Feed: 4imprint Promotional Products Blog » Charties and Not for Profit - AggScore: 46.0

Recession 'not affecting charitable giving'

The recession may have many people watching their pennies however it seem generous Brits are still reaching deep for charities which are near and dear to their hearts.

According to figures cited by This is Money, the UK is among the world's five most charitable nations and the amount people are giving to good causes is actually rising rather than dropping.

It has been suggested that despite facing their own hardships people are realising that others are in worse situations and want to do what they can to help.

Angharad McKenzie of WaterAid, told the news provider: "Of course, people are experiencing the impact of the recession, but in some cases this seems to be focusing supporters’ minds on what is important to them."

"Life is difficult here, but elsewhere in the world 4,000 children still die every day because of dirty water. Perhaps our supporters are asking themselves whether they could really make better use of £2 a month."

To help reward donors and encourage more people to give in what is undeniably a tough climate, charities could try sending out promotional gifts to raise awareness of their cause.

To help reward donors and encourage more people to give in what is undeniably a tough climate, charities could try sending out promotional gifts to raise awareness of their cause; small gestures such a printed mug or a pen can act as a timely reminder of your cause and inspire people to make a donation.

Financial crisis has created a kinder Britain: We are giving more and finding better ways to do it, This is Money
 

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Canine charities proving popular among public

Britons' favourite animal charities are dog-friendly ones, according to new research.

Giveacar, a not-for-profit social enterprise, said nearly a quarter of donations made through the service to animal-based charities were to those that support dogs.

Animal charities regularly use promotional items to help spread the word about what they do and use branded merchandise to support their campaigns and initiatives.

After dogs, charities that support horses receive nearly 12 per cent of donations and cats received 11 per cent.

Donations to animal charities accounted by 13 per cent of the total.

Giveacar works by donating money from the sale of old, unwanted cars, which are given by their owners on the understanding that the proceeds go to charity.

Alan Chance, Giveacar's director, who oversaw the survey, said: "English donors do indeed seem to give animal welfare a higher priority than many other causes – reinforcing last year's Charity Market Monitor survey which indicated that whilst overall donations were declining, donations to animal welfare causes were on the increase."

"Dogs Attract More Charitable Giving Than Any Other Animal". Dog News.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

World Book Night highlights importance of promotional gifts

If ever there was any doubt about the popularity of free promotional gifts, World Book Night has shown that people love getting something for nothing – if it is useful to them that is.

The night, which took place on Monday April 22nd, saw 20,000 volunteers giving out a million free books in a bid to boost literacy and get people to curl up with a good book.

A number of celebs including Stephen Fry were among the givers and there were also a host of events taking place across the country to celebrate the nation's readers.

The literary day saw books by the likes of Charles Dickens, Daphne Du Maurier and Roald Dahl being given out across the UK and a number of events were hosted so people could swap books and get to know other bookworms.

We know that your marketing campaign may not attract as big a following as World Book Night but it just goes to show that people often sit up and take notice if they are given a free gift.
 

Posted by Carl Blackshaw

Promotional bags reward those with big hearts

Promotional bags will be used to launch the first charity bike event of its kind in Scotland next month.

The Buddies to Bairns Big Heart Cycle, which takes place between Paisley and Falkirk, is a 34-mile route linking the two towns, reports the Paisley Daily Express.

Both towns are part the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Heart Towns project, a new scheme which encourages communities to come together to help beat heart disease by staging fun activities such as rides, walks and runs.

It is hoped that 100 cyclists from Paisley and 100 from Falkirk will get on their bikes for the worthy cause, which takes place on Sunday May 27th.

People can enter in teams or as individuals. Those buying a family ticket – for two adults and up to three children – receive a BHF t-shirt and goody bag.

Roisin Robertson, Renfrewshire Council's health improvement manager, said: "The point of being a Heart Town is that people think more about what they are doing in relation to their heart.

"Physical activity is great for your heart and cycling, in particular, is great fun. The cycle event will cover a beautiful route which is right here on our doorstep."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Mountain rescue team uses promotional mugs to raise awareness

Members of a mountain rescue team in the Peak District have been putting promotional mugs to good use as part of a special initiative to help its funding and raise awareness of its important work.

The Edale Mountain Rescue Team teamed with a local cafe and campsite to sell a special edition mountain rescue mug as part of the project, reports Outdoors Magic.

The promotional mug will be sold in the cafe and three of the mountain rescue team paid a visit this week to thank owner Dave Bagnall for his efforts.

The mug forms part of an educative display designed to help those enjoying a brew and bite understand better what the mountain rescue team does.

It includes branded items, a demo rescue stretcher and a map of the operational area with photos of the team in action at various locations.

The promotional mugs feature the team's logo and on sale for £6 they're bound to sell like hot cakes – raising some much-needed cash for the rescue gang.

"Edale Caff In Mountain Rescue Mug Initiative". Outdoors Magic.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Britons still plan to give to charity

The economic downturn has failed to dent Britons' appetite for charitable giving, according to a study.

Research by financial services firm Foresters found the majority of people still plan to give to charity this year despite household finances taking a battering, reports Third Sector.

Some 89 per cent of the 2,000 British adults polled said they planned to donate this year and 90 per cent said they also gave in 2011.

Over half – 59 per cent – said they would give to medical charities, followed by children's charities (44 per cent), local community bodies (38 per cent) and animal charities (37 per cent).

Last year, over-65s proved to be the most generous, giving an average of £121, followed by those aged between 51 and 65 (£67).

Those in the 41-50 bracket gave an average of £66 and those in the 21-30 age group gave £47.

Stephen Dilworth, UK membership director of Foresters, told Third Sector: "It appears that even though 2012 is likely to be a tough year financially for many, people are still committed to supporting the causes they care about, which is excellent news for the numerous UK charities."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional items can help merged charities

Two cancer charities might want to use promotional items to tell donors and supporters about their new merger.

The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, the largest brain tumour charity in the UK, is to join forces with the Christopher Clare Cancer Research Fund, reports ThirdSector.

The two charities formally merge next month.

The move comes after Karen Clarke, the founder of Christopher Clare, thought it would reduce administration and operational costs and allow more funds to be directed into brain tumour research.

It's important to get the word out quick – ideally in advance – when two organisations decide to partner up.

Supporters are bound to have lots of questions – so a clear campaign to communicate the change is essential.

This can be done quite easily by using promotional merchandise. Think about printing the new name of a merged charity on promotional bags or printed USBs.

Because printed products are likely to get carried around (bag), placed on a desk (mug) or stuck on a fridge (magnet), the chances of your new name being seen – and remembered – are high.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Price of first-class stamp to rise to 60p

There are some important changes to Royal Mail's pricing structure that you need to know about.

From April, businesses will pay 60p for each first-class stamp they use and 50p for each second-class stamp they use.

It comes after Ofcom, the communications regulator, removed price controls from first-class stamps.

The changes, which give Royal Mail greater freedom in the way it sets its prices, will mean companies and consumers will benefit from a universally-priced and affordable postal service, Ofcom said.

Currently, a first-class stamp costs 46p and a second-class stamp costs 36p.

Royal Mail said it had thought "very carefully" about the impact on its customers before deciding to raise prices.

The changes to price limits needed to be made because the future of the UK's postal services was at "severe risk" as people switch to email, text and online messaging, Ofcom said.

"Ofcom's decisions are designed to safeguard the UK's postal service, ensuring it is sustainable, affordable and high-quality, to the end of the decade and beyond," said Stuart McIntosh of Ofcom.

"The measures ensure that Royal Mail's products remain affordable for vulnerable consumers and small businesses."

"Ofcom announces measures to safeguard the UK’s universal postal service". Ofcom.

Posted by Robin McCrink

Nonprofit News: 9 Key Leadership Traits for Outstanding NFP Leadership

	It’s been said before and it will be said again: A not-for-profit executive director, much like not-for-profit staff in general, wears many hats. Except, in the case of the executive director, these hats are especially public and often come with the weight of funding, visibility and programmatic success heavily attached; the responsibility to lead an organisation to success is not one of brevity. Leadership is defined as the ability of one to influence and guide others. Yet, the question of what makes a great leader is somewhat subjective, in part because leadership is just as much a process as it is a set of personality traits. That said, there are certain hallmarks that are undeniable indicators of leaders that every non-profit would benefit from finding in an executive director. We’ve pulled together the top nine of these hallmark traits, along with tips for encouraging them in all employees. Enjoy! Non-profit leaders are… 1. Focused on the mission An effective leader keeps the organisation focused on its goals and strategic plan and makes sure that the board and staff are always on target. They set the example for all others of how to live the brand and work to accomplish a mission while communicating both internally and externally. Designate time during regular meetings to discuss what everyone is doing as a team to advance the mission that week or month as a means of encouraging mission focus. Or, distribute pens or notebooks with your organisation’s logo and the phrase “How are YOU working towards our mission?” to serve as friendly reminders to keep the ultimate goals in mind always. 2. Visionary Leaders not only consider the organisation’s present role, they also anticipate its future role. They understand the ‘big picture’ difference they stand to make within the organisation and the community it serves. Additionally, they have a desire to innovate and consider out-of-the-box solutions to get things done, especially when budgets are tight. In order to support a visionary and innovative atmosphere, approach obstacles as a team and reward those who participate in brainstorming sessions with creative tokens of gratitude like a Snafooz or a puzzle. 3. Motivating One word: Cheerleaders. Non-profit leaders motivate others to not only produce work that contributes to the mission, but to raise funds, recruit volunteers and to feel an overall sense of pride in the organisation at the end of the day. Whether through encouraging notes, heartfelt thank-you emails or verbal kudos with tokens of gratitude in meetings, non-profit leaders aren’t afraid to express excitement and gratitude toward other staff. 4. Analytical For some people, non-profits and business are two very different things. Yet a true non-profit leader can still recognise the value in approaching obstacles with an analytical, business mind, knowing that although profit is not the goal, viability is. Decisions are made not because they are emotional or appear to benefit everyone, but because they have been analysed from every business perspective and are deemed beneficial to the mission, the people and the bottom line. Encourage this trait in staff by rewarding critical thinking and urging staff to problem-solve with their minds, not just their hearts. 5. Objective A good non-profit leader has the ability to step back from a situation and make a rational decision, based on fact and free of bias. Mission creep is often an indicator of a non-profit leader who is simply not capable of remaining objective, constantly bringing new programmes and focus to the table in order to serve a personal agenda. When that occurs, it’s practically impossible for a non-profit to communicate effectively and promote the efforts that are truly focused on the overall goals of the organisation. 6. Honest It should of course go without saying, but non-profit leaders absolutely have to be, and be seen to be honest: honest with staff about expectations, honest with the government in financial reporting, honest with donors on the impact that is being made and honest with themselves about the health and future of the organisation. 7. Humble There’s nothing wrong with graciously accepting acknowledgement for a job well done, but a good non-profit leader recognises that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts – without each team member contributing to an organisation, no one person can take responsibility for a success … or a failure. This trait will ultimately help to motivate staff and build trust, too. 8. Articulate Non-profit leaders are required to communicate publicly what it is that their organisation does and the difference it’s making and the success of its programmes. Each team member should be able to give an elevator speech (a quick summary) about the organisation, recite its mission and share at least two or three statistics on service numbers. Consider offering an in-house professional development session in which staff members take turns practicing how to confidently and clearly talk about the organisation. 9. Charismatic Life is not a popularity contest, but non-profit leaders know that when they are outgoing and likeable, they are presenting a positive and relatable image to the public and constituents. Non-profit leaders are often required to open doors of opportunity for the organisation, respond to criticism or praise and to seek funding. The truth is – non-profit leaders aren’t just executive directors. Executive directors don’t just lead an organisation, they lead its staff by setting an example and encouraging leadership skills in everyone because they know that those who lead, succeed.

Giving to charity via cash machines expected this year

Charities will want to start thinking about whether they can use promotional products to market electronic donations this year.

According to Link, the cash machine network, giving to charity via almost any machine is expected to be possible before the end of the year, Third Sector reports.

It means anyone using one of the 100 million Link cards at a cash machine will be able to donate to your charity.

With 40,000 free-to-use cash machines across the country, that's an awful lot of potential donations.

Machine operators will decide which charities people can give to and what size donations they are allowed to make – but the minimum donation will be at least £1.

Graham Mott, head of development and external relations at Link, told Third Sector that it was not yet clear whether all operators would have donation screens on their cash machines by the end of the year.

"But certainly some of the major banks will be up and running," he said. "We don’t know whether we will have a major launch or just start trying it out."

Some operators could have machines up and running as early as May, he said.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional bags used to raise money for charity

A range of promotional bags and pens were used by students at Newquay Tretherras School in Cornwall to raise money for charity.

The students, who raised the funds as part of the Deloitte Employment Scheme, selected ShelterBox as their non-profit organisition of choice, reports This is Cornwall.

Employing promotional bags, hosting a raffle and helping pack customers' groceries at their local Asda, the students made £173 for the charity.

The Deloitte Employment Scheme aims to build confidence through personal and group with charity fundraising a popular option.

Peter Jones, enterprise academy course manager for Cornwall College, told the news provider: "The students have really excelled themselves and I am really proud of their achievement."

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency food, warmth and shelter to people made homeless.

The charity provided the students with some of its own promotional products helping them in their cause.

Why don't you see how promotional bags can raise the profile of your charity?

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Charity workers need pep talk

Charities often use promotional items as part of their marketing strategies, but we wonder how often they use them in-house.

According to some recent research, charity staff could really do with something to keep them motivated and optimistic, with morale at an all-time low.

Preliminary results from the annual Charity Pulse survey reveals that only 29 per cent of employees think spirits are high in their organisations.

Findings show the number of people who think morale in their charity is high stands at 29 per cent, down from 43 per cent in 2011.

Over the past five years, between 50 and 43 per cent of employees thought spirits were high in their organisations.

Third Sector, which carried out the survey with Birdsong Charity Consulting, also said fewer people have indicated that they feel valued at work this year compared with previous years.

Perhaps it's time to implement a formal wellbeing strategy within your charity.

Why not hold a special workshop or awareness day – giving your staff branded products to show them how much you value their hard work.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional bags for Derby's first wheelchair race

Promotional bags will be used to launch an unusual sporting event in Derby next week: a self-propelled wheelchair race.

The first of its kind for the city, the three kilometre contest forms part of the Derbyshire Building Society ten kilometre race.

Participants will follow the route, snaking along the River Derwent footpath and finishing inside Pride Park Stadium before being handed a goody bag for their efforts.

It's open to people of all abilities and promises to be a fun and rewarding occasion – what a great use of promotional products too, eh?

The Mayor of Derby will start the event on April 1st from Pride Park.

Wheelchair athlete Phil Hogg told the newspaper: "What a great opportunity to be part of the first Derby 3k wheelchair race. If you are a serious competitor or just want to come along and take part in this new event the atmosphere will be fantastic, and who knows it could be the start of a new way of keeping fit."

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Zumba…and promotional bags?

If you haven't heard of Zumba yet, where on earth have you been hiding?

The craze that's sweeping the country, the phenomenally popular fitness program is inspiring people to head down to their local gym to bust some moves and get fit.

It's not hard to see why Zumba is so popular – its spicy mix of hip-hop, salsa, samba and mambo combine to offer a fun and accessible way for people to exercise – while meeting new people and having a bit of a laugh.

With 'Zumbathons' taking place all over the country, have you thought about how staging a Zumba event could help your fundraising projects?

Think about it: why not rent out your local fitness centre and encourage people to come down for an evening of Zumba – you could charge an entry fee with proceeds going to your charity.

One way to really help proceedings is to use some promotional merchandise – this could see you give branded clothing for all Zumba fans taking part or promotional bags to willing participants.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield

Promotional bags for 'crazy' Mother's Day walk

The organisers of a 'crazy' Mother's Day walk have been busy packing promotional bags in readiness for the event.

More than 1,000 people have so far signed up for the tenth Crazy Hats Walk at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, reports northantset.co.uk.

Walk volunteers have been putting goodies into promotional bags to give to people as they complete the walk.

As the name suggests, participants are encouraged to wear wild and wacky head garb for the event.

Awards include the largest family team and the dog wearing the craziest hat.

Crazy Hats founder Glennis Hooper explained that the promotional bags include a number of items from the walk's sponsors.

"In the goody bags we have got a lovely medal with a pink ribbon, there is a gift from Avon, crisps from Walkers, oatibars from Weetabix and raisins from Whitworths, it’s all from local companies, which is brilliant," she told the news provider.

"We are up to just over 1,200 entries at the moment and it’s picking up daily."

Walkers will also receive promotional t-shirts for their efforts.

"Volunteers get ready for annual crazy walk". Northantset.co.uk.

Posted by Cheryl Jackson-Leafield