What is your motivation to volunteer?

Because I can’t help it….

Scott started doing it to spend time with his daughter. Bridget does it because it’s a natural part of who she is. And me? Why do I volunteer?

First, I have a basic desire to help people succeed. Although a I grew up in a very modest family, (in small town USA and “didn’t have the right last name,”) we always made room at the table as needed for a relative, neighbor, or friend. I was taught to work hard, to give back – and help the people in your community. Sometimes that is lending an ear, helping to build a home, or even sharing the harvest of your garden with those around you. Not because you have to, but because it’s the right thing to do.

For me, though, that is not the whole story. I’m a pretty passionate person. Love great causes, root for triumph over stereotypes, and hug puppies. My biggest passion which drives me to volunteer? Children and family literacy.

Now, here’s where you might say “of course you bleeding heart, you would support early childhood and family literacy programs.”

But there is where you are wrong. I’m incredibly uncomfortable around children, and self-diagnosed as “baby-phob.” They all freak me out. And no, I’m not an only child and have about 18 first cousins.

But I believe that children, starting before birth, should be read to so strongly that I’ve dedicated my time for the past 5 years on the board of an amazing organization called BookSpring.

Why am I so passionate about children’s literacy?

Because I’m living proof that the greatest, long-lasting gift a parent can give to their child is the love of reading. It opens doors and opportunities that tickles their imagination of who they are, places they could go, worlds to they can explore, and how they can contribution to society. And thanks to Mom – I’m an avid reader, and some may say is successful. Not too bad for a dead-end, dirt-road country girl…

So, no – I don’t hug babies, but work like mad to give my business and leadership skills and experience to an organization that has volunteers that do, with a book in hand, of course. They are, after all, our future.

Be passionate, be compassionate. Volunteering takes many shapes and forms, with no wrong answers.

Just give back,

Heather

*Warning – here’s my soapbox*  I can’t help but say – read to your kids. This isn’t an economic problem, this is a priority problem. Take time. It makes the world of difference.

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Summer Webcast Series

We know it’s hard to go to work when the sun is hot and the pool is calling your name.  We are giving you five reasons to head to the office or at the least dial in from the beach.

Sage Nonprofit is offering an amazing summer program for professional development that you don’t want to miss. This free webcast series covers a wide range of sessions that will help you take your mission online to engage your supporters.

Due to popular demand we will be updating the links below as the sessions take place converting the links from registration for the live session to registration for the webcast recording.  Come back as your schedule allows to get started.

#1 Ten Tips for Social Media Action
July 19, 2011, 2:00 PM CT
Hosted by: Patricia Tynan

Recording of the session available here.

#2 Nonprofit Web Advice
July 21, 2011, 2:00 PM CT
Hosted by: Dan Gonzalez

Recording of the session available here.

You can still register for the live sessions below:

#3 Slactivism – Motivating Donors to Take Real Action Online
July 25, 2011, 2:00 PM CT
Hosted by: Spenser Whelan

#4 Enhancing Donor Loyalty in the Online Age
July 27, 2011, 2:00 PM CT
Hosted by: Bridget Brandt

#5 Online Fundraising 101
July 28th, 11:00 AM CT
Hosted by: Richard Deitz

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Sage E-marketing – Coming Soon!

One of the most talked about announcements at Sage Summit is the introduction of E-Marketing to Sage Nonprofit Solutions.  It is already a proven product in use by many of Sage’s corporate customers worldwide.  We are buzzing with excitement and plans are underway to roll E-Marketing into our product suite.

Sage E-Marketing automates the email process, enables customization, segments messages to hit your target audience, manages opt-ins and outs, tracks usage stats in real time, and measures results.  What’s more it has top-notch deliverability standards and outstanding reliability ratings – your emails will make it into your supporters inboxes.

If you are looking to take your relationship building to the next level by engaging your prospects and supporters with drip or nurturing marketing campaigns, Sage E-Marketing is on it’s way!

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Keep Up With Sage Summit

Did you decide to skip Sage Summit this year?  Do you still want to participate?

While it’s not the same as attending in person, you can follow the hot topics and presentations at Sage Summit by listening and interacting with Sage Nonprofit through our social networks.

• View updates, links to presentations and pictures from the event on Facebook – www.facebook.com/sagenonprofitsolutions and the conference page www.facebook.com/sagesummit.
• Find helpful Summit sessions on Slideshare including: How to Enhance Donor Loyalty and What’s New in Sage Fundraising 50 www.slideshare.net/sagenonprofit
• Follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/sagenonprofit  or www.twitter.com/Sage_Summit . Watch the conference hashtag #SageSummit on Twitter. Read sage Summit Tweet News “wrap ups” at http://storify.com/sagenonprofit.  Including the live tweet streams from our featured keynotes Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry and Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
• Watch and follow on You Tube – http://www.youtube.com/SageNonprofit.

It’s completely free to follow, you can learn what’s next and “fill your brain with lots of exciting ideas”.

Wish You Were Here,

Sage Nonprofit

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It’s Our Birthday – Sage Day 2011

A message from Krista Endsley SVP and GM of Sage Nonprofit Solutions.

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Sage celebrated its 30th Anniversary yesterday.   As I think about Sage’s birthday, I can’t help but think about my time with the company. I have been at Sage 10 years and came to Austin in 2007 to lead Sage Nonprofit Solutions.  It was a welcome change and I was excited to serve clients in the not-for-profit space.

One of the first things I noticed after arriving in Austin, is that we have several employees who have been with us 18, 19 and almost 20 years.  Many stay because of the satisfaction they get knowing that they are helping our not for profits be successful.  I couldn’t agree more.  While it may be an indirect contribution, it’s motivating to know we are helping our customers work more efficiently with greater transparency and ease.

The second thing I noticed is many of our original customers: Texas State University, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Community Action of Scioto County, Easter Seals Society of the Capital Area (and the list goes on) have been with us almost 30 years.  I think it’s a huge testament to the people that make up our organization and the customers we serve.

A Look Back
Sage Nonprofit was originally called Micro Information Products.  The primary product was MIP Fund Accounting software designed by CPAs to handle the unique requirements of not-for-profit accounting.  Over the years the product evolved and now it simply goes by Sage Fund Accounting.   I was thrilled when Sage Fund Accounting was recognized last year by Accounting Today as top “new” product and received a perfect score from CPA Technology Advisor in their Not-For-Profit Accounting Systems Review. Sage purchased MIP in 2001 and soon after we added Sage Fundraising 50, 100 and Millennium to our product offering.

Working with so many nonprofits, we recognized the need for an affordable, flexible fundraising solution and in April 2010 we added Sage Fundraising Online.  It enables you to fully integrate with any web site or CMS and take advantage of social networks online like Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

I am also really excited about our newest product, Sage Grant Management, a web-based product that helps organizations maximize their funding potential.  It enables organizations to manage their grant pipeline, track contacts and communications with funders, measure their efforts and report the results effortlessly.

A Look Forward
Yesterday our top leadership introduced a new vision for our organization. We will share it publicly at Sage Summit, our annual conference for customers and partners, next week.  All I can say is that I am really excited about the future of Sage – it’s a great time to be a part of this organization.

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Take Charge of Your Life Long Learning

Editor’s Note: Bob Lewis is back, guest blogging for Sage.  You can read Bob’s previous post here.   

Your manager informs you that she is having a trainer come in and provide an all day workshop on “Improving Your Customer Service Skills.”  She says that it is time for you to gain new skills and knowledge, improve your attitude and ultimately improve work performance in customer relations.  You stop, reflect, ponder and probably are figuring out how you can get out of this opportunity.  You check your sick leave and you have one day left.  So what do you do?  You suck it up and attend.

I love the word Andragogy-the art and science of helping adults learn. If we truly want to change training we need to focus on the most important piece.  Who is most important?  The learner is.  Most trainers should know that learners are motivated by internal rather than external factors.  So how should companies start thinking about future training opportunities for their employees over the next year and thereafter?
Here are some suggestions for taking charge of your professional development and learning:

• Take a free webinar then follow up with a short training and read a book to encourage yourself to implement ideas and new skills.
• Talk to your manager prior to pre-assigned workshops.  Discuss your group and individual needs so you can develop a plan to improve and enhance work relations and performance.  Only you know what internally motivates you.  Remember the last blog—we discussed building on your strengths and managing your gaps.
• I love these 4 simple ways of activating and retaining learning:  talk, move, laugh and write.
• Pay attention to how you learn.  There are many ways to assess your learning style.  A neurolinguistic profile is a cool way of assessing how you learn.  You may be visual and can handle the traditional power point.  If you are auditory, books on tape or a presentation without the visual is a preferred way of learning.  If you’re kinesthetic like me—you want to be fully engaged, do group discussions and perhaps act out part of the learning.  Paying attention to your learning style can really help you retain information—some say by at least 80%.
• Find an accountability partner (associate or friend) to ask you questions about your learning.
• Set some learning goals with timelines and specifics and watch yourself soar in your strength areas.

Who is in charge of learning?  You are.  Get started today.  Learning has infinite power.

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50 Asks In 50 Weeks Webcast

We should have named our webcast, 50 Asks In 50 Minutes.  Just like the book, the webcast was packed with great information and shared in less than one hour.  Amy Eisenstein’s presentation lasted about 40 minutes and was followed by an open and active QA session.   If you missed out last week, you can:

Watch a recording of the webcast here.
Read curated tweets from the event here.
Download slides on Slideshare here.

We received a tremendous amount of positive feedback and will be sure to host more sessions like this one in the future. Let us know if sharing these resources here is helpful by commenting below.

Sage Nonprofit

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