studio 501c

swipe this: check out the sites and practices of these web-savvy nonprofits

Having been on hiatus, I thought I would jump back in with an easy post: This list of the 59 Smartest Orgs Online from Squidoo.com, Net2, and GetActive is a great one to explore.  See what nonprofit marketing expert Nancy Schwartz has to say about it.  She likes the list and reminds us that "whether any or all of these strategies are right for your organization depends on your marketing goals, and other communications strategies in play."

nonprofits, nota bene: If you're interested in using the web more effectively, ask different staffers or volunteers to each review a few sites and to report back to the group on their findings.  Make sure to examine the sites of those with missions that are close to yours as well as a few that aren't.  If you have a narrow goal, e.g., improving your online donation capacity, concentrate on what the different nonprofits are doing in that area.

P.S.  Very interesting that Barack Obama decided to announce his presidential exploratory committee via the web yesterday.  It was a great way to get a very personal message (as compared, say, to a press conference announcement) out to millions and millions of people.  That video, which features Obama speaking directly to the camera in a home setting, has been featured on major news sites and blogs around the world.

nonprofits can use microsoft word templates for better design, communication

The popular Lifehacker productivity blog asked its readers to help Elyse, who works "for an earnest, mission-driven, do-good non-profit organization that, despite the high quality of our project work, has little time or expertise to devote to details such as aesthetics, formatting, and design"  and who is looking for "tried and true design tips to easily spruce up a document and make it more eye-appealing."

I've long been a fan of designer Chuck Green, who created these wonderful Word templates -- for everything from reports to ads to brochures to certificates -- for OKI Printing Solutions.

Another designer produced these, based on Chuck's work.  (Be sure to page down to the marketing materials to find the report template.)

nonprofits, nota bene: After you've reviewed the Microsoft Word design tips that other Lifehacker readers shared with Elyse (through the link above), check out Chuck Green's Ideabook.com and Jumpola.com, and be sure to sign up for the free newsletters he offers on both sites.  Chuck's advice and articles are fun, inspiring, and informative, and much of his guidance, especially the stuff on Ideabook, is geared to non-designers.  In fact, Ideabook is a studio 501c smart pick!