December 14, 2023
Thank you to everyone who attended the Nonprofit Networking Event at the Metropolitan Club last week. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new people. I would like to especially thank VonLehman for taking the lead on planning the event and all our other partners; Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, Manley Burke, LPA and Covington Business Council.
Don’t forget GC Nonprofit News can help you fill your job openings. It is easy and affordable to post your jobs using our online submission form on our website.
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*Reminder: Please submit your news by 2pm on Tuesday and jobs by 10am on Wednesday for Thursday's issue of GC Nonprofit News. Jobs submitted after 10am on Wednesday will appear in the following week's eNews.
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Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Fundraising |
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Careful readers of these digital pages know the perils of letting organizational leadership meddle with fundraising writing and donor communications. It’s not just that too many cooks in a kitchen turn out a mediocre soup; it’s also the case that the kind of writing leadership wants is often directly at odds with the rules and practices of effective fundraising writing. (As Blaise Pascal once wrote, “The direct mail letter has its reasons of which reason knows naught.”)
So, what’s a fundraiser to do when tasked with “writing in someone’s voice”—maybe the president of your organization, a celebrity donor, or some other luminary? How do you reconcile the potentially conflicting tasks of capturing a person’s voice and writing effective fundraising copy?
If this is a dilemma you sometimes face, read on. We’ll break it down together.
What we talk about when we talk about “voice”
The first step to pulling off this balancing act is to get clear on what we’re doing and what’s important. For starters—and this falls under “important”—capturing someone’s voice does NOT mean mimicking his or her writing style. There’s a simple reason for this: most people don’t even have a “writing style,” or at least not one that’s distinctive, memorable, or particularly imitable.
There’s a reasons why imitation writing contests are mostly limited to the likes of Hemingway and Faulkner. They carved out styles so distinctive that anyone can recognize them. (EH: short sentences. Man stuff. Drinking. WF: page-long rambles probably concealing the legacy of slavery and/or incest.) Odds are, your CEO or featured donor is not Faulkner.
But even if they are, you still shouldn’t prioritize the individual voice over solid fundraising fundamentals. Your letter signer might have a penchant for jargon-filled, longwinded prose chockfull of banal pleasantries; that doesn’t mean you should let any of that language creep into your fundraising appeal.
Instead, aim to produce an appeal that seems plausibly compatible with the persona of the signer. And that brings me to my second point:
“Writing in someone’s voice” entails capturing an attitude, not a style.
We’ve established the fact that most people don’t have a distinctive style, and if they do it’s probably not one you want to replicate. But what people DO have—and what is most important for writing fundraising appeals that are plausibly “from” a person—is an attitude, or disposition towards the world.
An attitude might be combative or measured, tongue-in-cheek or earnest, lighthearted or solemn, idealistic or pragmatic, folksy or urbane. But the key point is that you can convey that attitude not by diverging from “fundraising writing style” but rather by tailoring word choice and tone.
Nor does this attitude have to shine forth in every blessed sentence. You just have to sprinkle in a dash here and there, and avoid words or phrases that clearly clash with the tone. (Don’t let your down-to-earth folksy persona sound like a venture capitalist, or your Catholic intellectual sound like a Protestant prayer warrior.)
Here are a few practical tips for capturing your signer’s attitude in donor communications:
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Work from caricature, not from real life. You’re drawing with markers, so to speak, not fine-tipped pencils. So, the question you must ask is not, “What is this person like, deep down?” It’s what caricature they resemble publicly. There are probably just a handful of dials to crank up or turn down (sunny or stormy, homespun or sophisticated, etc.), but let’s leave those for another article. For now, the point is this: consider the signer’s position, the work they do, and their general outlook, then conjure up some sentences that capture that stance in broad brush strokes.
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Consider connotations when choosing words. If your signer is a feisty fighter, choose verbs and images that connote struggle, battle, etc. (And, conversely, avoid all “fighting” words if you’re writing for a peace-loving solution-finder.)
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Pluck some turns of phrase or keywords from the signer’s past communications. Take a look at past speeches, articles, or other writing. This might sound like it’s contradicting this whole darn article, but it’s not. A light dusting of the signer’s own words is just what the doctor orders when it comes to showing that you’ve done your homework and you “really get who they are.” People love hearing their ideas parroted back to them.
Just don’t let these words, phrases, and caricatures interfere with the effectiveness of the fundraising writing you produce. Your first audience may be the signer (or their proxies), but your ultimate audience is as it ever was: your donors.
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Tami McMann has joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as the communications manager of the Ohio Province.
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Greater Cincinnati Foundation has named Sara Bolton (L) as Chief of Staff and Felicity Tao (R) has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications.
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Jennifer Loeb (L) celebrated 25 years as CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati making her one of the longest-tenured non-profit leaders in the region.
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Central Clinic Behavioral Health announced today that its Board of Trustees has selected Kimberly Mages, Ph.D. as its new President & CEO.
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The Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News is accepting 2024 Sponsorships. Learn more here and contact us to schedule a discovery call.
Ronald McDonald House served its 150,000th Taste of Hope meal of 2023 to guest families on Tuesday, December 5th. This is the first time the House has reached this milestone. Families from all over the country are here so their children can receive life-saving care. RMHC’s professional chef, Greg Wyatt, and his culinary team who make this possible include Nancy Long, Jill Ruschulte, and Marsh Eversole. Members and volunteers from GE Aerospace's On Wing Support Division attended the event and served and prepared 200 meals at the House.
Cincinnati Magazine’s 8th annual Cincinnati Gives Challenge presented by Procter & Gamble tallied an impressive $409,775 donated by 2,439 unique donors. The challenge also far exceeded its $2.5 million cumulative dollars-raised goal totaling a local impact of $2,658,817 since the annual, year-end challenge began eight years ago.
Do it for Jack and the Jack Quehl Foundation won the Cincinnati Gives Challenge for the 2nd Year in a Row, raising over $50,000. They earned an additional $11,500 in prize money and a full-page ad in Cincinnati Magazine.
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of two special grants in honor of former President and CEO, Tim Maloney, and former Senior Vice President and Education Program Manager, Leslie Maloney. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Visionaries and Voices rose to the top as the final awardees, each receiving a one-time $50,000 grant from the Foundation.
On December 11 the Cincinnati ToolBank unveiled their newly constructed training center, offices, co-working space and meeting rooms, which will be available to its nonprofit partners. This project was made possible thanks to in-kind donations of labor and material with an estimated value exceeding $400,000 from local construction and trades companies.
North Fairmount Community Center is grateful to the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust for a generous grant in support of our social services programs. These programs provide social worker guidance and assistance to struggling families in danger of losing their homes or utilities as well as those in need of clothing and food.
Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS) has opened JFS Adult Day Services in Blue Ash, Ohio. The facility is co-located inside the JFS Headquarters. It is a safe, clean, comfortable environment where skilled staff can help older adults—with moderate or developing cognitive issues—engage in activities designed to enhance their quality of life.
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is grateful to the L&L Nippert Charitable Foundation for a $200,000 grant for CABVI ‘s new vision van.
The “Merry, Merry Metro Bus” is back for another holiday season. From Saturday, December 16 through Friday, December 29, two buses will circulate through Metro’s fixed routes with their cabins decorated for the holidays. If one of these buses arrives on your route, that trip is free.
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FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES |
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A student philanthropy class at Northern Kentucky University is looking for nonprofits interested in occupational therapy support. Students will select at least one agency to work with ... and also award a $2,000 grant to support the agency. Applications are being accepted now through early January. Our students are looking for opportunities to provide or support occupational therapy for psychosocial wellness.
Greater Cincinnati Foundation in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and Interact for Health, is pleased to announce a second round of Boots on the Ground Fund grants in its continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of small, community-based organizations driving change in our city. More than $750,000 will be made available for this unprecedented initiative dedicated to small, grassroots organizations that demonstrate the involvement of community members in its decision-making and give voices to those directly impacted by issues. Find more information here.
Impact 100 invites interested non-profit organizations to submit a Letter of Intent for its 2024 grant cycle. Nonprofits providing services within the 10-county Greater Cincinnati region may apply for a $100,000 grant in the focus areas of Culture, Education, Environment, Family, or Health & Wellness. The online Letter of Intent (LOI) application is now available and is due January 4, 2024. A series of information sessions are scheduled throughout November, including a general overview of the process, a Q&A session, and a panel of past grant recipients. Access the online LOI form, view and/or register for the information sessions, and learn more about the process here.
altafiber's Bell Charitable Foundation has funding available for programs serving OH, KY, IN and HI in Economic and Social Mobility, or Sustainability. Grants will be $25,000 on average. Our application can be found on bellfdn.org and is due on October 31. Contact bcf@altafiber.com with any questions.
The Reimagining Communities Match Program doubles donations for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) residents or BIPOC-led groups who crowdfund for projects that reimagine public spaces and infrastructure. This match program supports BIPOC residents and BIPOC-led unincorporated groups or small nonprofits (with budgets under $250,000) to crowdfund for projects that will radically reimagine public space or support the implementation of public infrastructure investment in their communities. More information and details on eligibility requirements can be found here.
A competitive grant from the Department of Energy promoting energy efficiency in nonprofit facilities was recently announced. Faith communities may qualify for funding for energy efficiency improvements to their house of worship building, provided they own their building. Find more details about Faith Communities Go Green here.
The Warren County Environmental Forum, in collaboration with the Warren County Foundation, is focused on developing and growing conservation funding support for individuals and businesses. Grant proposals are being accepted by the Warren County Foundation that demonstrate a positive environmental change or a conservation minded practice.
Interact for Health opened its first-round of 2023 grant applications. The $2.6M in funding are directly tied to the foundation’s new strategic plan, which will prioritize mental health and well-being with a strong focus on youth mental health, investments in policy and systems change, and building community power. For more information about funding opportunities and Interact for Health’s new strategic plan, visit their website.
Bethany Legacy Foundation grant application portal is launched and ready to receive applications. Non-profit organizations who serve youth, adults, and seniors in need are encouraged to develop initiatives and to apply for grants that fall within their funding priorities. Information can be found on their website or email bethany@bethanylegacy.org.
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Grants Research Lab, Wednesday, January 10, 2:00pm – 3:30pm. A roughly hour and a half virtual demonstration covering the basics you need to quickly start searching the Foundation Directory Online database to identify the best potential funders for your nonprofit organization. Free. Registration required.
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Love event planning? Love history? Heritage Village Museum is looking for volunteers to join our Columbia Settlement Event Planning committee. The Columbia Settlement event is a signature historical event that focuses on the first settlers in Cincinnati in 1778. The event takes place the second weekend in September. Planning meetings are the second Wednesday of each month by Zoom at 7:30pm. Please contact Steve Preston, Executive Director, spreston@heritagevillagecincinnati.org for more details.
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7 questions every leader needs to ask their direct reports It’s crucial for every successful leader to understand the motivations and drivers of their direct reports. The best leaders take the time to regularly check in with their team members and ask the right questions to gain valuable insights into how to support and motivate them.
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Our sponsor and partner marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about a sponsor's nonprofit services, click on their ad. Contact Kelli Tarantino, editor, at kelli@gcnonprofitnews.com to discover how your business or organization can become a sponsor/advertiser of the Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News.
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"With my new direction/calling in mind the universe worked its magic. I opened an email from Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News, scrolled through and saw a job opening at the top of the list of “non-profit opportunities.” After conversations, dinners, and tours, I was offered and accepted the role as Executive Director of Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic."
-Chris Seelbach
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Why advertise your job in GC Nonprofit News? |
- Over 6,1000 readers and growing
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80% of readers are nonprofit staff and 49% have worked in the nonprofit community > 10 years.
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49% average open rate (triple the industry average)
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- We bring experienced applicants to your organization.
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Senior Director of Development, Miami University (Posted 12/14/2023) The Senior Director of Development will help advance the mission of Miami University by planning, organizing and implementing strategies to increase the level of personal involvement and financial commitment of donors and prospects of Miami University. Particular emphasis will be given to strategies seeking philanthropic and volunteer support for Miami Athletics. Learn more…
Finance Director, ChangingGears (Posted 12/14/2023) The Finance Director at ChangingGears is responsible for strategic financial leadership, stewardship and accountability for ChangingGears. By executing these responsibilities while following our Values, this position will help accomplish our Mission and fulfill our Vision. Learn more…
Employment Specialist, BAWAC, Inc. (Posted 12/14/2023) This role would encompass providing vocational and employment supports for adults with disabilities or other barriers to employment. Assisting individuals to identify their area of interest for potential employment and preparing participants to be work and job ready. This role serves as a back up to the Norse Project SEARCH program as well at NKU. Learn more…
Controller, ArtsWave (Posted 12/14/2023) We’re seeking a Controller to provide accounting and finance support to the organization. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, the primary responsibilities of this full-time position will be monthly and year-end close, audit and tax return preparation, budget development and management, forecasting and investment tracking. Leading candidates for the position will be goal-oriented and confident professionals with a strong accounting background. Candidates will also pay outstanding attention to detail, have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, work independently, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Learn more…
Operations Manager, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (part-time) (Posted 12/14/2023) The DSAGC has grown significantly in the last few years. With the retirement of our long-term Business Manager, we have decided to tweak that role and redefine the responsibilities to reflect our current and future administrative needs. The new job title for this position is Operations Manager. This person will supervise others on the Admin Team and oversee the “big picture” finances of the DSAGC. The person in this role must have strong organizational skills, be good with numbers, have sound computer skills, and be an adaptable team player. Learn more…
Assistant Director of Development, Annual Giving, Miami University (Posted 12/7/2023) The person in this role will advance the mission of Miami University by planning, organizing, and implementing strategies to increase the level of engagement and financial commitment of alumni and friends through telephone, electronic and personal solicitation. Particular emphasis will be given to securing philanthropic support for the university’s Annual Fund through a comprehensive phone, email, and text solicitation strategy. Learn more…
i-team Director, Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (Posted 12/7/2023) The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University (the Center) seeks a director to lead a new Cincinnati Innovation Team (“i-team”). The Director is charged with leading an i-team focused on building prosperous futures through climate action and advancing racial wealth equity. The Director works closely with the mayor and their leadership team, as well as departmental staff, external experts, community organizations, and residents to ensure the i-team is delivering impactful solutions. Learn more…
Chief Operating Officer, Family & Children’s Place (Posted 12/7/2023) Family & Children’s Place is seeking an innovative Chief Operating Officer with strong leadership skills to oversee the daily management of our programs staff, budget, information technology, and facilities. While working in close collaboration with our CEO, there is a tremendous opportunity to make an immediate impact on our ability to achieve our strategic goals. Learn more…
Strategy & Policy Associate, Interact for Health (Posted 12/7/2023) The Strategy & Policy Associate administratively supports all the associates of Interact for Health’s Strategy & Policy Team (“S&P Team”), which includes data and learning, grants management and capacity building, and oversees all aspects of assigned projects. Learn more…
Communications Associate, Interact for Health (Posted 12/7/2023) This position will work closely with the Director of Communications and across teams to ensure Interact for Health’s mission is consistently communicated throughout the organization and the community. This includes the prompt and quality production of content that clearly conveys Interact’s policy priorities of improving mental health and well-being, policy and systems change and narrative change. Learn more…
Creative Project Manager, ArtWorks (Posted 12/7/2023) ArtWorks seeks a Creative Projects Manager to oversee planned public art projects many of which are murals, lead department initiatives, and support the development of future program efforts to advance the organization’s mission of creating community-based public art that provides career opportunities for artists of all ages. Learn more…
Photo and Video Studio Manager, ArtWorks (part-time) (Posted 12/7/2023) ArtWorks is expanding to include a Photo and Video production studio to fulfill a range of client services with a focus on photo and video production, while providing youth, ages 18-24, with mentorship and guidance. The role offers a talented photo and video professional with expertise documenting events and art to work alongside an emerging creative team to maximize their social impact through ArtWorks’ mission. Learn more…
Children’s Services Caseworker, Hamilton County Job and Family Services (Posted 11/30/2023) You will support children and families by keeping children safe and advocating for families. We offer a comprehensive training program for all new hires, including classroom training, shadowing, virtual reality experience, coaching, and engagement with our regional training center. This is a critical role that directly impacts the outcomes of the children and families whom we serve. This role may be a good fit if you excel in interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and enjoy fast paced work environments. Learn more…
Children’s Services Worker (Intake Workers After Hours), Hamilton County Job and Family Services (Posted 11/30/2023) Are you interested in serving our community and helping to protect our county’s most vulnerable children? At Hamilton County Children’s Services, this is what we do every day. We are looking for compassionate, tenacious workers who are dedicated to engaging families and ensuring that children are safe. Learn more…
Children’s Services Worker (After-hours Intake Worker with Field Work), Hamilton County Job and Family Services (part-time) (Posted 11/30/2023) Are you interested in serving our community and helping to protect our county’s most vulnerable children? At Hamilton County Children’s Services, this is what we do every day. We are looking for compassionate, tenacious workers who are dedicated to engaging families and ensuring that children are safe. Learn more…
Executive Director, PLF Foundation (part-time) (Posted 11/30/2023) The PLF Board of Trustees seeks an exceptional nonprofit professional to serve as their new Executive Director, responsible for the overall management of PLF, including all programs and business operations. Areas of responsibility include ensuring the organization is true to its mission and vision, fundraising, event planning, and public relations. Learn more…
Chief Financial Officer, Cincinnati Works (Posted 11/30/2023) The CFO position is responsible for reporting to and partnering with the President & CEO. The CFO will set Cincinnati Works’ financial policy and direction while also being an active participant in, and driver of, the organization’s overall strategy. This position will manage effective and streamlined administrative systems, including financial, accounting, facilities, and legal. As a member of the senior leadership team, the CFO will work closely with the finance committee of the board of directors. Learn more…
Director of Development, American Sign Museum (Posted 11/30/2023) Join us at the largest public museum in the world dedicated to signs! The American Sign Museum seeks a dynamic, creative, and detail-oriented individual to lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy during an exciting time of institutional growth. Learn more…
Program Manager, Boys Hope Girls Hope (Posted 11/30/2023) This position supports the functioning and activities of Boys Hope Girls Hope programming. The program manager supervises the Boys Hope Girls Hope Residential and Academy program team, provides support to the Program Director in implementing various administrative tasks in all program areas, and ensures that appropriate services are effectively delivered to each scholar and collegian for their full development according to the BHGH Program Model. Learn more…
Executive Director, Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio (Posted 11/22/2023) Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio is an independent, nonpartisan organization focused on workforce development and innovation in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The Executive Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership to a team of five employees and to the Board of Directors of Southwest Council of Southwest Ohio, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit work board serving the Cincinnati tristate region. This is your chance to lead the way in public workforce innovation by providing outstanding service to the Cincinnati region’s diverse customer base, community, and region. Learn more…
Development Director, Pregnancy Center West, Inc. (Posted 11/22/2023) This role develops, plans and implements all facets of PCW’s efforts in the areas of fundraising, donor relations, donor marketing and public relations. The Development Director works with the Executive Director to establish the Annual Budget. The Development Director is expected to meet or exceed the Income goals set forth in the Budget while managing Development-related expenses within budgetary guidelines. Learn more…
Philanthropy Advisor, Mount St. Joseph University (Posted 11/22/2023) The Philanthropy Advisor is an informed advocate for Mount St. Joseph University and is responsible for fundraising activities and strategies designed to increase giving to Mount St. Joseph University by alumni and friends of the University. The Philanthropy Advisor is an enthusiastic and skilled networker who enjoys getting out into the community, attending events and participating in opportunities that position the Mount for success. Learn more…
Human Resources Generalist, St. Vincent de Paul (Posted 11/16/2023) SVDP is seeking an experienced HR Generalist to join our dynamic team who can navigate with agility and compassion during a high growth period. As part of the SVDP HR team, you will play a key role in helping to shape practices that encourage employee engagement and service excellence. You will work closely with managers and staff at the stores to support their Human Capital needs. Learn more…
Senior Development Manager, St. Vincent de Paul (Posted 11/16/2023) This position is a management position providing oversight, coaching, and mentorship to three development team members: Grants Manager, Events & Partnership Manager, and Gift Processing Coordinator. Reporting to the VP of External Relations, this role works collaboratively with the Senior Marketing Manager, Giving Officer, and the team at the Outreach Center to maximize our impact through our annual fundraising efforts, grants, planned-giving drives, and events. Learn more…
Support & Volunteer Coordinator, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank (Posted 11/16/2023) The Volunteer & Support Coordinator is a critical role for the organization, providing consistent administrative support to all staff and helping manage the thousands of volunteers we welcome each year. Learn more…
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Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News
- Jane Page-Steiner, Owner/Publisher
- Kelli Tarantino, Editor
- Barb Linder, Assistant Editor
- Meg Bryant, Billing
513-378-5526 to discuss how we can assist your organization.
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