Virginia Senator Mark Warner Speaking at ACT for Alexandria's IMPACT 2011 (Photo: Katarina Price Photography)
On Wednesday Sept. 28, over 200 business, community and nonprofit leaders gathered together to discuss new ways to bring the community together using online and offline strategies at IMPACT 2011: Innovation + Philanthropy, formerly ACT’s Nonprofit Excellence Forum.
The event, now in its seventh year, is designed to "help nonprofits to do their job better," said Gene Steuerle, Chair of the Board of ACT for Alexandria, who opened the day with welcoming remarks. Eric Lawrence, Market President for Arlington, Alexandria and South Fairfax County for Capital One Bank -- the event's sponsor -- and Nigel Morris, co-founder of Capital One Bank and managing partner of QED Investors, also helped to kick-off the event by speaking about the importance of IMPACT and what the event does for the area's nonprofits. "This is a terrific event," Lawrence said, adding that Capital One, as a company that encourages community involvement and engagement, was proud to be a sponsor. Morris agreed. "It is so heartwarming to have so many people here," he said.
The event was centered around a panel discussion moderated by Senator Mark Warner and featured Shayna Englin of Englin Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm focused on identifying mobilizing supporters for nonprofits, causes and political candidates; Brian Fujito, Chief Technology Officer of Razoo, which helps organizations with online fundraising; and Darell Hammond, founder and CEO of KaBOOM!, a not-for-profit which seeks to protect play by working with communities and corporations to build playgrounds where there are none.
Fielding questions from Senator Warner, the panelists discussed ways nonprofits can use both offline and online strategies to further community engagement and involvement, a goal that has become more important than ever. "The public sector is going to shoulder the burden of supporting those in need," Warner told the audience. "The need for what you do is only going to increase."
To stay on top of that need, Englin, Fujito and Hammond discussed ways in which nonprofits can and should be getting their message across. Not surprisingly, the use of Internet technology and social media networks was at the forefront of the conversation. "Online, the tools are good at keeping folks informed, connected and aware," said Englin. But, Warner advised, an organization needs to go further than "a static website with a 'donate now' button." An organization's Internet presence, whether it be a website, a Facebook page or a Twitter account, has to engage as well as inform.
"The Internet is a possibility for people to self-organize," said Hammond. The goal is not just to get donations, but to provide people with a road map on how to become involved. "It needs to be both online and offline," he said. "Give money and show up."
The panelists also advised that an organization doesn’t need to be good at every new technology, and in fact, shouldn’t necessarily sacrifice more conventional methods for the latest trend in online messaging.
“Pick one thing to be cutting edge on,” Englin suggested. And don’t be afraid to pick up the telephone and have an actual conversation. “You don’t have to be a tech wiz,” she said, to get your message across.
After answering questions from the audience, the panel concluded with closing remarks from John Porter, who has served as the Executive Director of ACT for Alexandria for the past two years. "We are all community organizers," Porter said, and he reminded the audience that ACT can serve as a vehicle for community enrichment. "Give to ACT, give through ACT, give to your community."
To end the day, attendees participated in one of three focus breakout sessions: Creating a Culture of Evaluation, Donor to Donor, and Building a Multichannel Fundraising & Marketing Engagement Strategy. The sessions were followed by an announcement of ACT’s Capacity Building Grant program including Strategy Implementation Grants and Compass Micro Project Grants.