Santa’s Environmental Impact Infographic Via Ethical Ocean

In case you have ever wondered, “What is Santa’s carbon footprint?” The people at Ethical Ocean put together an infographic showing Santa’s environmental impact.  Ethical Ocean is an online retailer.  According to their website the sell the “most ethical products in North America. Every product on our website must qualify for at least one of our three designations: Good for People, Good for Animals or Good for the Environment.”

via Ethical Ocean – eco friendly products, fair trade and vegan shopping.

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Happy Holidays! Sage Snowball Craze Game

Congratulations to the Housing Corporation of Arlington! They are the winner of our holiday grant contest and will be the recipient of all the funds raised during our 2012 Sage Snowball Craze game.  We came up with this game and fundraiser in lieu of a large holiday card mailing.  We hope you like it and will take some time to check it out.

Click Here to Play

Every time you play or forward the game to someone we will donate a nickel to HCA up to $10,000.  Play a fun game and help fundraise for an amazing organization.  Try it out now.

To play, all you need is a mouse and a quick click to hurl your snowballs.  The goal is to knock down as many structures as you can. Tip: press the right mouse button down and release the button when the gauge on the left of your screen fills up with red.  Be sure to save your snowballs so you can keep playing to the end. Have fun!

If you want your organization to be considered for Sage’s  Snowball Craze next year, be sure and watch for an email in early November or visit our Facebook page for how to enter. 

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Making The Rule Of Reciprocity Work For Your Nonprofit

You’ve probably heard of the Ten Commandments, but does this one ring a bell?

“Thou shalt not take without giving in return.”

As psychologist Dr. Robert Cialdini points out, “there’s not a single human culture that fails to train its members in this rule.” It’s what makes us scramble in the back of the closet for a scented candle and a ribbon when a neighbor unexpectedly shows up with a holiday gift. It’s why 200 families sent holiday cards back to a complete stranger simply because he had sent them one. A story told in this recent National Public Radio broadcast.

What does this mean for your Nonprofit? Inexpensive gifts for potential donors dramatically increase contribution rates. For example, a custom address label only costs about 9 cents, but it almost doubles donor response when compared to a gift-less direct mail piece. Take a page from the Hare Krishnas’ book and hand out flowers or other inexpensive trinkets. Ask for a donation after a passerby has accepted your gift and you might just raise millions like the Krishnas.

Tips to make the rule work for you:

1. Make it Personal– Custom gifts make the recipient feel valued and make your gift less likely to end up in the trash. Something as simple as personalizing sticky notes for your targeted potential donors could make the difference between a daily reminder of your mission and an addition to the local landfill.
2. Make it Useful– Give them something they’ll actually use like office supplies, magnets, note cards, or a free song or ring tone from iTunes. Your gift doesn’t have to be an object. Why not provide valuable insights like how your logic models have proven successful or the lessons you’ve learned about turning your activities into desired outcomes?
3. Don’t Stop Believing– Continue to send gifts to major donors even when they haven’t contributed in a while. Your gift will serve not only as a reminder to donate, but will also create a sense of indebtedness to your organization.

Get in the holiday spirit and give your targeted donors a gift. You may receive more than you expect.

What are some gifts that have helped your organization increase donations? Please share in the Comments section below.

Kathleen Denyer Hall
Associate Product Manager
Sage Nonprofit Solutions

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Better than Black Friday: Give a Gift for Good

Instead of getting trampled in Black Friday madness this week, why not do some shopping that actually makes the world a better place?

For the last couple of years, I’ve made Christmas presents of goats, honeybees, and clean water for needy families. Talk about giving something you know will be put to good use!

Heifer International offers a number of charitable gifts in all price ranges and they’ll send or let you print a pretty gift card for your loved one. Check it out!

Fonder of shoes than you are of farm animals? Buy a pair of TOMS shoes or a gift certificate and you’ll also provide a needy child with shoes. Take it from me: they have a plethora of cute shoes of all styles for the ladies in your life. They’ve also started selling sunglasses and for each pair sold will help the visually impaired.

You know your kids don’t really need another truckload from Toys “R” Us. Why not help them make a homemade card and send a gift certificate to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to provide toys for sick children who can’t afford their own.

Got a foodie on your list? Why not Adopt an Olive Tree on their behalf? In addition to helping olive farmers in Italy, you’ll be giving a year’s supply of high quality olive oil from your adopted tree! Honor a loved one by helping build a house on her behalf. Habitat for Humanity’s Gifts from the Heart program makes it easy.

For all you Nonprofits out there, how could you package a contribution to help your constituents give the gift of charity this holiday?

This Friday, sleep in, grab some leftovers, and kick back with your laptop for some Guilt Free Shopping!

Kathleen Denyer Hall
Associate Product Manager
Sage Nonprofit Solutions

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Our 2012 Fall Grant Winner ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Congratulations to Betsey Bryant!  Betsey is a Match Specialist with ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, and she won our $1000 Fall Grant Giveaway.

ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a Sage Fundraising 50 customer, transforms the breast cancer support experience by providing a distinctive service to breast cancer patients and their families and loved ones. They provide free, personalized information and one-to-one mentoring support at any point of the survivorship journey –diagnosis, treatment and beyond.  Betsey provides professional and administrative assistance within the Program Department to effectively assure compassionate, efficient, and timely implementation of individualized support services.

Betsey is eager to use the grant to help expand ABCD’s services beyond the greater Milwaukee area to meet the needs of patients and their families nationwide. We’re glad to be able to provide this grant to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

We also want to let you know we are currently accepting nominations for our Sage Snowball Craze Holiday Grant.  If your nonprofit is a Sage customer in the USA or Canada, you are eligible for a $10,000 unrestricted grant.

It’s easy to nominate yourself.  Simply complete this form and tell us your organization’s story you may be our next winner and recipient of the Sage Snowball Craze Holiday Grant.

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Why I Volunteer: For Smiles

Imagine if you sent your kid to school on their first day with a pencil and some notebooks? While retailers are looking forward to big sales, many kids just don’t participate in the back-to-school shopping tradition. That’s why I wanted to get involved and be a part of Sage’s efforts to donate school supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States.

I was so impressed with how the Austin office pulled together. In less than a week our team collected 65 backpacks and stuffed them full of school supplies for the Thurman Heights Club. I could barely fit all of the them in my SUV.

When I arrived at the club the Director, Ruby Preston, was shocked to see how many backpacks we collected.  She had the kids and staff come outside to help carry them all in.  They were so excited!  It was like Christmas and it felt really good to see the smiles on their faces as they picked the backpack they wanted.   I included some pictures here for you, because words are inadequate to describe the moment.

After I handed out the last backpack, I realized most of the kids had left the club.  I asked Ruby where the kids went and she told me they ran home because they couldn’t wait to see what was in their backpack.  She then said, “We never received this many donations for school supplies.  You may not realize this, but Sage has made a difference to each one of these kids today”.  Wow!

That’s when I realized how fortunate I am to be in the position I’m in.  Working at Sage Nonprofit Solutions helps me to help kids like the ones I just met – because our software supports nonprofits and people like Ruby who are doing great, amazing, impactful work each and every day.  So, thank you Boys and Girls Club for the work you do and for letting me support you and be a small part of it.  And, thank you to all the employees in Austin who helped – you made a difference and you’re the ones who show Sage Cares.

Tony Slan
Customer Care Representative
Sage Nonprofit Solutions

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Inspiring Story: Supporting Our Troops

This past weekend as I watched my favorite news show, CBS Sunday Morning, I was especially touched by the story of Karen Grimond. Over the past eight years she has single handedly sent out 7300 care packages to our troops. Talk about someone who is making a difference! You can watch her inspiring story here.

Karen’s one woman nonprofit and personal service to our troops made me wonder how many other people or organizations exist to support military personnel, their families and veterans?  I found a good listing of organizations on the Charity Navigator website here.

Before you watch the fireworks this Independence Day, take a moment to reflect on all the people who have served our country.  Thank a Vet or even better make a donation to a military or veteran-related charity.

 

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And The Winner Is …

Sage received over 500 entries to our May Win a Grant contest in Facebook.  Many outstanding causes were entered and we wish we could help them all.  Thank goodness we don’t have to choose from the entries.  A software program randomly picks from among the entries.

So, without further delay, we are pleased to announce Diane Fincham won our contest.  She asked that we make a donation on her behalf to the Jefferson County Senior Citizens Center. 

Diane is the controller at the Jefferson County Senior Citizens Center. Like many nonprofits the center is adapting to funding cuts at both the national and state level.  Diane explained that the Jefferson County Senior Citizens Center provides community care and support to seniors across the county area.  A core service of the center is to provide a daily hot meal.   She went on to say that for many of the seniors at the center, the meal they receive is the only one they eat all day.

Big thank you to Diane for working at the center and helping to keep their financials in order! We are glad to pay it forward on your behalf to help such a critical community service.

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Suiting Up For Success: Sage Cares

A new business suit, handbag, hairstyle and a pair of shoes can go a long way in helping someone go from unemployable to hired. That’s why Sage Cares is helping Dress for Success outfit a 1000 women across North America. Dress for Success a worldwide organization provides professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Read more about this amazing organization here.

When a woman knows that she looks great on the outside, it can be transformative on the inside giving her that extra bit of confidence to interview well. That’s why we are asking all Sage employees to participate in the Dress for Success Drive.

Bring your gently used or new women’s business clothing (all sizes), accessories, unused gift cards or even cash donations to your local office between April 2nd – April 6th. Guys, don’t feel left out! Ask your wife, significant other and daughters to contribute. We are also asking you to write a letter or note of encouragement to accompany your donation on Sage letterhead or notecards. Please no sloppy donations, all items need to be in excellent condition. For additional questions and drop off locations, contact the primary Dress for Success Champion in your area listed below:

• Scottsdale, AZ: Donna Duncan
• Richmond, BC: Maya Taguchi
• Irvine, CA: Drew Macbeth
• Rocklin, CA: Carrie Geib
• Fort Walton Beach, FL: Pam Deveney
• St. Petersburg, FL: Mary Kauffman
• Lawrenceville, GA: Cyndee King
• Beaverton, OR: Katie Nearman
• Mississauga, ONT: Maya Taguchi
• Cranberry Township, PA: Kelly Behrik
• Austin, TX: Patricia Tynan
• Herndon, VA: Carol Walsh
• McLean, VA: Katrice Furbush
• Williamsburg, VA: Jill Steward

About

Sage Cares is the Sage North America corporate responsibility program that encompasses our activities in giving, our commitments to sustainability, and our focus on helping to build entrepreneurship and small business acumen. Sage Cares represents our belief that each of us is part of one big community, and together we can make a difference – in our cities, in our environment, in the economy that Sage products help drive. More information here.

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Get Crazy! Sage Snowball Grant and Game

While it’s cold outside and your office is quiet, take some time to play Sage’s Snowball Craze game – it’s a riot!

Click Here to Play

Think of it as our version of Angry Birds, except it’s better!  Every time you play or forward the game to someone we will donate a nickel to Synergy Services, Incorporated and will grant them up to $10,000.  Play a fun game and help fundraise for an amazing organization.  You should try it out now.

Synergy Services assists individuals and families with immediate respite from violence, their programs include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs throughout the Greater Kansas City area.  Be sure to share and play the game often.

So, how does it work?  Your goal is to use snowballs to knock down a variety of structures.  There are about 20 different levels of increasing difficulty to play.  To date the highest score was over a million points!

To play, all you need is a mouse to control where you send the snowballs.  Place your mouse on a strategic spot.  Press the right mouse button down and release the button when the gauge on the left of your screen fills up with red.  Be sure to save your snowballs so you can keep playing to the end. Have fun!

If you want your organization to be considered for Sage’s  Snowball Craze next year, be sure and watch for an email in early November or visit our Facebook page for how to enter. 

Patricia Tynan
Social Media Community Manager
Sage Nonprofit

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