I suggest a blog (see oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/) and you should have one up even if you are not doing summer fundraising. Now days if an organization does not have at least business cards, a brochure and a web site no one is going to take your nonprofit serious.
- Spiff- spiff is something to give away that has your organizations name and contact info. For summer fundraising Frisbees, drawstring packs, visors, bottle openers, etc are great inexpensive items that people will want to take home with them and keep. You could even do a drawing or some type of game to get people to sign up for your newsletter and give away more valued items.
Spend some money on your image, a booth if you are going to have one, and great stuff to give away. If you hit several events this summer and talk with thousands of people, you are sure to make back your investment in donations and people involved in your nonprofit.
How to Turn Any Event into One That Sponsors Your Nonprofit
Here in Virginia Beach we have an annual event called the Polar Plunge where everyone raises pledges and then dives in the ocean (some only up to their ankles) to benefit Special Olympics. I have nothing against Special Olympics and really think they are a class act and great cause. Instead, what I am trying to explain here is the only activity you have to be willing to do is get your toes wet and you can raise money to help a great cause.
Now let’s say you want to raise funds and awareness for your own nonprofit. Although there is no special event scheduled (or even if there is) you could create your own very easily. Take a marathon for example. Pick a Saturday, commit to running 10, 15 or more miles and contact everyone you know to pledge money toward the cause you want to support. Use the pledges to benefit your own nonprofit. You can make a great opportunity out of an event of any kind, even the Plunge mentioned above and raise pledges for the Special Olympics and another cause simultaneously.
You can take any event working out, playing softball, snowboarding, bike riding, taking your child for a walk, ironing shirts, or even parachuting, even a walk-a-thon all these and anything else can be turned into even something bigger by having people pledge money toward your nonprofit when you complete them.
Shirt Iron Off
Lets take the example of ironing shirts. Organize a shirt iron-off right at your own house or even better someplace more public. The pledges could be donated per shirt you iron. You could ask all your friends to bring their shirts that need to be ironed or even open it up to anyone that needs their shirts ironed. I believe you get the point, anything, including things you do in your daily routine can be reengineered into an accomplishment you can be proud of because you turned an ordinary event into something extraordinary.
A good article to read more about creative ideas like this is oceangrand.org/what-have-you-done/
How Ocean Grand Can Help You Make This Summer a Success
We at Ocean Grand not only support nonprofits with set up, funding help, and tons of free information to help you be a pro at running a nonprofit. We also give nonprofits up to 60% off professional design and printing of anything your nonprofit might need to look its best. We spend lots of time and energy helping nonprofits look like a million dollars so donors and volunteers have no question that your nonprofit is going someplace.
Nonprofits work¦if you work them.
The First Type
We receive emails and phone calls from nonprofits struggling to find the success they had hoped for. We enjoy working with each of these nonprofits because many times their solution is easy. They just need a good image and need to work the business. Many times creating a custom story and professional image is all it takes to jump start their nonprofit success.
Nonprofits work if you work them; if you don’t, then they die. Nonprofits rely on others and donors and if you don’t get your message out there, then no one knows about it.
How is your nonprofit coming along? Are you transforming people’s lives and the dreams you had for your nonprofit into reality?
There are two types of groups that we see start nonprofits, and we would like to make sure you are the one that gets results.
Some who start nonprofits through Ocean Grand have great intentions. Once they get their status they tell a few people about the nonprofit, they print out a few sheets about their nonprofit, but no funds come in and they get frustrated. Many try with little success to put it all together themselves.
The Second Type Hit the Road Running
The second type of individuals start their nonprofit and and with the help of professionals get their image polished up and looking like the nonprofit is a success from the beginning. Many allow us to €obrand for them a professional image and story. We provide them with a great looking custom logo, business cards, printed brochures, website, and even letterhead and business cards. They let us help them with some initial fund raising ideas and in a short amount of time they have decent initial funding flowing through their nonprofit. It only takes a little effort along with some great looking materials to make initial your initial fund raising work. They then begin paying themselves a salary and concert more of their time and efforts into their nonprofit.
We at Ocean Grand have a desire that each nonprofit we set up has the success of the second example above. We are even willing to donate up to 50% of our work at creating and printing your image to show you how serious we are about you being a success.
If you are not seeing the success in your nonprofit that you dreamed of, let us help. Get in contact with us and let’s see what we can do to get you on the road to finding the funds and success that you need ,so your nonprofit can help the people you have a passion for.
It does not have to be difficult¦and Ocean Grand is here to make sure it’s not.
Have a great summer and hopefully your pockets will be full at the end of it with a little help from us and some fun in the sun on your part.
Your Junk
Your Junk is Your Responsibility
Communication to your business or nonprofit is like wind is to a kite. A kite can look great lying in the grass however, when the wind sends it soaring in the sky, it dances effortlessly with such delight. Communications is what connects your business to the outside world and can send it soaring into the sky or falling to the ground. You are the one holding the kite string so lets, briefly in this first of the “Communications Series,” cover some basics and in the next few articles we will cover all aspects of what you should have in place to communicate effectively with everyone. Make sure you grab the RSS or email feed above to receive all the articles.
Many Flavors
It is important that people can communicate with your nonprofit in the flavor that is comfortable with them. You may prefer old fashioned methods like email or postal mail, but the world is changing and you need to change with it. Yes, email and postal mail are old fashioned. I remember the days when people would give you a blank stare when you asked them for their email address or web site address, and have no idea what I was talking about. Well it’s time to update to the year 2009. Read on and I will explain how you can move your nonprofit into the current year and help people connect to you better and more efficiently.
Your Junk is Your Responsibility
First lets talk about your current means of communication paths. I will assume you have a postal address and an email address. If you are attempting to run a successful nonprofit, then a blog or at least a website is also necessary. My choice of words in the last sentence is important, you should have a blog and at the very least a website. This day and age, the blog is the most important means to communicate rather than a website or newsletter. The blog affords you everything the other two do plus the ability for everyone to read the latest news about your nonprofit, not just those that subscribe to your newsletter. To keep this post shorter, if you want to know more about blogs and why your nonprofit should have one, read the post Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/.
Your Junk
Now about your email. The most common thing I hear from others regarding the message I sent them on email is “I did not receive your email, could you resend it?” To which I reply “could you check your junk mail?” Many times the person has no idea how to locate or check their junk mailbox. 99.9% of the time if they did not receive my email it is sitting in their junk mailbox along with other important mail. I mention this because if I resent the email it would also end up in their junk mail. My email ending up in their junk mail is not my problem and there is little I can do to prevent it. I realize that a junk mailbox is there to catch spam and mail you do not want so you do not have to look at it. Instead, once and for all locate where your email program sends junk mail. Every couple of days check your junk box like it is your second inbox and skim the senders names and subject lines to make sure there are no messages there that you should have received. I check mine several times a day because as much as I wish that it only collected junk, many times important messages were moved there automatically by my email program. Take responsibility for the mail you receive and get on top of your junk mailbox.
Welcome to 2009
It is the year 2009 and communication is not as simple as it was last year. Or is it easier? Social Media has transformed the world and as a nonprofit your responsibility is to give people the ability to communicate with you like they want in all the flavors of the rainbow. Especially with the ease of communication on mobile devices, many find it easier to Tweet than to email you. At the very least your nonprofit should have communications set up on FaceBook and Twitter. Last month we did a whole series of articles on Social Media for the NonProfit and you can find all the articles below. The first and most important one to read is Tweet or Not to Tweet oceangrand.org/tweet-or-not-to-tweet/ which gives you a brief overview and then the steps to set up a FaceBook and Twitter Account.
Other articles you will want to read are:
- Tweet or Not to Tweet
- Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
- Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
- Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
- 14 Advanced Twitter Tips
Take some time this week and make sure your online communications are up-to-date. This allows people to stay in contact with you how they feel comfortable. To some it is easier to drop you a note on Twitter and others will prefer email. Whatever their preference, it is easy enough to accommodate them. Finally, check your email, Twitter, and FaceBook accounts on a regular basis it shows you care and want to be connected. Nothing is worse than unanswered communications with someone who wants to be connected to you and your business.
In the next articles in this “Communications Series” we will discuss all the aspects of keeping those that want to be connected to your business informed, connected and happy. Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS or email feed above so you don’t miss our step-by-step guide to making the most of your communications.
Click to Get Your Wish Granted
Genie In a Bottle
You are walking on the beach, and there in front of you is a genie lamp. The inscription reads, “Rub me”. So you rub the lamp and out pops a genie and says, “I will grant you one wish, any wish. But there are two conditions. Your wish has to be focused towards helping others and not yourself, and you have to be committed to seeing your wish come true.” Of course, you are wondering what happened to the other three wishes, since isn’t the offer supposed to be for three wishes? However, the genie explains that even his economy is tight right now but he should get the benefit of the doubt since, “When did anyone ever offer to grant you wish in the first place?” Today your wish is granted, read on to learn how to get your wish.
I spend a lot of time talking with people about cool ideas they have come up with to make the world a better place. Many of them are amazing and I am privileged to be one of the first to hear about them and spur them onto success. This day and age anyone can have a great idea to make the world a better place, but the process to take that dream and make it a reality is often confusing. Ocean Grand has made a commitment to help those who have a dream, a wish, and turn it into reality and we are counting on the rest of the technology, nonprofit and philanthropy world to join us in seeing dreams come true. Continue on and find out how you can be part of a new revolution.
From extreme makeovers, building homes for those that need them, losing excessive amounts of weight, to even finding the perfect job, television is transforming peoples’ lives by giving them the once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their world. Many times these complete solutions are the collaboration of hundreds or even thousands of people all bringing a piece of the puzzle to the table to make the dream come true. Granted, most of the time these transformations are created in the form of a competition and while some win, many lose. But for that one lucky person, their life could be turned upside down for the good.
Perhaps more than ever, with the aid of the internet, more and more people are finding that it only takes a little collaboration from a few others to make another person’s dream come true. It no longer takes meeting in person, complicated meeting schedules or years to create a strategy for success. For years I have run companies virtually and outsourced highly technical solutions to enable companies to run smoothly and much more efficiently.
One Lucky Person
What if I said, “Come up with an idea for a project to make the world a better place and no matter what your idea, I would help you put it in place?” In addition, I would not only help you put the project in place, it is yours to keep, and I will help you learn to easily fund it and make it a stunning success. You might think you stepped onto the stage of a TV reality show and all your dreams are coming true. In reality, (not reality TV), that is what I have the joy of doing each and every day. If you need someone to help you put your nonprofit project in place, learn for free how to fund it and have support in making it a huge success, then this invitation is open to you. It all begins with a short application to start a nonprofit and I will step you through the rest of the process.
Your Wish Granted in One Step
- Decide whether or not you’re committed once and for all to seeing your wish granted.
- If you are still committed, and want to make your wish come true.
- Take a minute and make sure you know what your wish is.
- Say your wish out loud 3 times and click the button below.
