Here at Nonprofit Hub, we believe the most successful fundraisers are hybrids of innovation and tried-and-true ideas. Dinner galas and silent auctions are effective to an extent, but when someone asks you, “What’s the best fundraiser you’ve ever been to?” chances are those don’t come to mind.

These fundraising ideas, which came straight from Nonprofit Hub, have proven effective through the personal experiences of our staff members. They’ll be sure to make your next money-raising endeavor stand out.

Tournament or competition

In this case, it was a ping pong tournament, but it could be any other game that’s easy for people to pick up and play without much experience. The host of this fundraiser was able to borrow eight ping pong tables at no cost, so ask your local recreation centers to use some of their equipment for a good cause—you’d be surprised at how willing they might be to help.  

Most of the funds were raised from team entry fees (use your discretion here: you don’t want to deter people from playing, but you’re still trying to raise money, after all). Local restaurants donated food, so the concessions also served as a great source of revenue. Finally, find some volunteer referees to coordinate the tournament, and you’re ready to let the games begin.

This has since become an annual, highly anticipated event. Hype automatically forms around competitive fundraisers that allow you to hang out with your friends and have a good time. And, the best part is the incredible return on investment—nearly 100 percent of what you generate goes straight to your cause.

Good ole fashioned direct mail

Whoever said direct mail was dead was sorely mistaken. A small high school had an outdated auditorium and no budget for their fine and performing arts program, and the students decided to change that. Through a direct mail campaign, they doubled their goal, ultimately raising $160,000 for the arts.

The most important thing to learn from this fundraiser is that, especially if you’re in a smaller community, direct mail is alive and well. People care about local causes, and older donors will especially appreciate having a hand-written letter sent to their home. If you’re considering a similar approach, make sure to include personal touches. These high schoolers wrote individual notes to each prospect asking them to give, and as a result, most of them did.

“The Box”

Whether you choose to utilize this strategy on social media or on a sheet of paper is up to you—the donations are likely to roll in either way. Here’s how it works. Fill a grid with increasing dollar amounts and allow each donor to claim (or “adopt”) a box. They can write their name over it, or if it’s on your social media stories, you can type their names over each box as you go. 

We especially like this fundraising idea because it accommodates donors large and small. If someone wants to help but can’t afford a $50 or $100 donation, there are smaller amounts for them to cover. Plus, you can increment the grid however you’d like—we’ve seen grids with single-dollar and hundred-dollar upgrades.

This method will help you stay organized and donors will gain recognition for their generosity. Trust us, the money will add up more quickly than you think.

Wine cork tree (or “wine pull”)

Make a “tree” out of wine corks that each match up with a donated bottle of wine. Participants pay a set amount, say, $20, and choose a cork at random. Whether they draw a $15 bottle or a $100 one is up to fate. Regardless of which cork they choose, everyone will get to take home a bottle of wine and support a good cause, so it’s a win-win.

It doesn’t have to be wine, either. The same idea works for gift cards (which can also be donated) or anything else you’re able to similarly camouflage.

Experience-based auctions

According to Nonprofit Hub’s executive director, Randy Hawthorne, fundraisers stand out (and sell out) when they’re based on experiences.

Sure, you can hold an auction, but instead of selling antiques and gift baskets, sell cool things to do! People, especially 20-somethings, are seeking out experiences over material things more than ever. Our local rotary club often auctions off “donated” adventures like fishing trips, scotch tastings, golf outings and more.

A kids’ summer camp in our town hosts adult education events that teach grown-ups everything from how to paint, to how to make cocktails, to how to use their smartphones. People pay an entry fee for these classes, which are donated and taught by experts of these random skills.

Hopefully this gets the ball rolling for your upcoming fundraisers. Take our word for it—these are all creative, lucrative, easy, cheap and fun! Have any favorite or innovative fundraisers of your own? Shoot us a note at info@nonprofithub.org—we’d love to hear about them!

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Here are six reasons why we’re thankful for the work nonprofits do each and every day.

1. They provide hope

In a world where we’re constantly hearing about natural disasters, social injustices and countless other problems on the news, nonprofits serve as a glimpse of hope. When people feel helpless and have no one to turn to, nonprofit organizations are always there to give shelter, provide clean water or help fund medical expenses. Nonprofits are united force for good that’s actively solving the world’s problems.

2. They strengthen the economy

The nonprofit sector’s role in the economic well-being of the United States has grown exponentially in the 21st century.  The number of philanthropic organizations in the U.S. grew 25 percent from 2001 to 2011, while the number of for-profit businesses rose by just half of a percent. Plus, nonprofits contribute around $900 billion to the economy each year, making up 6 percent of the nation’s GDP. They employ over 10 percent of the American workforce—that’s 14.4 million people—as of 2013. Nonprofit organizations are an economic force to be reckoned with, and without them, the entire market would suffer.

3. They don’t discriminate

In the nonprofit sector, there’s something for everyone. The people who support nonprofits aren’t bound to a single age, race or gender, and neither are the people they serve. Chances are, every person in the country has been affected by a nonprofit organization in some way or another, whether they were volunteering, contributing or receiving aid.

4. They strengthen the community

Few things strengthen a community better than working together to reach a goal, especially when it’s for a good cause. When nonprofits hold events and fundraisers, they unite a unique group of people that might not otherwise interact. Charitable organizations hold the community together, and when things go wrong, they’re ready to rebuild and restore it.

5. They give people a voice

Nonprofits are a light at the end of the tunnel for the most underserved and underrepresented people in the community. Without them, those who are most vulnerable wouldn’t have a voice. While society often turns a blind eye to certain groups of people in the community, nonprofits are making these individuals their focus.

6. The people who work at them rock

Nonprofit managers and employees are selfless, compassionate and kind-hearted. Some of the world’s biggest innovators work for nonprofits, and the best part is: they’re all in it for the right reasons. Workers in the nonprofit sector are not afraid to put themselves in uncomfortable situations if it means others will benefit. They choose to surround themselves with people who care about making a difference, and that’s truly something special.

To all the nonprofits out there, we love you and are thankful for your tireless work. Keep it up!

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1. BloomCon

February 26 (Phoenix) & May 21 (Baltimore)

Our friends at Bloomerang recently launched BloomCon, a unique one-day conference for fundraisers and consultants. This year there are two BloomCon events—one in Phoenix and one in Baltimore. If you’re looking for a more flexible, affordable option, we’d highly recommend BloomCon.

2. Cause Camp

March 26-27

Lincoln, NE

We don’t always self-promote, but when we do it’s almost surely for Cause Camp, Nonprofit Hub’s very own conference. Cause Camp is the perfect blend of affordability and inspiration. We’re trying to do things not seen at any other nonprofit conference, and it’s been paying off. Check out our lineup of speakers, and be sure to follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.

3. Nonprofit Technology Conference

April 11-13

New Orleans, LA

The Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC), hosted by the Nonprofit Technology Network, isn’t just for showcasing the newest products and services for nonprofits; it’s also one of the best networking opportunities the nonprofit industry has to offer. With over 130 educational sessions spanning three days, there is no shortage of learning to be had at NTC 2018. Check out Nonprofit Technology Network’s Twitter page for more details!

4. International Fundraising Conference

April 15-17

New Orleans, LA

One of the titans of the nonprofit conference arena is the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Fundraising Conference. Every year, AFP brings amazing programming and stellar speakers together in some of the country’s most vibrant cities. Workshops and breakout sessions give you something tactical to take back to your organization. Follow AFP on Twitter to learn more!

5. Inbound 

September 4-7

Boston, MA

Inbound is a cutting-edge conference for business leaders and nonprofit professionals alike. Last year the conference boasted over 21,000 attendees online and in person. Past keynote speakers include Michelle Obama, John Cena and Ariana Huffington. If you want to network with individuals from around the globe in every imaginable sector, Inbound is the conference for you. Follow along on Twitter for more information!

6. Nonprofit Storytelling Conference

October 15-17

Orlando, FL

Another big kahuna of the industry is the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. This three-day event brings together nonprofit professionals from all over the world to investigate the ways stories can help your organization raise more money, attract more volunteers and spread awareness. The finer-tuned details of the event aren’t yet available, but it’s sure to be one for the books. Follow the event on Twitter for updates!
A few of these conferences come with a hefty price tag, but almost all of them have scholarship opportunities if cost is an obstacle.
Have another amazing conference you’ve attended? Take it to the comments!
 

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Here at the Hub office, we have a tradition called “Hubsgiving,” where we gather with all of the nonprofits in our space to share both business and life updates, get to know each other and indulge in some great food. It’s our way of saying thank you to them for working so hard year-round to produce tangible results that cause change in our community.

In the nonprofit sector, we often don’t hear thank you enough. Our work is vital to society, not just in a philanthropic way but in an economic way as well.

A blog post done by The Borgen Project, a Seattle-based organization that works to address poverty and hunger, asserts that that there are multiple ways nonprofit work contributes to the national economy. For one, nonprofits provide a constant source of employment. As long as there are needs to be met, there will be nonprofits there to help fulfill them and people to run those organizations. When people are employed, they spend money on mortgages, groceries and consumer products, just like employees of for-profit businesses. Nonprofits also consume third-party goods like Internet, printers, computers and software systems.

Despite our clear contributions, our work often goes unnoticed. But we continue to do it because we believe in our mission and believe we can achieve that mission to make the world a better place.

So, because we don’t know who else is going to tell it to us this season, thank you from all of us here at Nonprofit Hub for all the hard work you put in every day to make a difference. We’ve noticed, and the rest of the nonprofit world has noticed, too. Keep up the good work.

We hope you have a successful Giving Tuesday!

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As saddening as this realization is, our message to you has not changed. At Nonprofit Hub, we believe that empowering others to solve the world’s grandest problems is one of the most noble things we can do, and we try to do it every single day. But what we’ve seen in the wake of these all-too-frequent tragedies has us concerned. Of course, the events themselves are horrific in every sense, but our reactions to them aren’t particularly encouraging either. We have social justice warriors who post, tweet, share, like, favorite, whatever; but fail to do anything else to get to the bottom of these issues. We’ve seen celebrities and commoners alike urge their peers to call their senators’ offices, yet we’ve seen no progress in congress. Yes: sharing vital information online is important, and reaching out to your representatives is an admirable, often necessary civic duty, but these strategies aren’t attacking the source of the problem. They’re merely putting a bandaid on a wound that requires mending, or putting a cast on a break that needs reconstructive surgery.

But better even than mending a wound or surgically repairing a broken bone is preventing the cause of the injury in the first place. We understand that these problems—gun violence, mental health, constitutional rights, among others—are deeply complicated and often interconnected, but posting a tweet on your timeline or leaving a voicemail on your senator’s answering machine can’t be the extent of our efforts. That’s where nonprofits come in.

Nonprofits have boots on the ground fighting for almost every conceivable issue, and, to put it frankly, nonprofit professionals and volunteers often care more about these issues than your social media followers, or even senators. For instance, there are more nonprofits advocating for mental health reform in the United States than we can even attempt to list, but a few are provided below:

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

National Alliance on Mental Illness

If you’re feeling angry and helpless and don’t know where to turn, look in their direction. They’ve been around for decades, and have more resources and expertise at their disposal than any individual ever could. And they need your help.

If you can’t find an organization that aligns with your frustrations—or, more likely, if you can’t find an organization that’s going about it the right way—look into what it could take to start your own. We’ve helped dozens of people start their own nonprofits, and they’ll be the first to tell you that it’s really not as daunting as it seems. If you have an idea and passion behind it, you’re already halfway there.

It’s now been one month since the Las Vegas shooting, and it seems to some that it’s water under the bridge. It isn’t. Nonprofits across the country are still fighting for mental health reform, gun reform and constitutional rights. Just because tweets of mourning aren’t flooding our feeds and headlines aren’t covered in blood doesn’t mean we’ve all forgotten. People are still fighting, and you can join them. See how you can help by visiting their websites or calling their offices. If you can’t afford to support them financially, learn how you can be a part of awareness campaigns and fundraising drives.

At times it feels like there’s an endless amount of evil in the world: the relentless shootings, bombings and terrorism make it easy to feel hopeless. But we believe the do-gooders—the helpers, healers, friends, patrons and leaders—will always win. No matter how bad it gets, there’s always hope. Nonprofits are working tirelessly to make our world better. We’re here to help, and we’re here for good.

The post On Tragedy: A Note from Nonprofit Hub appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Every nonprofit eventually reaches “the hump:” the point at which your organization wants to expand and do even more good for others, but your limited resources and/or personnel won’t allow it. This is frustrating, but it shouldn’t deter you from pushing forward and continuing your work. One of the best ways to make it over the hump is outsourcing. If you’re unfamiliar with the practice, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

What is outsourcing?

Outsourcing is the delegation of key management areas to outside contractors or vendors. Often times nonprofit founders and staff think they have to do everything themselves, including work that is seemingly unrelated to their organization’s mission. This workhorse mentality obviously has its benefits, but at some point, it becomes ultimately unproductive to slave over peripheral duties. Instead, hire professionals who are trained to sweat the details so you can get back to your crucial work.

Just about anything can be outsourced, but it’s important to think critically about which areas of your work should be delegated to outside service providers. For example, tons of businesses and nonprofits outsource their payroll and IT operations because they’re back-office services that don’t directly relate to the organization’s mission. This way, nonprofit staff are able their time and energy on what matters most to them.

Treat outside providers like employees.

Even though service providers are not official employees of your organization, you should treat them as such. This is not to say that they should receive all of the benefits your organization provides, but they should be treated respectfully and professionally. They should be interviewed, and their past work should be readily available. After all, a piece of your nonprofit is in their hands.

Treating these professionals well also increases the likelihood of long-term engagement. If you decide their services are worthwhile, you want to be sure they’re willing to continue working with your organization.

Be clear, be very clear.

Outsourced work and projects often require very specific instruction. Because these service providers are not directly involved in your organization, they likely won’t be able to capture your brand or voice without a little direction—and the clearer the instructions the better. Be clear about deadlines, compensation, expectations—everything. If you and your service providers are on the same page everything will go much more smoothly.

Being clear and specific can also save you money. For example, if you decide to outsource content—such as a graphic or written piece—it will be much cheaper if there are just one or two drafts as opposed to three or four. It may seem annoying to give such painstaking instructions, but it will all be worth it in the end.

What’s the catch?

If this all sounds too good to be true, it might be because, sometimes, it is. Outsourcing is an opportunistic and efficient strategy, but it comes with its caveats.

For one, projects must be closely monitored. Deadlines must be met, and usually, it will be you, the nonprofiteer, who keeps them in check. Some service providers are great about meeting deadlines, but others may require a little friendly encouragement.

Additionally, it’s imperative that you and your service provider operate with legal diligence. Outsourcing is not an under-the-table, tit-for-tat scheme. These service agreements are almost always contractual, and they require specific requirements and regulations by both parties.

—

Outsourcing is an incredibly useful tool, but it’s important you have all of your ducks in a row before making any official decisions. Do research to find the best provider for your organization. Look at their websites and portfolios. Interview them. Ask for references. Once you find the right fit, be clear with your instructions, and treat them like they’re part of the group—you never know, they very well might be someday.

The post Boost Your Performance Threshold by Outsourcing appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Nonprofit or not, a lot of businesses need help filling the gaps where their shortcomings lie. Not all nonprofits have a problem with hiring ample staff and creating resources to achieve their mission, but many of us do. 

It doesn’t take a genius to find an issue, but not all organizations have the capacity to fix glaring problems as well or as timely as needed.  

Going fast vs. going far.

Most entrepreneurs and amateur nonprofiteers hit a point where they realize that it’s better to go far together than to go fast alone. That is, we get to a point where our plate is completely full and we need to start delegating tasks—and trust those people will perform to the same level of quality.

If you try to do everything yourself, you’ll be able to move as fast as one person can churn out work, until you either burn out or can’t handle the amount of work at hand. Working with a team will ensure more output, new ideas for innovation and a lower risk of burnout for everyone. In the end, the saying “it’s better to go far together than fast alone” is really a bit of a myth, because oftentimes you’ll be able to move faster and further by delegating roles and responsibilities than if you try to save the world alone.

Identify the problems.

So now that we know where the gaps and shortcomings are in our organizations and which people fit into those roles and responsibilities, chances are, you’ve still got a list of things that need to be delegated that no one is qualified to do. With the organizations and companies we’ve worked with in the past, those things (somewhat in order) include: bookkeeping, grant writing and some form of legal aid. Identify your needs and what, of those needs, can’t be handled in-house.

Outsource the solution.

Since no one on your staff can complete the task and you likely can’t exactly “hire” a volunteer to do something as important as bookkeeping or legal work, outsourcing is the perfect answer to an age-old problem. Outsourcing means contracting third-party companies or qualified individuals to complete specific tasks for your nonprofit.

What’s the cost of outsourcing?

The benefit to outsourcing over hiring out for needs is that there is less commitment from your organization. A lot of outsourcing agencies (from varying industries) have comprehensive pricing per project rather than keeping someone on payroll or agreeing to a large contract.

Whether it’s alleviating some responsibilities with keeping your books, obtaining sponsorships or getting marketing guidance, the resources are endless when it comes to finding outsourced services.

Jitasa’s tagline is “Numbers For Good” and that’s exactly what they stand for. Jitasa offers Bookkeeping & Accounting Services Exclusively for Nonprofits. They offer solutions that cater to every nonprofit, with simple flat rate pricing that will make your life easier as a nonprofit.

The post How to Build Capacity and Strengthen Outreach appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

In addition to the right personality, charities and nonprofit groups also need to devise an ideal fundraising activity to pique people’s interests and convince them to donate. The most successful fundraising campaigns tend to involve a degree of donor participation, an element of fun, and transparency as to donations being put to good use. People can sometimes be quite skeptical about the consequences of their donations, so if you can provide clear evidence of the money making a discernible difference to the lives of those for whom you’re fundraising, you’ve a very strong chance of succeeding with the fundraiser.

This infographic offers some good tips on how to organize fundraising activities so that the public will want to donate to your cause not just once, but repeatedly.

The post [Infographic] Guide to Organizing the Perfect Fundraiser appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Modeling what already exists—in this case nature—is understandably a favorable strategy because, in most cases, it works. There are many forms of architecture that mimic nature beautifully. Depending on your taste, you might say this home is a work of art or a vision gone wrong.

In the case of nonprofits imitating corporate brand management, however, it’s not a matter of esthetics. Four authors agree it simply doesn’t work. Why? Allow me to excerpt each of their views.

Nonprofits shouldn’t imitate corporate branding

The Money-Raising Nonprofit Brand

First, author Jeff Brooks in The Money-Raising Nonprofit Brand says, “Simply applying the principles of commercial branding to nonprofit fundraising is exactly the wrong thing to do. It’s the cause of most branding accidents.” He further explains commercial branding does not work for nonprofit organizations because it focuses on abstract ideals of products or services. Nonprofits need to show clear, emotional images to motivate and connect with their donors. There are warning signs that your brand is too commercialized and doesn’t focus on the donor: the work is not grounded in donor behavior; the brand describes your organization in a symbolic way rather than in a clear fashion that moves donors to act; or the brand is design and little else.

The Brand IDEA: Managing Nonprofit Brands with Integrity, Democracy and Affinity

Second, The Brand IDEA by Nathalie Laidler-Kylander and Julia Shepard Stenzel argues today’s brands must uphold mission impact by building trust, cohesion, capacity and impact, not necessarily qualities for which corporate brands strive. Kylander and Stenzel’s book is the result of more than two years of research and collaborative effort, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, to examine the role of brands in the nonprofit sector and recognize that nonprofits are over-relying on corporate sector practices to oversee their brands.

The coauthors’ acronym, “IDEA,” further gives us insight into honoring the truly nonprofit brand. Integrity (the “I” in IDEA) is the “alignment between the brand identity and image and the mission, values, and strategy of the organization.” Democracy is the “extent to which an organization engages its board, staff, members, participants, volunteers, supporters, and other stakeholders in both defining and communicating the brand identity.” Brand Affinity “represents a mindset and an approach to brand management in which the focus is on shared social impact, rather than on individual internal organizational goals.” Kylander and Stenzel’s brand philosophy further brings to light that corporations often look at alignment between their image and selling a product, whereas the nonprofit brand aims to move a community and achieve social impact.

Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communications

Third, author Sarah Durham’s philosophy is built upon branding that is grounded in the nonprofit mission. Specifically, “brandraising” is the process of developing a clear, cohesive organizational identity and communications system that supports raising money and increasing visibility. Additionally, brandraising makes it easier to express your organization’s mission effectively and consistently. Durham claims brandraising is a holistic approach to communications that involves everyone within the organization—board, staff leadership, volunteers, program staff and donors. Brandraising is ultimately measured by how the mission is advanced.

As you read each author’s viewpoint on how a brand must uphold the mission, you may have also noticed these authors agree on the brand’s role as champion of visibility and revenue. Follow other high-performing nonprofits and their pursuit of brands created with a nonprofit lens rather than a corporate one; otherwise, your corporate imitation will be the sincerest form of fall-flat-tery.

_____________________

Kris Rutledge is the Editor, a contributor and a content manager for CausePlanet.org, a thriving professional development website for nonprofit executives, featuring Page to Practice™ book summaries, articles and training. Her career has been dedicated to helping students and professionals reach their full potential, including years of service in English and literacy at the secondary and higher education levels. As an instructor, her primary areas of focus included reading, writing and literacy advocacy for students of all abilities. Rutledge has extensive experience in coaching and facilitation as well and has directed numerous staff development programs. Rutledge also enjoys freelance editing for nonprofit organizations in her spare time. You can reach her at kris@causeplanet.org.

The post Why Nonprofits Shouldn’t Imitate the Art of Corporate Branding appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Racial Issues

If you read any entertainment news in the lead-up to Sunday evening’s festivities, you knew there was going to be a huge elephant in the room. Much of Hollywood’s African-American community boycotted the awards due to the lack of any black actors or directors on the list of nominees.

On a list of boycotters that included notable stars like Will Smith and Spike Lee, one glaring omission was noticeable – Chris Rock, this year’s host. The comedian has a history of walking the line between what is and isn’t “socially acceptable,” so when news broke that Rock wouldn’t join the boycott, many were looking forward to his monologues and jokes.

Rock wasn’t the only one to bring up the issue. Alejandro Iñárritu, who won his second consecutive Oscar for best director, also brought attention to the issue. However, he did it without comedic flair, opting instead for a much more serious approach. In his acceptance speech Iñárritu, from Mexico City, urged for equality for all races, not just African-Americans.

“So what a great opportunity to our generation to really liberate ourselves from all prejudice and, you know, this tribal thinking, and make sure for once and forever that the color of the skin become as irrelevant as the length of our hair.” – Alejandro Iñárritu

Religious Issues

Race wasn’t the only issue that took center stage Sunday night. Spotlight, a film based on the investigative journalists at The Boston Globe that broke the monumental story of widespread child abuse that was taking place in the Catholic Church, was nominated for six Oscars and won two of them, including Best Picture. Michael Sugar cheered Pope Francis along in his acceptance speech. 

"Spotlight" wins Best Picture.

"Pope Francis, it's time to protect the children and restore the faith."
–Michael Sugar, producer #Oscars

— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 29, 2016

Sexual Abuse

Music and politics met on The Dolby Theatre center stage to raise awareness for sexual assault.

Vice President Joe Biden took the mic to introduce Lady Gaga’s performance of her Oscar-nominated song “Til It Happens to You,” but he first took the opportunity to urge the viewing public to take a pledge against sexual assault, It’s On Us. Regardless of your political preference, if you haven’t seen Biden’s speech and Gaga’s performance, prepare the tissues. 

“Let’s change the culture so that no abused woman or man… ever feels like they have to ask themselves, ‘What did I do?’ They did nothing wrong.” -Joe Biden

https://youtu.be/30k3EHdeLV8

Girl Scouts

Everybody – including Hollywood’s best and brightest – enjoy Girl Scout Cookies. From the staples, like Thin Mints and Caramel deLites, to some of the newer offerings, everybody has a favorite. But the money spent on these cookies also goes to a good cause. About 75% of profits from the sales goes to continuing the Girl Scouts, an organization that has been shaping young girls around the United States for more than 100 years.

So, when Chris Rock invited The Girl Scouts of Los Angeles to the stage, he was doing more than making another joke. The Girl Scouts walked through the auditorium and sold the famed audience their even more famous cookies. Later in the night, Rock invited the girls back to the stage and announced the total sales: $65,243! 

Thin Mints please! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/t0fGVnOpKs

— Mashable GIF (@mashablegif) February 29, 2016

Environmental Issues

Last but not least, Leonardo Dicaprio capped off the night with his first Oscar after six nominations. He tastefully went through the list of people he had to thank over his lifetime of perfecting his craft as an actor. They didn’t even bother with wrap-up music as he transitioned into a convicting plea for change to the way our planet is being treated. He used his platform to remind us that we need to live with a sense of urgency to not take the planet for granted.

.@SamsungMobileUS presents Leo's Best Actor #Oscars acceptance speech!https://t.co/4LDPWoVSKv

— ABC (@ABCNetwork) February 29, 2016

“Let us not take this planet for granted, I do not take this night for granted.” -Leonardo Dicaprio

Tides in pop culture are shifting towards creating a world conducive of making positive changes in our communities. Much like nonprofit organizations are doing every day, the Oscars was full of advocacy, awareness and calls-to-action on making the world a better place.

The post 5 Ways the 2016 Oscars Were #HereForGood appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.