Essential Tips for Reaching Out to Potential Donors :: Lodestar ASU:

Essential Tips for Reaching Out to Potential Donors

Lodestar ASU: 1.16.2018 by Chris Giarratana

Working for nonprofit organizations comes along with many exciting things. It’s one of the few jobs that can keep you motivated especially because you’re making a difference in people’s lives. However, the job has its challenges as well, and one of them is reaching out to potential donors.

Raising funds or getting potential donors’ attention can be one of the most exhausting or perhaps discouraging situations faced by many nonprofit marketers. This may be caused by lack of enough resources, budget, or time.

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1. Build A Strong Social Media Community

As a non-profit marketer, building a social media platform with followers who believe and support your job is quite imperative.

If you use Facebook, it helps a lot to include a “Donate Now” tab on your Facebook page to make it easier for people to donate. When the potential donors click the tab, they should be directed to the donation site. For Twitter, you may run a contest such as a person who likes a tweet first or retweet it would get a reward such as a t-shirt. This will increase your followers.

2. Use Compelling Images

Use of infographics is one good way which proves to be effective as well as entertaining in presenting the message you want to communicate.

3. Compelling Videos

Even in for-profit businesses, marketers have turned into video ads instead of images as they are more visual.

According to Think With Google, about 57 percent of people donate after watching a video of your nonprofit. READ MORE >>

Governor Releases 2018-19 Proposed State Budget :: Includes $9.5 Million to Enhance Public Library Programs

Governor Releases 2018-19 Proposed State Budget

Includes $9.5 Million to Enhance Public Library Programs

CLA News: 1.10.2018 by Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This morning Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his final state Budget proposal, as he completes the last year of his term in office.  As part of the Budget package, CLA is pleased to report that the Governor has decided to include some significant funding -$9.5 million in new money - for public libraries in the proposal.  This funding seeks to benefit libraries that need to connect to high-speed broadband or those that wish to increase existing speed, local literacy programs, and creative ways of sharing and delivering library materials.

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The Governor’s Director of Finance, Michael Cohen then addressed the press corps and noted that the state Budget is proposed as $131.7 billion this year and that revenues are up $4.7 billion from last June.  However, he cautioned that the “unknown is the federal tax implications” which Director Cohen said his Department would be actively working to assess in the coming months.

PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED 2018-19 BUDGET

The Governor’s 2018-19 Budget proposes the following:

“Augmentation for Literacy Program – An increase of $2.5 million General Fund ongoing to expand the existing California Library Literacy Services program.”

“One-Time Funding for Broadband Grants - $5 million General Fund one-time for broadband equipment grants, with the expectation that $2 million would support connection for public libraries who lack access to the broadband network and $3 million would expand capacity for libraries already connected.”

“One-Time Funding for Online Service System - $1.5 million General Fund one-time for online systems for use by public libraries to support efficient access to resources.”

$500,000 is also provided for a combination of State Library staffing and taxes related to the CENIC project.

With regard to the library-specific funding in the 2018-19 Budget, the negotiations regarding these particular components in the Budget package were the result of a collective effort between CLA, the Department of Finance, the State Library, and the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) during the Fall months.  READ MORE >>

Escondido Library :: Private Equity Firm Acquires Rita’s Italian Ice, Now Eying California Public Library

Private Equity Firm Acquires Rita’s Italian Ice, Now Eying California Public Library

Huffington Post: 9.14.2017 by Donald Cohen

January. The outskirts of Philadelphia. 23 degrees. It’s hard to imagine anyone buying Rita’s Italian ice.

But Argosy did just that earlier this year.

Specializing in acquiring companies, cutting costs, and selling them for a profit, the Pennsylvania-based private equity firm added the frozen dessert chain Rita’s to its portfolio of investments, which includes a prison phone company and a handful of Pizza Hut franchises, among others.

And now they’re eyeing the library in Escondido, California. That’s right, a public library.

Well, not exactly. Argosy owns Library Systems & Services (LS&S), the country’s largest library management company, which is trying to sell its services to the small city north of San Diego. LS&S is using the same rap—that privatization saves taxpayer money by bringing “optimization” and “efficiency”—that it’s used to gobble up 83 libraries across the country.

While the Escondido City Council seems to have bought in—they voted last month to outsource to LS&S but have yet to sign the contract—taxpayers aren’t having it. The library’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously against privatization and thousands of residents have signed a petition to keep the library public.

Even the American Library Association has weighed in, writing that after privatization the “community will not know how its taxpayer dollars are being spent.”  READ MORE >>

Library Outsourcing Vote Is An Outrage :: Escondido Public Library

CLA 2017 Day In The District :: SCA 3-Dodd :: State Budget

CLA 2017 Day in the District

CLA: March 2017

What is “Day in the District?”

“Day in the District” is an effective way to build relationships with your legislator(s) by concentrating your time with the legislator in his or her district office, rather than at the busy State Capitol. Developing relationships with new legislators and bolstering your relationship with continuing legislators is incredibly important for the success of CLA’s advocacy platform.

Library directors, staff, Friends groups and trustees, literacy advocates, and other supporters are encouraged to schedule appointments with their legislators during the month of March.

Advocacy Issue: SCA 3-Dodd (library construction bonds – 55% vote approval)

Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has introduced SCA 3, which seeks to lower the local voter threshold for library construction bonds from the current two-thirds vote to a 55% vote. CLA is the official sponsor of SCA 3 and we will be actively working to secure passage of the legislation in the legislature.

Advocacy Issue: State Budget

The Governor’s 2017-18 State Budget does not include any new increases for library funding. Due to the Governor’s concerns over a future economic downturn, as well as the uncertainty surrounding federal Budget issues, the Governor released a prudent Budget in January, which “holds the line” on current library funding.

Due to term limits, many of the “library champions” for CLA have recently departed the legislature. CLA is looking for the next generation of “library champions” in the California State Senate and Assembly. Could your legislator be our next library leader?  

    

Materials

·  Tips for Lobbying Your Legislator

·  Key Committee Members

·  Sample Letter

·  Day in the District Ideas

·  SCA 3 Fact Sheet

·  CLA Legislative Visit Worksheet

·  California Public Libraries and CENIC

Helpful Links

·  Find your Assembly Member or State Senator

·  Locate and track bills in the California State Legislature

CLA Call to Action :: Phone Your Representatives Today :: President's Budget to Eliminate Federal Library Funding

FEDERAL BUDGET NEWS - YOUR ACTION REQUESTED TODAY!

CLA Latest News: March 2017

                         

Dear California Library Community:

If you have not yet seen the news this morning, the new Federal budget (among other things) eliminates the IMLS. 

ALA Press Release – President’s budget proposal to eliminate federal library funding 'counterproductive and short-sighted'

·  Budget from White House – America First

·  Details about the budget – What Trump cut in his budget

      Washington Post: 3.16.2017 by Kim Soffen and Denise Lu 

Read related:  Trump federal budget 2018: Massive cuts to the arts, science and the poor

Members of House Appropriations 

· Calvert, 42^nd District  (Corona/IE)

· Valadao, 21^st District (Hanford)

· Roybal-Allard, 40^th District (Commerce)

· Lee, 13^th District (East Bay)

· Aguilar, 31^st District (San Bernardino/IE)

·   Library Services & Technology Act Funding in California

·  2015-2016 LSTA Funds by District

Please get on the phone with your representatives today, this is urgent.

Helen McAlary,

President, California Library Association

Governor Brown Releases 2017-18 State Budget Library Funding Holds The Line In Governor’s “Prudent” Plan

Governor Brown Releases 2017-18 State Budget

Library Funding Holds The Line In Governor’s “Prudent” Plan

CLA News From the Capitol: 1.10.2017 by Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

At 11 a.m. today, Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his 2017-18 State Budget before the press corps at the Capitol.  The Governor called for cautious spending in the coming Budget year due to a projected $2 billion shortfall, as well as the anticipation of federal policy changes under the new Presidential Administration, which might significantly affect the state’s General Fund.  Specifically, related to library funding in the Budget, the Governor does not propose new spending; instead he holds the line on all of the current baseline spending in the various library programs (e.g. California Library Services Act, the state literacy program, and funding for the library broadband project in conjunction with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California - CENIC).  The Governor did highlight, however, the work of public libraries in a special section entitled, “Investing in California’s Workforce.”

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The Governor dedicates a notable amount of space in his Budget document to the issue of “Investing In California’s Workforce” and he discusses the specific contributions of K-12 schools, community colleges, state universities, and local libraries in this space.  Of note, the Governor has asked the State Librarian to convene discussions in the Spring regarding the opportunities for libraries within workforce development.  Specifically, with regard to public libraries the Governor states:

Role of Local Libraries

“Many other entities play roles as part of pathways in the workforce, and the state’s strategy should consider better integration.  Public libraries already provide a space where students and adults can earn high school diplomas or career certificates online, learn literacy skills with volunteer tutors, or build upon their ideas in dedicated “makerspaces” or innovation labs.  The state now funds high-speed Internet access for many libraries.  Libraries can be hubs for people to access online courses, particularly as libraries are in a unique position to provide the additional support and guidance that some studies suggest is essential for online education.  The State Librarian will engage stakeholders in the spring to create plans to better integrate the libraries into the state’s workforce strategy.”

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The CLA Legislative Committee will be discussing the Governor’s Budget at their upcoming meeting on Friday, January 13.  READ MORE @

Volunteers Provide America $184 Billion Dollars in Value 2015

How do you provide America $184 billion dollars in value?

Volunteering and Civic Life in America

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS): November 2016

National, State, City, and Demographic Information

This site is home to the most comprehensive look at volunteering and civic life in the 50 states and 51 cities across the country. Data includes volunteer rates and rankings, civic engagement trends, and analysis.

Overall, the volunteer rate remained steady as 62.6 million Americans volunteered 7.8 billion hours last year. Based on the Independent Sector's estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour ($23.56 in 2015), the estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $184 billion.  READ MORE @

Top 10 States

1    Utah

2    Minnesota

3    Wisconsin

4    South Dakota

5    Idaho

6    Nebraska

7    Kansas

8    Vermont

9    Alaska

10  Iowa

California is 34th

California Value of Volunteer Time 2015 :: $27.59 per hour

National Value of Volunteer Time: 2015

Independent Sector

Estimated Value of Volunteer Time for 2015: $23.56 per hour

California: $27.59

The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 62.8 million Americans, or 25.3 percent of the adult population, gave 7.9 billion hours of volunteer service worth $184 billion in 2014.2 For the latest information, please see www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.

For more information on the economic impact of nonprofits by state, please visit our state profiles portal.

Value of Volunteer Time by State 2001-2015.pdf

Governor Signs 2016-17 Budget and “Trailer Bill” :: Contains $4.8 Million in New Funding for CSLA

Governor Signs 2016-17 Budget and “Trailer Bill”:

Contains $4.8 Million in New Funding for CSLA

News From the Capitol: 6.30.2016 by Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

Monday afternoon Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the 2016-17 State Budget and corresponding Budget “trailer bills,” both of which contain new funding for the California Library Services Act.  The Governor issued a press release after signing the Budget bill, SB 826-Leno stating, “This solid budget makes responsible investments in California and sets aside billions of dollars to prepare for the next recession.”  Due to very collaborative negotiations between the legislature and the Governor, when the Governor signed the Budget bill he did not “blue pencil” or make targeted reductions to any of the programs in SB 826.

SB 826:  the 2016-17 Budget Bill

This measure contains $1.8 million in new, ongoing funding for the California Library Services Act.  This amount is added to the current baseline funding in the Act, which stands at $1.8 million -- for a new total of $3.6 million.  This funding continues to restore some of the cuts made to this program during the recent Recession.

SB 1602-Committee on Budget:  “Trailer bill” pertaining to Higher Education

This measure is approximately 90 pages in length and contains numerous provisions related to higher education and other matters, such as the State Library.  Specifically, SB 1602 includes the Governor’s proposal to provide $3 million in “one time funding” (meaning that it must be spent during the 2016-17 Budget year) to encourage the Systems within the California Library Services Act to participate in, or develop innovative programs for, digital delivery and resource sharing.  Throughout the Budget process, CLA strongly supported the Governor’s proposal relative to the $3 million, as well as the $1.8 million mentioned above.  We were pleased when both the Assembly and the Senate Budget Subcommittees adopted the proposals by unanimous votes.  READ MORE @

Tweetest :: Digital Books | Bookish Statues | Little Libraries | Defend the 10 :: Superlatives from SCLLN

Tweet – Tweeter – Tweetest

Superlatives from SCLLN

In places where #books are scarce digital books & mobile reading can be a solution! http://on.unesco.org/1RezHxF 

#BookDay

@UNESCO  23 Apr 201628 Apr 2016 28 Apr 2016

Bookish statues from around the world:

http://bit.ly/1V9Cmf2

@BookRiot 18 Mar 2016

Build your own #library at the first-ever Little Library festival. http://smithmag.co/nMSmNy

@SmithsonianMag 6 May 2016

Defend The Ten

Guess what: #libraries aren't old hat.

They're the most popular pastime in the country.

@defendtheten  5 May 2016 

Latest Estimated Value of Volunteer Time – 2014 :: $26.87 California

Actual Size

National Value of Volunteer Time

Independent Sector: 2015

Latest Estimated Value of Volunteer Time – 2014

National:   $23.07 per hour

California: $26.87 per hour

The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 62.6 million Americans, or 25.4 percent of the adult population, gave 7.7 billion hours of volunteer service worth $173 billion in 2013.2 For the latest information, please see Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2015

The value of volunteer time is based on the hourly earnings (approximated from yearly values) of all production and non-supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls average (based on yearly earnings provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for the national average. Independent Sector indexes this figure to determine state values and increases it by 12 percent to estimate for fringe benefits.

Charitable organizations most frequently use the value of volunteer time for recognition events or communications to show the amount of community support an organization receives from its volunteers.  READ MORE @

Governor Brown Releases 2016-17 Budget: New Money for California Library Services Act

Governor Brown Releases 2016-17 Budget:

New Money for California Library Services Act

News From the Capitol: 1.07.2016 by Mike Dillon, Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This morning in a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Jerry Brown released the 2016-17 State Budget, which includes a proposal to provide $4.8 million in new funding for the purpose of enhancing the California Library Services Act.  This funding would be in addition to the $1.8 million that is currently appropriated for the CLSA.

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In light of his cautious approach to this year’s Budget, we are pleased to see that Governor Brown has identified $4.8 million in new funding for public libraries under the CLSA, as a sign of his support for their valuable services.  Specifically the Budget notes:

California Library Services Act – An increase of $1.8 million General Fund ongoing and $3 million General Fund on a one-time basis for the California Library Services Act program.  These funds will be used to strengthen statewide and regional services for public libraries.”

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Lastly, there was no additional money provided for the state literacy program, but the current dollar amount of $4.8 million will continue under the Governor’s Budget.  There was also no new money provided for broadband connections for public libraries, but the funding that allows public libraries to participate as a member of CENIC will continue ($2.25 million). Last year, the legislature and the Governor provided $4 million for broadband connectivity grants.  READ MORE @