Causes said today that nonprofit groups have raised $10-million through its application on Facebook, which helps nonprofit groups use the popular social-networking site to win support.

Of that total, about half has been raised in the past six months.

Fund-raising totals for many charities on Causes remains modest. The $10-million has been split among 26,000 charities — meaning that the average group has raised about $385 through the site.

But some organizations have raised significant money through Causes. The Nature Conservancy, for example, has raised about $300,000 through the site, Causes said. And Camfed, a group that fights poverty and AIDS in Africa, has raised $100,000 through a matching grant tied to a Causes fund-raising effort.

Joe Greene, who helped start Causes, recently sat down with Allison Fine to talk about how nonprofit groups are using Causes to raise money as...

Are you looking for an outside opinion on a direct-mail appeal?

Prospecting offers fund raisers the chance to get a critique from their peers on their draft appeal letters.

Ann Logan, chairwoman of Reach Out and Read Colorado, has asked Chronicle readers to offer their advice on the following letter, which is scheduled to be mailed this month to new potential donors.

As always, we ask that you provide constructive advice. We’ll share the next draft of this letter once it is available.

Here it is:

Dear (recipient’s name),

Good Night Moon, Tikki Tikki Tembo, and The Cat in the Hat are books that you might remember with pleasure from your childhood or from reading to your own children. Unfortunately, all children do not have the same opportunity to share books with their parents that most of you have experienced. This isn’t because these parents love their...

Nonprofit groups are increasingly looking for effective ways to raise money online.

But many groups are still unsure what types of approaches actually work.

As part of The Chronicle’s annual online fund-raising survey, Paula Wasley sought out examples of online campaigns that are raising money for organizations.

Click on the image below from a recent campaign by Emory University in Atlanta to explore six noteworthy online efforts:

Are you looking for an outside opinion on a direct-mail appeal?

Prospecting offers fund raisers the chance to get a critique from their peers on their draft appeal letters.

Robert A. Boarman, an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer who is working as a public-relations and marketing associate with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis, is asking for your advice on the clinic’s annual direct-mail solicitation, which will be sent in July to its entire mailing list.

As always, we ask that you provide constructive advice. We’ll share the next draft of his letter once it is available.

Here it is:

Ms. Generous Donor 5555 GiveMeMoney Lane Indianapolis, IN 46208

Dear Ms. Donor,

2009 marks the 15 year anniversary of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (NCLC). From NCLC’s beginning as a corps of six Christian volunteer attorneys to today with eight paid...

The turbulent economy is very much on the minds of nonprofit organizations as they think about their online fund raising.

Nick Allen — chief executive of Donordigital, a consulting company in San Francisco that specializes in online fund raising, and a speaker at the Nonprofit Technology Conference — spoke to The Chronicle about what he has heard from his nonprofit clients.

As the recession continues to squeeze donations to nonprofit organizations, fund raisers are feeling increased pressure to refer to their economic hardships in their written appeals to donors.

But is it really a smart idea to mention the recession in fund-raising letters?

Two prominent direct-mail fund raising experts answer that question with a resounding “no”.

“I strongly recommend that you do not complain about how hard the recession is impacting your organization,” said Mal Warwick, a consultant and author of the new book Fundraising When Money Is Tight: A Strategic and Practical Guide to Surviving Tough Times and Thriving in the Future.

Instead, Mr. Warwick told participants in today’s t Chronicle live discussion on direct-mail appeals to focus their letters on what they’re doing to adapt to the tough times.

“Tell your donors what steps you’re taking to tighten your...

Despite a dismal economy, the Salvation Army managed to set a new record with its year-end red-kettle campaign, which in 2008 raised $130-million, or 10 percent more than last year’s national total. The increase is the largest one-year jump the annual campaign has seen since 1997.

This year, the Salvation Army added a few hi-tech enhancements to its iconic kettles: Branches in Denver and Dallas tested “cashless kettles” that accepted credit- and debit-card donations, while several other locations gave supporters the option of making small donations via text message. The organization also partnered with a digital media company to create an iPhone application that allowed users to download Christmas music to their phones for $2.99. The Army’s “virtual kettles” raised $10-million online this year.

The 2008 campaign also benefited from considerable corporate support: Donations to kettle...

Ever wonder what donors are looking for when they scour through your organization’s Form 990 informational tax form?

Some donors attempt to calculate fund-raising costs. Others hone in on executive salaries.

But H. Art Taylor, chief executive of the Better Business Bureau’s Giving Wise Alliance, in Arlington, Va., advises donors to focus on three key things when they consult an organization’s tax form:

“First, I try to gather the seriousness of the organization from the quality of its mission statement. If the mission is vague and does not clearly articulate the programs of the organization, I lose patience.

“Secondly, I look to see if there are conflicts of interest among the board and staff. That’s another turn off for me.

“Third, I am interested in knowing how long they have been in business. Given the number of organizations already in existence, a newer organization has...

The embattled mortgage giant Fannie Mae is touting some good news: Its annual walkathon for the homeless raised $5.6-million in 2008.

However, the economic crisis appears to have taken a toll on fund raising. The 2007 walkathon raised more than $7-million.

The annual event, which takes place in November, supports homeless programs and social-service providers in the Washington area.

Given the federal government’s takeover of Fannie Mae last year, questions have been raised about whether its charitable programs would end. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said in October that Fannie Mae and its sister organization Freddie Mac should continue to help charities.

As the economy continues to struggle, many fund raisers are becoming more aggressive in their efforts to seek gifts from donors.

But for donors, many of whom are already facing tough choices about how to best direct their charitable contributions, the influx of appeals can be paralyzing.

The often wonder how best to make decisions and what questions to ask.

Donors will get a chance to get answers to these and other questions during a one-hour live discussion tomorrow (March 17) at noon Eastern time.

This event is a good opportunity for fund raisers to hear what’s on the minds of people who are deciding whether to support their causes. It’s also a chance for your donors to learn more about how to make decisions about their giving. Encourage your donors to participate in this discussion so they will learn more about how to make smart decisions about giving.

A full transcript...