Zip It!

Geodemographic data can be a key factor in segmenting a prospect pool. Sometimes, visualizing that data on a map is a very helpful step.

Check out this 3-digit zip map at Maps.Huge.Info. It contains similar data as Ben Fry's elegant zip code map. Though not as lovely, the Maps.Huge.Info zip map is a bit more concretely useful.

Robot Uprising!

Is the Oregonian in an evil alliance with robot warriors?

Okay, not really.

But what else can explain them cutting the most compelling piece of this Chicago Tribune article on the rise of artificial intelligence and the coming robot wars?

Here's what was missing from Tuesday's Oregonian article:

"The conversation I'm hearing is less about a takeover," said Dennis Roberson, vice provost of new initiatives at Illinois Institute of Technology. "It's more insidious -- it's about bionic capabilities being implanted, working their way upward, getting closer to the brain."

Cyborgs?

"The way we think about technology, especially robots, is completely driven by science-fiction scenarios," said P.W. Singer, director of the 21st Century Defensive Initiative at the Brookings Institution and author of "Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century." He said that while researching his book he talked to a military officer whose ideas of what to build came from watching "The Empire Strikes Back."

"We don't have to reach a world where metal ones are coming for us," he said. "It's a reality. They're here. We've flown 7,000 drones in Iraq. You could argue we're in a robot war in Pakistan right now."

(I swear I have some research-related posts coming up. And, I am going to somehow find a way to blog more.)

The End of Big Event-Laden Fundraising?

Fundraisers hate 'em.

Increasingly, so do donors who would rather see their dollar go directly to a charitable cause rather than stopping to buy a floral centerpiece and chicken dinner on the way.

Big gala events are often the bane of a fundraiser's existence. They are a staff-intensive pain to put on, have giant overhead costs, and generally rely on sponsors to be profitable. None of these are good in a down economy.

(I would argue that big events are rarely good in an up economy. They can be used to advantage, but they must include a payoff in constituent engagement and donated dollars that outlasts the night of the event. Often, the thorough planning required to accomplish this is wasted on the centerpieces.)

Check out Susan Nielsen's piece in this Sunday's Oregonian: "Hauling out the checkbook, not the ball gown," which recounts Mercy Corps' decision to sidestep an overhead-heavy gala.

Could this be the beginning of a longer-term trend eschewing big gala events for more meaningful hands-on engagement with non-profits? Given the style of Generation X and the Millennials, coupled with an increased focus on effectiveness and efficiency in the non-profit sector, it seems the recession may be jump-starting the inevitable.

Stats Class!

Go ahead, call me nuts.

I am taking an intensive five-week intro-level stats class this summer -- 2 hours a night, four nights a week. And I can't wait!

I'll be sharing some of the ideas and insights I gain from the class here. Stay tuned.

R.I.P., Dr. Tiller

I just learned that one of my heroes was shot dead yesterday, in his church. (This has little, if anything, to do with fundraising, or nerdiness. Pardon the digression, but I am compelled to honor the amazing life and work of Dr. George Tiller.)

As one of only three late-term abortion providers in the nation, and one of very few abortion providers in Kansas, he lived constantly under threat of death and incarceration. Dr. Tiller has long been one of my personal heroes due to his courage and dedication to what's right, in the face of terrorism. This is a huge loss -- for women, and for our country.

It is hard to find words to express this tragedy. I encourage anyone who reads this to consider: a) a gift to Planned Parenthood or reproductive rights provider of your choice; b) a job in the medical profession. There are only two doctors left in this country to spare a woman's life or health during a dangerous pregnancy. We need more Dr. Tillers. And we need to stamp out the dangerous terrorism practiced by the right wing so that providing health care to women need not be an act that requires extreme bravery.

Wave of Collaboration

I am so excited about Google Wave!

Just this morning in a staff meeting, we talked about improving communication among staff. Of course, being the nerd I am, I suggested looking at technological solutions. I think Google Wave may be just the thing.

Now just to wait for Google to launch it... and, to find a few game co-workers to guinea pig it with me.

Sponsorships in Trouble

Fundraisers are scrambling more than ever this year to secure corporate sponsorships. Sponsorships are the key to making special events viable, and they are becoming harder and harder to get as companies take a hard look at their balance sheets.

Recently private donors stepped in to save the Washington Park Summer Festival, which had been canceled by the city of Portland after presenting sponsor Daimler Trucks North America (formerly known as Freightliner) withdrew its sponsorship.

The winners in this story? Portlanders, Washington Park, and... Hotel Lucia and Hotel deLuxe. That's right: the sponsorship was saved through a challenge from Gordon Sondland, CEO of said hotels. He and his hotels received prominent coverage due to the challenge. It's a great fit, becuase the hotels market themselves to an arty niche.

Nicely done.

The next Portland institution facing sponsorship woes: the mighty Rose Festival, which has seen a thirty percent drop in sponsorship renewals between this year and last. The good news: they are now just five percent short of their goal. There will still be elephant ears for all. Check out the link for a lengthy Oregonian article on the state of sponsorships in the city.

A couple of thoughts on this phenomenon:

1) It would be interesting to track post-recession revenues for companies that maintain or increase their charitable sponsorship dollars, compared to those that decrease their giving. This plays into that old adage that one should increase one's marketing during a downturn to position oneself to leap ahead of competitors once things turn around. Where does charitable giving play into this mix? (If anyone's trolling for a thesis, feel free to run with this idea. Let me know what you find out.)

2) It's a good time for non-profits to be thinking more broadly about corporate partnerships rather than just sponsorships. In his presentation on lean development shops last week (review coming soon) Michael VanDerhoef mentioned that Virginia Mason uses a partnership model of corporate relations rather than attempting to secure sponsorships for each individual event. Many corporations will continue to give; it's just a smaller pie, and the innovators are the ones who will get a slice.