- Blogger: Executive Director Carl Pope has been blogging for almost two years now, and he's a pro at it. He writes zingy, pithy posts on issues that are relevant to audiences' lives, so they catch readers' attention.
- A recent post on Illinois' recently signed bill to restrict pollution, partially focused on ensuring that regional fish are as mercury-free as possible pulled in readers with Pope's focus on:
- Many fish have dangerously-high levels of mercury
- Illinois is ahead of the game in signing this new bill
- Detailing aspects of the bill which are great models for other states.
- So he pulls readers in via a personal concern (mercury-laden fish), then hooks them into the legislative/advocacy agenda.Masterfully done, Carl.
- Subscribe to this blog's feed and track Carl's posts. He's one of the best nonprofit bloggers I know, and the top of the list of advocacy bloggers.
President's Blog (Trinity University)
- Blogger: President Patricia McGuire is a natural blogger -- disarmingly straightforward, tackles the hard issues, writes in a conversational voice.
- She gives her point of view on two fronts -- University news and current affairs. In one post, McGuire hones in on Nancy Pelosi's (a Trinity alum) perceived loss of power after her appointment of Steny Hoyer as whip (Pelosi had supported Murtha, but was out voted). She uses this event as a springboard to discuss "losing and leading, learning the art of compromise in order to make progress."
- McGuire's clear, strong voice is compelling. If I was a student considering Trinity, or a prospective donor reviewing giving opportunities, I'd source her blog for a powerful sense of what I'd be getting into.
President's Blog (Oregon Institute of Technology)
- Blogger: Martha Anne Dow, Institute president, blogs on issues as wide-ranging as the campus physical plant to the Institute's GRAD program for high school graduates. No comments are accepted.
- Dow's posts are in "admin voice," so don't make as much impact as they could.
- Nonetheless, she posts on some controversial issues. See her post on the decrease in state support, results in increased tuition.
- However, Dow needs to post more frequently.
Beneblog
- Blogger: James Fruchterman, social entrepreneur, founder of Benetech and 2006 MacArthur Genius award winner. Benetech creates innovative technology solutions that address social needs. Its Bookshare.org initiative created the world's largest accessible library of scanned books and periodicals, providing people with visual or print disabilities access to a dramatically increased volume of print materials.
- Fruchterman's blog is a great example of what studio 501c blogger Celeste Wroblewski calls the "business lunch blog."
- In a simple and clear, short to medium-length posts Fruchterman discusses Benetech news and comments on current events related to the mission and work of the organization. Definitely stays at the overview level but his comments supplement the reader's understanding of Fruchterman's vision,and where the organization is going.
- Just the kind of interesting but finite content you'd discuss over lunch with a donor, staff member, colleague or board member over a roast beef sandwich, when you have a 2pm meeting coming. Enough, but not too much.
- Hybrid blogger Nick Jacobs is President and CEO of Windber Research Institute (a nonprofit) and the for-profit Windber Medical Center. His relatively new blog has evolved from "CEO speak" (which may work for an annual report, but is a bust blog-wise), to more personal insights on his work and the institutions he runs.
- Nick's most effective posts let me understand him personally (the influences that have shaped him, what matters to him, how he responds) and how these traits plug into his leadership of the Winber Institute and Medical Center.
Here's a fairly comprehensive listing of leadership blogs across the world.
Source: http://www.gettingattention.org/my_weblog/2006/12/nonprofit_leade.html
About the Author
Nancy E. Schwartz helps nonprofits succeed through effective marketing and communications. As President of Nancy Schwartz & Company (http://www.nancyschwartz.com/), Nancy and her team provide marketing planning and implementation services to organizations as varied as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Center for Asian American Media, and Wake County (NC) Health Services.
Subscribe to her free e-newsletter "Getting Attention", (http://www.nancyschwartz.com/getting_attention.html) and read her blog at http://www.gettingattention.org/ for more insights, ideas and great tips on attracting the attention your organization deserves.
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