Here at Firstgiving, we hear inspiring stories every day about people who raise money online for causes they care about.  We hope you take the time to thank your fundraisers and publicize the efforts they make to fundraise on your behalf–they deserve some serious recognition.  Whether you highlight an exceptional nonprofit fundraiser in your monthly newsletter, on your Facebook nonprofit page, or on your website, you are demonstrating that you value their participation in your community and your work.

Want to go a step further?  We recently came across a couple of publicity opportunities (one with a $5,000 prize) that might be of interest to you:

• WE Do Good Contest: nominate a female fundraiser
  Deadline for application: July 22
  Location: nationwide

The contest seeks an outstanding female volunteer that has given a lot of time, effort, and dedication (read: fundraiser!) to a non-profit organization in her community. The winner will receive a $5,000 donation to the charity of her choice and be featured in an upcoming issue of Ladies’ Home Journal as well as at WEVolunteer.tv and LHJ.com.

• Huffington Post: submit an NYC fundraiser’s story
  Deadline for application: story submissions accepted through the summer
  Location: New York City

Huffington Post New York wants you to send us inspiring examples of volunteerism. This can be about an experience you’ve had, but it can also be the story of someone you know whose service changed the life of an individual or transformed a community.  This is on-going and selected stories will be posted on the Huffington Post.

via Entry Level Living

Every day, our support team (nonprofits@firstgiving.com) receives a wide range of requests from organizations to change or edit some aspect of their nonprofit account.  While the type of inquiries vary greatly, they are often accompanied by one common question: “Is this something that I can do in the future, or do you have to do it for me?”

So if you’ve ever asked this question, take solace in knowing that you are not alone!  We realize that it’s tough to know exactly which aspects of your account can be changed without having to contact support.  To help provide some clarification, here’s a list that sorts everything out for you:

Things you can do (w/links to “how to” videos)

• Add an event (with registration & teams)
• Edit your “Thank you” and matching gift text for donors
• Add/delete user logins for your reporting area
• Edit your Start Page (banner, text, pictures)
• Turn Start Page features on/off: Total raised, Top fundraisers, Top teams, Resources

Things we’re happy to do for you

• Delete events
• Edit events after they’re created (date, description, location, etc.)
• Delete a team/change a team name
• Add registration for an event (you provide the questions)
• Change the url for your Start Page
• Turn features on/off: Grassroots, Donate now button, “I registered offline”

We’ll keep you in the loop as this list evolves and more features get moved to list one.  I hope this info helps you break down these features and better understand how you can edit/change/revise your account.

See you next week for another tip.  Same Firstgiving time.  Same Firstgiving channel.

The folks at soon-to-be-launched OnlyUp.org affectionately ask, <30?  Part of the nonprofit sector and/or have big plans to make change in the social justice movement?

They’re building an online community of young people involved in the nonprofit sector, and they want you to be part of it.

In their own words:

OnlyUp is an organization that helps nonprofits prepare for the next generation of leaders through consultations, awards, and community-coalition building.

Young people have the vision and energy needed to revolutionize social justice organizations. Amplifying their voice and advocating for their needs will help revitalize the nonprofit sector.

To this end, OnlyUp plans to:

• Publish a blog for information sharing, web newsletters to organize advocacy, and mobilize an active membership database
• Provide constructive analysis of how nonprofits incorporate young people in goal creation and execution of their work
• Connect young people with quality opportunities so they may learn from and contribute to their field: The website will include job listings from organizations that have established histories of providing real opportunities for young people

Find out more at the project coordinator’s blog and join up at OnlyUp.org.

When a new staff member comes on board at your organization, it’s a good idea to set up a new login and password for your Nonprofit Account Area.  Similarly, when somebody leaves, you can delete his or her login information.

This process is really easy and will help keep your staff informed and prepared about updating your Firstgiving account info.

Here’s a video that will show you how quick and easy it is to add and delete users:

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we are constantly inspired by you!  Together, you, the thousands of nonprofit organizations, fundraisers and donors who raise money online with Firstgiving, have raised millions of dollars for causes you care about.

Today is an exceptionally exciting day in Firstgiving history as we count up to the $100,000,000 donation mark!  Check our homepage for the most recent update:

Kudos to you! Who will the $100,000,000 donor be?