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Your website is the foundation of your nonprofit’s digital presence. From attracting new supporters to your website to strengthening relationships with existing supporters, your site can function as a powerful tool to engage your audience and deepen their involvement in your organization. However, first you need to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goals to create a roadmap for success. 

The SMART goal framework can help your nonprofit hone its web strategy to set reasonable, yet ambitious goals to create a clear path forward. With SMART goals in your toolkit, you can transform vague goals, like “we want to reach more people with our site” into actionable ones with defined metrics. 

In this guide, I’ll cover how your organization can apply the SMART framework to your web strategy to turn your website into an all-in-one marketing, donor stewardship and fundraising tool. Let’s break down each element of SMART goal setting. 

The more detailed your website’s goals are, the more prepared your organization will be to achieve them. For example, let’s say your nonprofit struggles with converting site visitors into donors when they land on your donation page. You might make the following specific goal:

Our nonprofit will update our donation page with our branding guidelines and use more direct language in our emotional appeal to give in order to increase donation form conversions. 

This goal lets your team know exactly what you want to achieve and how you’ll achieve it, rather than creating a vague goal that you simply want to increase the number of donations. You can also identify the team members who will be in charge of rolling out this goal to foster greater accountability across your team. 

To make your goal actionable, you’ll need to identify relevant metrics to track and measure your progress. Continuing with the SMART goal example of strengthening your online donation page, you’ll want to measure your donation page’s conversion rate. 

Conversion rate refers to the number of supporters who visit your donation page and submit a donation. For example, if 100 site visitors land on your giving page and only 20 give, your conversion rate is 20%. 

Once you know which key performance indicator (KPI) you’ll track, you’ll need to set a measurable goal. For instance, you might want to increase your donor conversion rate by 10%. Set a specific incremental increase that challenges your team, but makes sense based on your past performance. 

If your goal seems unattainable, you risk overwhelming your team and slowing your overall progress. It’s critical that you set a goal that is appropriate for your nonprofit’s current state. To determine whether an increase in your donor conversion rate by 10% is reasonable, reflect on your current website metrics with the help of your content management system. 

Let’s say that you determine that your conversion rate increased by 5% when you last updated your donation page’s design to be more user-friendly. You could then say that a 10% boost in our conversion rate seems attainable because we’ll be making more involved changes designed to inspire giving.

By setting a realistic goal for your nonprofit, you’ll be more likely to hit your target and keep your team motivated. 

Your goal should not only be achievable, but relevant to your nonprofit’s mission and overarching goals. Set website goals that further your priorities and bring you closer to making your vision for the future a reality. Remember, your website can be a powerful tool to build a loyal donor base and drive meaningful fundraising results. You just need to wield it effectively to promote your organization’s growth over time. 

Continuing with our earlier example, a higher donor conversion rate is relevant to your mission for a number of reasons:

Think through whether your website goal is relevant and meaningful to your organization with the help of multiple stakeholders, including your board members, volunteers and staff, and even major donors. This will ensure that your goals align with your priorities and can help take your nonprofit to the next level. 

Every goal needs an established time frame to fuel progress. By laying out when you hope to achieve your goal, you’ll be able to better rally your team around your objective and inspire action. Your organization should not only set when you want to hit your goal, but also identify milestones along the way to ensure you’re on track. 

For instance, your team might want to meet its conversion rate goal by the end of this quarter. You could set a bimonthly or monthly goal that breaks your larger goal into smaller parts to ensure you’re making progress. When you reach these time periods and assess the relevant metrics, you can determine whether your nonprofit needs to adjust its strategies to increase your chances of success. 

The SMART goal framework can help your organization strengthen its digital presence and attract more supporters. From optimizing your donation page to making your homepage more responsive, incorporating this goal-setting process into your operations will empower your team to meet meaningful goals faster. 

The Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News is accepting 2023 Sponsorships. Learn more here and contact us to schedule a discovery call.

The Warren County Foundation recently worked with the new City of Lebanon Civic Fund to award six grants totaling $17,500. Funding was provided to the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce; Lebanon High School After Prom; Lebanon Theatre Company; Lebanon Optimist Club; Rotary Club of Lebanon and SAFE on Main.

Adopt A Class, a Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky K-8 student mentoring non-profit organization, is honored to be awarded a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. This grant will support Adopt A Class in implementing STE(A)M Careers and Life Skills mentorship and opportunities for underserved youth in our community during the 2023-2024 school year. 

Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center is honored to be the recipient of a $32,000 Gift from A Keller to expand our Choice Food Pantry and to allow for repairs that are ADA compliant and supportive of the needs of our disabled members. We are also humbled by the generosity of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation for their $25,000 grant to ensure emergency resources of food is available to the thousands of members we serve, experiencing extreme cycles of poverty.

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra in partnership with Cincinnati Compass, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Kroger Wellness Festival are proud to welcome Little Amal to Cincinnati on Friday, September 22 at 3pm as part of a broader US tour. Little Amal is a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has traveled across 13 countries meeting more than a million people, promoting hope for immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons. Registration is now open for participation in the event!

St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky is thankful to have received a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels in the amount of $14,100. The funds will be used to purchase complete bed sets for children. Because of this gift, children who were sleeping in a chair or on the floor will now have a bed to sleep in.

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. 

2023 Southwest Ohio GiveCamp non-profit applications are now open. GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where software developers, designers, database administrators, project managers and creative professionals donate their time to create software and web-based applications for non-profit organizations. The first step is to fill out an Interest Form. Projects that are within the mission and scope of GiveCamp will receive a more detailed application.

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.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor have excess building space available on their St. Clare Campus, 60 Compton Road. Space will be made available to interested and selected nonprofit organizations at rates significantly below market. For additional information, contact ca@franciscansistersofthepoor.org or (513) 761-9040, ext. 110. 

The Joe Burrow Foundation (JBF) has launched a new grant application program called “Do Good” grants and will consider requests of up to $50,000. Project proposals must support the JBF mission in new and innovative ways. The foundation is interested in supporting projects that develop new pathways for mental health protection and food insecurity that are sustainable and designed to have lasting impact. Eligibility requirements and applications can be found here.

Community Engagement Collective has launched the first Black Indigenous and People of Color Mental and Behavioral Health Provider Directory. The free directory is sponsored by Interact for Health. Click here to learn more about the directory and to download.  

Do you work for a nonprofit organization, serve on a board, advise within the nonprofit sector or are looking to expand your nonprofit network of peers? There are many opportunities in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area to network but having the opportunity to nurture relationships within the nonprofit sector is an area often missed. Please join VonLehman as we partner with Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, Manley Burke, LPA and Covington Business Council to offer a happy hour exclusively for people in the nonprofit sector. Learn more and register here. 

Winn Reading is looking for a volunteer Social Media Coordinator to help create literacy-based content for our social media accounts. This is a remote position, and a wonderful opportunity for any stay-at-home parent or student looking to add experience to their resume and who shares our passion for helping kids read! If you or someone you know is interested, please send us an email at info@winnreading.org.

DEI under attack Across the United States, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, programs, and offices are under attack, primarily by Republican state lawmakers and Republican governors. Measures targeting DEI have been passed and signed in Florida and North Dakota and have advanced in state legislatures across the country.

Should nonprofits fear charity watchdogs? “We don’t care about Charity Navigator ratings.” The comment from a keynote speaker at a recent conference had some of us tilting our heads like a German shepherd does when it shifts its head to redirect the big radar dish ears to an unusual sound. 

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.

Director of Finance and Human Resources, American Sign Museum (Posted 7/6/2023). Reporting to the Museum’s Executive Director, the Director of Finance and Human Resources will play a role in the organization’s financial decision making. This position will maintain the museum’s financial security by establishing internal controls while recommending new and improved operational policies and procedures. The ideal candidate will have experience with accounting for non-profit organizations, the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, demonstrate an ability to work across departments, and manage confidential information appropriately. Learn more…

Senior Director of Development, Student Life and Libraries, Miami University (Posted 7/6/2023). The Senior Director of Development, Student Life and University Libraries will advance the mission of Miami University by planning, organizing, and implementing strategies to increase the level of personal involvement and financial commitment of alumni and friends. Particular emphasis will be given to strategies seeking philanthropic and volunteer support for the Division of Student Life and University Libraries. Learn more…

Community Life (CL) Senior Manager, The Community Builders (Posted 7/6/2023). The CL Senior Manager will oversee a team of staff and volunteers to coordinate support services and programs at City West. In partnership with residents, the CL Senior Manager develops a Community Success Plan (CSP), which includes programs, activities, and partnerships necessary to support families residing at City West in the areas of housing stability, early education, youth development, community engagement & safety, financial stability, health, and resident leadership. Learn more…

Volunteer Program Coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul (Posted 7/6/2023) The Volunteer Program Coordinator will interact with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to recruit and productively deploy a diverse pool of volunteers to compassionately serve our neighbors. He or she will provide volunteer opportunities that engage volunteers and suit their abilities, schedules, and desired experience, while offering them fulfilling service opportunities that introduce them to the Vincentian charism and way of serving. Learn more…

Administrative Assistant, Miami University (Posed 7/6/2023) The Administrative Assistant performs a variety of complex administrative tasks involving some discretion and requiring moderate amounts of independent judgment related to the oversight of the daily operations of the business functions of University Advancement. Learn more…

Program Coordinator, From Fatherless to Fearless (Part-time) (Posted 7/6/2023) The Program Coordinator will oversee the coordination and administration of all aspects of ongoing programming for From Fatherless to Fearless, including planning, organizing, staffing, training, and leading program activities. Learn more…

Bi-lingual Ministry Coordinator, The Healing Center (Posted 7/6/2023) Responsible for providing administrative oversight and performing administrative functions for the Healing Center. Responsible for providing exceptional hospitality and customer service via phone and email. Learn more…

Assistant Vice President of Development, Intercollegiate Athletics, Miami University (Posted 6/29/2023) The person in this role will work strategically with key external stakeholders to set engagement activities for donors, fans, and alumni with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) at Miami University. They will also work with other University leaders to develop and implement strategies that impact ICA broadly as well as to help advance the mission of Miami University by planning, organizing and implementing strategies to increase the level of financial support of donors and prospects to ICA. Learn more…

Human Resource Manager, ArtWorks (Posted 6/29/2023) This position is responsible for 1) overseeing and directing payroll procedures, ensuring compliance with laws and tax, 2) assisting employees with benefits enrollment and questions, verifies all insurance billing, maintains employee database and files, and ensures compliance with required benefit notices and 3) manages a small-scale safety program including training, policies and procedures. Learn more…

Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Family Nurturing Center (Posted 6/292023) The Marketing & Communications Coordinator is responsible for raising awareness of both Family Nurturing Center and the issue of child abuse and neglect in the community. He/She plans and executes comprehensive strategies to increase understanding, market programs and services, and build the brand of Family Nurturing Center for better recognition in the region. Learn more…

Special Events Coordinator, Family Nurturing Center (Part-time) (Posted 6/29/2023) The Special Events Coordinator is responsible for raising awareness of both Family Nurturing Center and the issue of child abuse and neglect in the community through recurring and new events. He/She plans and executes comprehensive friend-raising and fund-raising events to increase the sphere of influence and build the brand of Family Nurturing Center and meet fundraising goals. Learn more…

Engagement Coordinator, Digital Marketing and Events, St. Vincent de Paul (Posted 6/29/2023) The person in this role is responsible for supporting the efforts of the External Relations team and the St. Vincent de Paul strategic plan to promote and engage the community in the mission of SVDP. The position encompasses two key functions: marketing and engagement (75% of the time, approximately 30 hours/week) and supporting events and drives (25% of the position, approximately 10 hours/week). Learn more...

Assistant Director of Gift Planning, Miami University (Posted 6/29/2023) This position is responsible for providing charitable gift and estate planning information to the Miami University community, including donors, prospective donors, and volunteers. He/she will build upon the program's solid foundation and will work cooperatively with volunteers, faculty and staff to increase the volume of life income gifts, bequests, and other planned gifts in support of the university's academic mission. Learn more…

Executive Assistant, St. Joseph Infant and Maternity Home (Posted 6/22/2023) This position coordinates the day-to-day administrative operations of the President to assure efficient workflow and communications. Functions as a liaison between the President, various departments, Board of Trustee, parents/guardians, public and others. The position handles many business matters independently and requires a high level of intelligence, skill and prioritization skills. The position must be able to handle situations discreetly and deal with sensitive information in a confidential manner. Learn more…

Foundation Programs Coordinator, The Christ Hospital Foundation (Posted 6/22/2023) The Foundation Programs Coordinator provides essential coordination of the programs orchestrated by the Executive Director and the three Directors of Development, for the larger goal of raising more charitable donations in support of The Christ Hospital Health Network. These programs include event management, financial reporting and analysis, major donor communication, and administrative duties. Learn more…

Annual Giving Development Officer, Bethesda Foundation (Posted 6/15/2023) The Bethesda Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Annual Giving Development Officer.  This position reports to the Director of Development of the Bethesda Foundation and provides direct annual giving fundraising support for Bethesda Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati and Fernside, A Center for Grieving Children and Families, all part of the TriHealth system. Learn more…

Executive Director, Madisonville Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. (Posted 6/15/2023) MCURC seeks a visionary and dedicated Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth. The Executive Director will lead fundraising, Board development, and strategic initiatives while working with the community to advance neighborhood priorities, support resident leadership, and continue efforts to revitalize Madisonville, recognizing the neighborhood’s deep history and commitment to diversity and equity. Learn more…

Special Events Coordinator, DCCH Center for Children & Families (Posted 6/15/2023) Come work in a fun place! We are seeking a creative, highly organized event planner to help us execute unforgettable events that generate brand awareness, build business relationships, boost volunteer morale and meet events fundraising goals. You will be responsible for conceptualizing ideas for the events, creating and enforcing budgets, liaising with suppliers, communicating with donors and volunteers, and ultimately ensuring that each event is flawlessly executed. Learn more…

Housing Coordinator, The Salvation Army (Columbus, OH) (Posted 6/15/2023) Manages the housing/homeless programs for Central Ohio and provides supervision for housing employees. Serves as the grant’s administrator for all CAS housing programs. Writes program grants, monitors grant requirements and financial policies, and provides reports to funders for the Franklin County and Regional Housing programs. Learn more…

Education Coordinator, The Salvation Army (Columbus, OH) (Posted 6/15/2023) The position provides administrative leadership to the Learning Center program, including supervision of one after school learning center site, supervision of learning center after school and summer program staff, oversight of lesson plans, writing of some grant applications, curriculum, and reports as requested, fiscal program oversight, program evaluations, oversight of recruitment efforts and maintenance of positive relationships with Columbus City Schools, area schools, and other community partners. Learn more…

Education Specialist, The Salvation Army (Columbus, OH) (Posted 6/15/2023) Responsible to develop curriculum and distribute lesson plans to site coordinators, to conduct and monitor Curriculum Based Measurement Assessments on student participants, to maintain a database to monitor the results of assessments, and to develop and implement appropriate academic intervention strategies for those students determined to be “at risk” academically for their grade level. Provide administrative support as needed to the Education Coordinator and assist with student recruitment. Learn more…

Housing Case Managers, The Salvation Army (Columbus, OH) (Posted 6/15/2023) This position aims to assist homeless families into affordable, safe, and stable housing in accordance with the Housing First Model. The case management team provides short-term housing location and stabilization services, including financial assistance and intensive home-based case management. Learn more…

Director of Development, Cincinnati Boychoir (Posted 6/15/2023) The Cincinnati Boychoir is seeking a Director of Development with experience in fundraising as well as energy and passion for the arts and youth development. The person in this role will be integral in achieving our vision of being financially accessible to all boys and families through a renewed focus on all revenue generating activities, including the stewardship of our donor base, overarching grant strategy, fundraising events, and performance activities. Learn more…

Anti-Human Trafficking Case Manager, The Salvation Army (Posted 6/15/2023) The Case Manager will empower survivors of all backgrounds, ages, types of trafficking, and nationalities in their recovery through the provision of resources, life skills, feelings management, crisis response, and interventions for other needs. This position will support the case management and crisis response team with occasional after-hours duties (quarterly). Learn more…

Senior Center Director, Marielders (Posted 6/8/2023) The Director of Marielders will be responsible for overall management of the activites, transportation, financial reporting, and supportive services for our 55 and older members from the surrounding communities. The Marielders Center is open from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday. Learn more…

Director of Property Management, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio (Posted 6/8/2023) As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Property Management for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio provides strategic oversight and direction in developing, planning, managing, and implementing all Council properties and facilities. Learn more…

Manager of Development, ArtWorks (Posted 6/8/2023) Seeking a Manager of Development to support fundraising programs that advance our mission. This is a growth opportunity to join the dynamic team responsible for expanding our portfolio of donors and volunteers needed to drive programming impact. Core responsibilities include coordinating the ArtWorks Mural Tour Program, managing our annual spring and fall fundraising events, coordinating additional smaller fundraisers, database entry, gift acknowledgement, and reports. Learn more…

Benefits Paralegal Advocate, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (Posted 6/8/2023) We seek to hire at least one full-time paralegal advocate for the Income, Work and Health (IWH) Practice Group. The Legal Aid Society’s mission is to solve the serious legal problems of low-income people in our community, to promote economic and family stability, and to reduce poverty through effective legal assistance. Learn more…

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