The Chicago Community Trust’s Post

**Reinventing Fundraising for Small Businesses: A Journey** The first blog post from the archives | Mid 2021 Ever faced a challenge and thought, "Surely, there's a solution out there!"? That's exactly where our journey began. Back in the day, our family business, Blue Mountain Farms, grappled with the inefficiencies of traditional fundraising methods. From surprise sales numbers, misplaced order forums, to the tedious process of cash and check payments, it was clear that the system was flawed. Our mission? To find a modern fundraising platform tailored for businesses like ours. But when Google failed us, and the market showed no signs of a platform for small businesses in the fundraising niche, we were stunned. Why was there no easy way for businesses to list products in boutique-fashion? The age-old spreadsheets, confusing product names, and disjointed payment systems were not only a challenge for businesses but also for the fundraisers and their supporters. With a shared determination, my husband, Ben, and I, decided it was time for change. Inspired by William Boeing's, “I think we can build a better one”, we embarked on our mission. Although neither of us had a background in software engineering, our combined experiences and drive were enough. As they say, an idea without execution is just a dream. And execute, we set out to do! So here's our story - of resilience, determination, and innovation. We hope it inspires you as much as our journey has inspired us. Warm regards, Raising Reimagined Team 🚀 Paige & Ben Miller https://lnkd.in/gZR-tXyr

**Reinventing Fundraising for Small Businesses: A Journey** The first blog post from the archives | Mid 2021 Ever faced a challenge and thought, "Surely, there's a solution out there!"? That's exactly where our journey began. Back in the day, our family business, Blue Mountain Farms, grappled with the inefficiencies of traditional fundraising methods. From surprise sales numbers, misplaced order forums, to the tedious process of cash and check payments, it was clear that the system was flawed. Our mission? To find a modern fundraising platform tailored for businesses like ours. But when Google failed us, and the market showed no signs of a platform for small businesses in the fundraising niche, we were stunned. Why was there no easy way for businesses to list products in boutique-fashion? The age-old spreadsheets, confusing product names, and disjointed payment systems were not only a challenge for businesses but also for the fundraisers and their supporters. With a shared determination, my husband, Ben, and I, decided it was time for change. Inspired by William Boeing's, “I think we can build a better one”, we embarked on our mission. Although neither of us had a background in software engineering, our combined experiences and drive were enough. As they say, an idea without execution is just a dream. And execute, we set out to do! So here's our story - of resilience, determination, and innovation. We hope it inspires you as much as our journey has inspired us. Warm regards, Raising Reimagined Team 🚀 Paige & Ben Miller https://lnkd.in/gZR-tXyr

When you think about your nonprofit or social impact company, do you have trouble... — Communicating your mission and impact in a simple and exciting way? — Standing out from the crowd? — Sounding consistent across all platforms? — Building trust with donors, customers, partners, and stakeholders — Keeping everyone on your team aligned in their message? — Helping people understand why you deserve their hard-earned money? What if things were different? Imagine your marketing and communications going from bland or confusing to dynamic and confident. What would it feel like to finally give the right voice to the mission you already know can change the world? https://lnkd.in/gAWtDKua

When you think about your nonprofit or social impact company, do you have trouble... — Communicating your mission and impact in a simple and exciting way? — Standing out from the crowd? — Sounding consistent across all platforms? — Building trust with donors, customers, partners, and stakeholders — Keeping everyone on your team aligned in their message? — Helping people understand why you deserve their hard-earned money? What if things were different? Imagine your marketing and communications going from bland or confusing to dynamic and confident. What would it feel like to finally give the right voice to the mission you already know can change the world? https://lnkd.in/gAWtDKua

When you think about your nonprofit or social impact company, do you have trouble... — Communicating your mission and impact in a simple and exciting way? — Standing out from the crowd? — Sounding consistent across all platforms? — Building trust with donors, customers, partners, and stakeholders — Keeping everyone on your team aligned in their message? — Helping people understand why you deserve their hard-earned money? What if things were different? Imagine your marketing and communications going from bland or confusing to dynamic and confident. What would it feel like to finally give the right voice to the mission you already know can change the world? https://lnkd.in/gAWtDKua

When you think about your nonprofit or social impact company, do you have trouble... — Communicating your mission and impact in a simple and exciting way? — Standing out from the crowd? — Sounding consistent across all platforms? — Building trust with donors, customers, partners, and stakeholders — Keeping everyone on your team aligned in their message? — Helping people understand why you deserve their hard-earned money? What if things were different? Imagine your marketing and communications going from bland or confusing to dynamic and confident. What would it feel like to finally give the right voice to the mission you already know can change the world? https://lnkd.in/gAWtDKua

When you think about your nonprofit or social impact company, do you have trouble... — Communicating your mission and impact in a simple and exciting way? — Standing out from the crowd? — Sounding consistent across all platforms? — Building trust with donors, customers, partners, and stakeholders — Keeping everyone on your team aligned in their message? — Helping people understand why you deserve their hard-earned money? What if things were different? Imagine your marketing and communications going from bland or confusing to dynamic and confident. What would it feel like to finally give the right voice to the mission you already know can change the world? https://lnkd.in/gAWtDKua

Looking forward to sharing at the upcoming Lunch and Learn at the City Club Raleigh on May 22nd at Noon. Join us if you are in the area. The Business of Giving: Elevating Impact Through Strategic Philanthropy Have you ever considered philanthropy as a business growth strategy? Join us for a thought-provoking Lunch and Learn session where we delve into the powerful intersection of business strategy and social impact. In our session "The Business of Giving: Elevating Impact Through Strategic Philanthropy," we will explore how philanthropy can catalyze growth and innovation within your business. Discover how strategic philanthropy isn't just about giving back—it's a strategic imperative that can differentiate your business, engage your employees, resonate with your customers, and build your image and brand. Challenge your perceptions and explore the untapped potential of philanthropy as a driver of business growth and social impact. https://lnkd.in/gRP7VPRP

Imagine connecting with every stakeholder in your organization’s ecosystem, all from one central hub... It's not just possible – it's becoming essential! As nonprofits face the challenge of efficiently scaling their operations while maintaining meaningful connections with their communities, a powerful solution has emerged: user-centric online portals. These digital hubs are revolutionizing how organizations interact with their stakeholders, offering far more than traditional websites. Access our recorded session from the 2024 NTEN conference below! Join Idealist Consulting’s Saul Belisle PMP, CSM and Yasmeen Najeebi to explore what makes these portals so transformative, and how your organization can harness their potential. #digitalhub #nonprofittech #salesforcepartner

Here's why branding matters for nonprofits: Every interaction someone has with your org leaves an impression. And every impression creates some form of meaning in their mind. It doesn't matter where they encounter you. Website, mailer, Google Ad, YouTube video, flyer, or in-person interaction — every touchpoint is viewed within the context of everything your nonprofit does. When those impressions all flow in the same direction, it fosters harmony. Your community begins to think your org isn't so faceless after all. Interactions feel natural — like a familiar, predictable, and (above all) knowable friend. When those impressions authentically reflect your mission, it deepens interest. Your community sees that there's substance behind your mission statement. There's more to dig into beyond the first brush. When those impressions feel considered, it evokes confidence. Your community perceives your passion and dedication. Seeing the thought put into its presentation communicates that you understand your mission on a fundamental level. When those impressions represent the needs of your community, it creates buy-in. Your community feels understood and heard in a way that's disarming. Within seconds, they perceive that they're in the right place. All nonprofit brands inspire specific feelings in their community. Some nonprofits evoke approachability, friendliness, transparency, and empathy. Others inspire confusion, ambivalence, frustration, and boredom. The difference? More often than not, it comes down to the effort put into the nonprofit's brand. When your org inspires the right emotions, creating meaningful, lasting relationships becomes so much easier. #nonprofit #nonprofits #webdesign #branding #storytelling 👾