HOW TO DEFEND YOUR MARKETING BUDGET

EVEN IN TOUGH TIMES, CUTTING MARKETING BACK IS A BAD MOVE....

You must proactively respond.

You must prove why it is needed.

Arm yourself with as many hard stats and success stories you can.

Show your case.

TRACK your plan and progress:

• Direct Marketing - response rate; dollars earned per dollar amount (ROI)
• Media Relations - Development of media relationships; coverage by media type (newspaper, magazine, web, broadcast); Actions that result (increase in donations, volunteers, new program participants
• Public Speaking - number of speaking engagements and presentations

GHANDI'S FIVE FUNDAMENTALS FOR CHANGING THE WORLD

Gandhi's Five Fundamentals for Changing the World

Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom and inspiration transcends time and place. The remarkable spiritual leader led the Indian people to independence from British rule in 1947 and his teachings continue to resonate - particularly relevant in tumultuous times. Here are is top five tips for serving as an effective change agent and leader in a chaotic world.

1) CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST.

As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves. If you change yourself, you will change your world.

2) FORGIVE AND LET IT GO.

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. If you don't forgive, then you let the past and another person control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds.

3) ACT NOW.

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Without taking action very little will be done. However, taking action can be hard work and difficult. There can be much inner resistance.

4) LIVE IN THIS MOMENT.

I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. I have no control over the moment following. The best way to overcome the inner resistance that often stops us from taking action is to stay in the present as much as possible and to be accepting.

5) PERSIST.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Be persistent. In time, the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back will weaken, you will manifest your most essential gifts.

In all that you do, be congruent, be authentic, and be your true self. You will achieve happiness when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. And on that path, always remain open to change and continuous growth.

12 WAYS FOR FUNDRAISERS TO FACE THE ECONOMY

From the Agitator, 7 Fundraising Tips for Surviving 2008:

1) Don't Whine.
2) Re-Project and Take it Upstairs.
3) Advance the time-table for your year-end campaigns.
4) Resist Your Natural Instincts.
5) Engage your core donors as you never have before.
6) Do not lose the courage of your convictions.
7) Don't expect that the "good old days" will ever return.

From Fundraising Success magazine, Five Tactics to Rev Up Fundraising in a Down Economy:

1) Connect with your donors' pain.
2) Call mid to major donors now.
3) Begin year-end campaigns in September with installment options.
4) Use Alternative giving vehicles.
5) Focus on segmentation and target total net incomes (not return on investment or revenue)