Lexington, KY - FirstGiving, a Washington, D.C. based organization has selected Smiley Pete for a partnership after noting results of the 2012 Good Giving Guide Challenge, a collaboration with Smiley Pete Publishing and the Bluegrass Community Foundation.
The 2012 Challenge raised over $586,000 in just two months.
"We were thrilled to watch the growth and enthusiasm of the Good Giving Guide Challenge," said Joseph LoPresti, of FirstGiving. "This is a really exciting opportunity for us. Partnering with Smiley Pete provides a chance for us to share the knowledge we've gained over the years on how to optimize online fundraising, and for us to learn from these organizations what makes the approach of the Challenge so unique and successful."
Online fundraising is becoming a necessary and important part of a non-profit organization’s ability to raise funds and reach new and diverse audiences. A study by the nonprofit support organization Convio concluded that smaller organizations benefit even more by having a strong presence online. The study found that organizations with under 10,000 email addresses grew by over 26 percent in median revenue.
"The future of non-profit fundraising is online. If we have learned anything from the last two Good Giving campaigns, it is that people of all ages are willing to give online," said Smiley Pete co-owner Chuck Creacy. "The FirstGiving workshop gives local non-profits the opportunity to learn how to be more effective in their online fundraising efforts by learning to utilize technology to build relationships with known donors and acquire potential donors in a more effective way."
FirstGiving’s client list includes many high profile brands including the Ronald McDonald House, World Vision and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Combined, they have raised more than $1 billion dollars online.
FirstGiving is coming to Lexington on February 22nd to conduct a full-day seminar at Smiley Pete Publishing. Non-profit organizations from across the Commonwealth are invited to attend.
"I am looking forward to exploring the city of Lexington, too," comments LoPresti. "From the success of the Good Giving Guide Challenge, it seems like a great town with a committed and passionate philanthropic climate that I am looking forward to learning more about."
The Workshop:
February 22
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Smiley Pete Publishing
434 Old Vine St.
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 266-6537