Elevate & Engage
Access the slides here.
Access the training here.
Thank you all for joining us earlier this month for the Elevate & Engage training. Seeing so many dedicated nonprofit professionals come together virtually to enhance their skills and share insights was wonderful. We hope you found the sessions valuable and left with practical tools to strengthen your media relationships, boost fundraising results, and engage your communities more effectively.
Your participation and engagement were key to the event’s success, and we’re excited to continue building on these conversations. We look forward to offering more opportunities for growth and learning in 2025, and we’ll keep you updated on what's to come!
The passcode for the recording is: BEm20z*b
Caring for ourselves
In June, we had a discussion on the importance of balancing our professional roles with our personal lives. We acknowledged that we are multifaceted individuals, not defined solely by our work.
Leading with vulnerability, empathy, and compassion, we shared our unique challenges and came away with concrete action steps to help us take care of ourselves during our non-work hours. Here are some key takeaways:
Disconnect to Reconnect: Turn off app notifications and hide apps for a few days
Are you on vacation, taking PTO, or simply winding down after 5 pm on Friday? Take a few minutes to truly disconnect from your work persona. Silence any work-related app notifications on your phone (yes, Outlook and Teams, we mean you). Better yet, hide those apps altogether so you’re not tempted to check them!
Invest Time in You: Pursue what fills you with joy and curiosity
Whether it’s training for a road race, making a dent in your to-be-read pile, or trying out that new recipe, make time for activities that bring you joy and spark your curiosity. Remember, you are a multifaceted person—honor all aspects of yourself. These passions and hobbies are integral to who you are!
Rest and Recharge: Prioritize your mental health
Our work can often be emotionally heavy and mentally taxing. It's essential to take time to rest and recharge. Consider journaling or establishing a relaxing bedtime routine to help ease your mind. Prioritize your mental health and well-being—you deserve it.
By taking these steps, we can better manage our work-life balance and ensure we are caring for ourselves in meaningful ways. Remember, you are more than your job—embrace your full self!
Spring, Summer, Snowbirds!
As many snowbirds make their return trips to Maine, we know you’re planning on how to best strengthen relationships during this limited opportunity. Our best tip…
Invite donors to engage in a mission moment. This looks different for everyone but can be as simple or extravagant as you have the vision and resources for. Try out one of the ideas below, or your own and let us know how it goes!
host a group facility tour
Have a space that is open to the public? Consider the donors you work with and where there might be commonality. Use the information you know to curate an event. Do you have people who live or vacation in a shared location? How about those who attended the same college or who work in the same industry?
Identify a small group and invite them to tour your space together. You’ll foster a sense of community among them and demonstrate your interest in them beyond their financial support of your organization.
Unable to bring people together in your space? Consider where else you could gather- a community partner, a library, a restaurant, or another location that uplifts your mission.
create an experience
Where is there an opportunity to have a shared experience? What ongoing programming does your organization have? Inviting donors to events is a focus of many organizations and you’ll be competing against social commitments which often fill calendars in the summer, especially for snowbirds.
Think beyond a traditional event and tailor your offering to be easily engageable. Share an essay or film about a current exhibit along with your reactions and ask them to share their thoughts. Share a recipe from a community cooking class that they can recreate on their own.
Whatever you offer, it should be experiential and directly engage your donors in an extension of your work.
share a behind-the-scenes peek
Be vulnerable and share a glimpse of the unpublic side of the organization. Send a photo of something that caught your eye in the office and elaborate on why you were moved to share. Or, ask for advice on a project or challenge; this should be done with people whose knowledge and expertise can be truly beneficial.
Giving people another access point into your work and mission opens up a new layer to your relationship and strengthens trust and respect between parties.
educate on bills you’re advocating for
Does your organization work in the social sector? What legislation is important to strengthen your mission? Share this information with your partners.
Engaging in political conversations can be uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Reach out to your colleagues, they may be able to offer guidance and coach you. If your donor’s passions support your mission, this is a great opportunity to engage their support beyond funds and empower them to advocate on your behalf.
introduce to a community partner
None of us work in silos, we all enhance our community. Introduce your donor to an organization aligned with their interests or someone you work closely with. Highlight how the collaboration expands your organization’s work and some key achievements.
This shows a dedication to community strength rather than being fearful of competition.
learn about donor passions and motivation
Are you working with a larger group that doesn’t necessarily need one-to-one attention? Try using a google form to build a survey. Ask questions about how they became aware of your organization: what are their philanthropic goals, what are they looking forward to most during the summer, what is their go-to lobster roll order- you get the idea. Whatever you ask, balance the questions so you learn about their interests related to, and beyond, your organization. And lastly, ask if they’d be open to meeting. It’s a great excuse to follow up and move toward a relationship-based approach.