Elect to Support our Vets


In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, an agreement was signed in a forest outside of Paris to end hostilities between Germany and the Allies at the end of World War I. It was the beginning of the end of World War I and the start of Armistice Day, celebrated by many allied countries to honor and remember those who serve the military of their countries.  In the United States it has evolved into what is now Veteran’s Day, a federal holiday set aside to honor any and all persons who have served in the armed forces.

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Red, White & Charity: Fundraising during election years


The 2016 presidential election is coming up, and whether you are enjoying the debating, political-ranting, opponent-bashing and candidate paraphernalia or not, it’s impossible to escape. The U.S. is completely consumed in politics right now as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton duke it out for the position of President of the United States. The election propaganda has taken over more than just your Facebook and Twitter feeds – it's also affecting charitable giving and fundraising. But not in the way you might think.

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The Year-End is Near


It’s that time again – time to start thinking about year-end procedures. If you’re a ResultsPlus user, that means closing out your calendar year, and that can be a little scary if it’s your first (or even your tenth) time doing it. This enables your system to generate final numbers and stats for the year, and to clear the counters in preparation for the new year.

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Holiday Traditions


On this last day of work before the Christmas holiday here at Metafile, there are people wearing Santa hats, and goodies galore. Even in the midst of a strategy session or team meeting, someone’s earrings will be blinking or a holiday pen will be scribbling notes.

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The Not-So-Social Butterfly: How to network at your next nonprofit conference


For the not-so-social butterfly, attending a conference with the intention of meeting new people and making connections can be nerve-wracking. Talking to people you don’t know, in an unfamiliar environment… What do you talk about, the weather? Where should you approach people? What do you do with those new connections when the conference is over? Isn’t it awkward?

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Sync or Swim: Using Online Donation Retrieval


If you haven’t yet started receiving donations online, you may have a little catching up to do. In this digital day and age, so many donors – particularly younger ones – are more apt to go online to accomplish nearly everything, including making a charitable gift. And like with traditional giving methods, the easier you make the task, the more likely the donor will complete the steps that result in a successful donation to your mission.

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Big names, big changes: Celebrities who "Go Green"


Social media was buzzing yesterday with people talking about how their families or companies were going green for Earth Day. It’s always inspirational to see the flood of eco-friendly posts that take over on the day when people are most earth-conscious. But your tree-hugging, can-recycling, food-composting Facebook friends haven’t been the only ones trying to make the world a more sustainable place.

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How to write effective nonprofit emails


Many of us in the nonprofit industry rely on email to correspond with donors and prospects, whether it’s asking for a gift, reminding them about an upcoming event or thanking them for a donation. If your response and click-through rates are not where you would like them to be, it may be time to rethink your nonprofit email marketing campaign and try some new tactics.

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National Philanthropy Day in our Neighborhood

Our local community is observing National Philanthropy Day on Thursday, Nov. 6. The Southern Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals has organized and promoted a gathering of donors, nonprofits and beneficiaries to share, learn and celebrate. It’s been happening for more than 10 years, but this year may be the best yet. It will feature Jerold Panas, a nationally-recognized (and internationally-known) expert in the field of philanthropy, as the keynote speaker.

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