Empowering Nonprofit Professionals: Affordable Small Shop Training Opportunities

In the dynamic and competitive world of nonprofit fundraising, staying informed and equipped with the latest strategies is crucial for success. Small shops, referring to smaller fundraising teams within nonprofits, often face unique challenges and constraints. In this blog post, we will explore the affordable training options provided by Small Shop Fundraising, aiming to empower you and enhance your fundraising efforts.

One of the standout features of our training is our commitment to affordability. Recognizing the budget constraints that many nonprofits face, we offer training resources at a fraction of the cost. This affordability opens the door for smaller organizations to access high-quality training that might otherwise be financially out of reach.

Our training covers a range of essential topics - from donor cultivation and stewardship to strategic planning and campaign execution. Our platform addresses key aspects of fundraising tailored to the specific needs of small teams. The training we provide is not just theoretical; it includes practical insights and real-world examples. This approach ensures that participants can apply newfound knowledge directly to your organization.

In the realm of nonprofit fundraising, staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. By taking advantage of the resources provided by Small Shop Fundraising - nonprofit professionals, like YOU, can enhance your fundraising capabilities and make a greater impact on our shared mission.

Two Types of Self-Care

You have to survive before you can thrive.

Working in a small shop nonprofit may make you feel like you are working in a rolling emergency room, or a million things you need to get done leaves you with no idea where to start. I know that I have felt this way many times.

I am going to talk about two types of self-care, one type is finding self-care when work seems unavoidable (like in an event week), and the other type is finding self-care time in a 'usual' week.

My number one rule for self-care of any kind is PLAN. Plan to take care of yourself, plan your day, and plan out your goals for the week. Whatever planning means to you, do it!

During a busy time, like an event week, I do a couple of things to take care of myself...

• Participate in walking and standing meetings.

• Set boundaries and communicate those boundaries.

• Practice mindfulness or meditation. This can be done simply by breathing or listening to soft music.

• Close your door! Sometimes it's as simple as not allowing people to barge in.

• Remember to eat and stay hydrated. Try not to binge on bad foods.

During a regular (but still busy) week, I do a couple of things to take care of myself...

• Continue to do all of the self-care tips mentioned above.

• Make a plan or make a list. This tends to bring me joy and is the number one thing I do to take care of myself.

• Exercise. I am an avid Orange Theory participant. I love Orange Theory because it allows me to zone out for precisely one hour, and then I can get right back to what needs to be done.

• Do something for yourself. Sometimes it's as simple as getting a pedicure, massage, cooking, writing, or whatever brings your joy.

• Make your needs known. If you don't communicate your needs and allow yourself a break, you can't expect people to understand.

These are just some small tips for taking care of yourself. Working in a small nonprofit shop can often lead to burnout. We are all passionate about our jobs, and therefore we must take care of ourselves if we want to care for others adequately.

It is in everyone's interest to protect their employees from burnout, and it is everyone's job to encourage self-care. As leaders in our small shop nonprofits, we must model self-care and prove our commitment to wellness. Make self-care a priority for yourself and those in your organization. Please drop me a comment with your favorite self-care tips! Thanks for reading.

Marketing and Social Media

As I have said in earlier posts, a small shop nonprofit comprises just one to three fundraisers. This means that if your small shop only employs one person, they are not only the fundraiser but also everything else in between (including the person in charge of marketing and social media!). Therefore, I wanted to provide some practical advice on getting started in marketing and social media. This post is dedicated to a small shop that does not have a marketing/PR/social media professional.

First, start by identifying your audience(s). Who do you, or your board of directors, want to get more involved in your organization? Do you need more volunteers? Do you need more donors? Are you trying to appeal to families? When it comes to marketing, start by identifying your audience(s). This helps to develop messaging, graphics, and content that appeals to them.

Second, your small shop should have a strong web presence. A strong web presence means an up-to-date website and an up-to-date Facebook page. This might be different for your small shop. Start by identifying two communication channels that your target audience is using. For most, these two channels will be a website and a Facebook page. Without two strong communication channels, people that may be interested in your mission will never find you. When it comes to your website and Facebook, make sure you have locations, keywords, and events that help you reach your target audience organically.

Third, keep your content current. This means updating your website and posting on your Facebook page three or more times a week. I strongly suggest you develop a content calendar that spells out what you will post or update for that entire month. Keep it short, simple, and easy to accomplish. For example, dedicate Mondays to recognizing your volunteers and staff, Wednesdays to telling your small shop's story, and Fridays to your fundraising efforts.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in a small shop nonprofit is spreading your organization (and yourself) too thin by trying to do everything. This is especially true when it comes to marketing and social media. For example, it is unreasonable for you to expect yourself to manage several different social media channels effectively. Instead, develop messaging that targets a specific audience and stick to just two communication paths.

Having a clear strategy in place for your marketing and social media will prove more fruitful in the long run and preserve the energy and time that should be dedicated to fund