Hilborn Key-To-The-Sector Workshops, Monthly Donors: How to find them and hold on to them, Harvey McKinnon, Harvey McKinnon Associates. Wednesday, September 15, 9 am - 4 pm, 88 Chestnut Conference Centre, Toronto. Includes lunch, nutrition breaks and a complimentary copy of Harvey’s book, “Tiny Essentials of Monthly Committed Giving.” $237 + HST by August 31, $267 + HST afterwards.

https://securesite.unxvision.com/canadianfundraiser/workshop/reg_form.asp?workshop_ID=389

An Ottawa charity lost its registration July 17 after the Canada Revenue Agency found it had indirectly funded an organization listed under the United Nations Suppression of Terrorism Regulations and the Criminal Code of Canada.

The CRA concluded that the Tamil (Sri Lanka) Refugee-Aid Society of Ottawa “failed to maintain adequate control and direction over the use of its funds; improperly issued tax receipts on behalf of third parties; and provided funding to non-qualified donees outside Canada,” including $713,000 to an organization that CRA believes was part of the support network for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The questionable fundraising and disbursements appear to have occurred in the fiscal periods ending March 31, 2005 and 2006.

Noise, clutter and confusion – that’s how Ketchum Canada Inc. president Marnie Spears describes the mass of commentary about technology-enabled fundraising. Few other tactics have drawn so much attention within our profession, aroused so much hope, generated so much hype. That’s why KCI devoted the latest issue of Trends, its quarterly research insights, to technology and fundraising.

There’s a great deal of confusion, Spears says, about the impact of Internet fundraising – what it is, what the tools are, and how to use them more effectively. Cutting through the uncertainty is much easier if we remember that tech tools are just new means for an old objective: building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.

One of the things I’m passionate about in our sector is delivering brilliant levels of supporter care. In fact much of what I’ve done over the past few years has been working with charities to find even better ways to reach out and look after those people who are the lifeblood of what we do: our donors.

I’ve talked previously about the “mystery shopping” work we’ve been conducting in different parts of the world. Here in Canada back in 2008, we measured the response of 39 organizations on the back of six approaches we made to each (to donate, complain and enquire about leaving a bequest). 

The purpose of this is simple: to understand how charities care for donors, and look at ways to do it even better.

When the economy contracts, it’s time to reconsider your approach to special events, advises Blackbaud principal consultant Susan McLaughlin. Take a hard look at the events you usually do, and an even harder look at any proposals for new events.