Insights

We are reaching the end of the year, and though it may be hard to believe, the days of December have a way of disappearing quickly. Between next year projections, holiday get togethers and family obligations, 2019 will be here before we know it. This is great time to focus on one more big drive to increase giving for your non-profit. Did you know that nearly one-third of annual giving occurs in December? If your nonprofit is looking to increase revenue, donor engagement, and social media presence, pushing your fundraising campaigns strong at the end of the year is your …

Giving Tuesday, a movement developed in our modern world of technology, where social media rings a strikingly gracious tone. We all know about how capitalistic culture can bend over backward for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, but the following Tuesday can be an even more beneficially impactful day worldwide. Let’s dive into #GivingTuesday, and how it can benefit your organization today!   The movement that is continuously growing and evolving, #GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 by the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact. They started off with a bang that has only grown through the years; in 2012, …

How do your members required show up in their field professionally? Are they in strict schedules that can make it difficult when out of the blue health or family obligations pop up? Employment norms are adapting at a rapid pace and the option to work remotely has gained popularity in organizations that recognize that work done through computers can often be accomplished anywhere. Teams that have the option to work virtually are somewhat newfound. This is an exciting time for organizations to step out of templates that haven’t supported leadership and membership to create systems that allow the mission to …

On a Monday morning, you may find yourself confiding in a colleague about a professional breakthrough you have experienced. They’re standing there, nodding and smiling along. Smile, nod, ask probing question: showing they are “present”.  In truth, your colleague’s may be lost in their own thoughts, but they are showing their support by hearing your story. Notice they are hearing you, but are they really listening? You can always tell if your message landed with someone, whether their listening face could win them employee of the month, or they are yawning and bleary-eyed. What do you experience when you are …

As we move into the winter months in the northern hemisphere, your members are bundling up inside and taking to the internet to keep them warm. This is the perfect season to ask, “Is our organization effectively reaching our target audience?”  This is THE question when discerning where your social media presence can prevail and make the most impact. In a recent article, the Journal of Medical Internet Research explains, there are substantial differences in social media use by age. 88% of 18- to 29-year-olds indicate that they use any form of social media. 78% are between 30 to 49 …

Wouldn’t you say the adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” is out of touch to the development of any organization? Continuing to learn new tricks, skills and protocol at a rate that works for each individual can help the mind be ready for new challenges that arise. Developing a member’s hunger to learn the current tides of their profession doesn’t have to be a struggle to get their project done the night before it is due. How can an organization make learning accessible for a diverse set of members’  needs while providing top-notch training and development? How …

At VPG, our skyrocket to success is through breakthrough software. We are no stranger to technology, VPG is in front of the line. While it’s comfortable to stick to what you know, it is crucial to keep up to date with user friendly software that can push your organization ahead of your competitors. In a recent Forbes Article, How To Guide Your Nonprofit Toward Mission-Friendly Growth, Kevin Xu states, “About 80% of startups aspire to scale up their current operations over the next year and a half, according to a recent Abila Nonprofit Finance Study, and it’s important for them …

Keeping your organization’s brand current involves many systems and moving parts. Depending on your organization’s mission, goals, and values, it might be time to investigate whether your brand is continuing to fully represent your members as the professional field follows certain trends. Don’t be afraid! Your members want to stay with you. Making the decision to switch communities among the organizations that are available to them or even the decision to pick one for the first time takes time and energy. Probably more than most would want to spend. Protect your members from decision fatigue. Many new professionals often go …

There is a unique moment in time for an organization when a breakdown in the integrity of deliverables is rising and morale amongst the ranks becomes strained. If members and the board become misaligned, in core values or otherwise, tensions begin to surface rapidly. The support your organization offers begins to weaken. This can hurt the members’ ability to create balance in their profession and life, which can contribute to burnout. It’s hard to be at ease when you aren’t sure who has got your back. This can be an uncomfortable area to navigate, but when done with awareness and …

Let’s say your association is organizing an upcoming conference at McCormick Place in Chicago. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in checking all the boxes that need to be checked that the initial purpose of having the conference can get lost. Many goals will be set, but there is always that desire to create connections, share knowledge and experiences, and eat your weight in deep dish pizza (perhaps the real reason so many choose to have their conference in Chicago!?). Take Chicago as an example. McCormick Place is the backdrop where key personal connections are made. Here, …