I received an email last night from a friend who said that her program budget had just been cut 75%.  She is the only staff person remaining.  Sadly, her story is not unique.  Communication and fundraising is a critical competency these days.  Here are some tips I picked up at last year's Independent Sector conference. The following six elements were positioned as the building blocks of a successful communications campaign: 1. Selflessness - communicate mission first, organization second 2. Collaboration - portray organization as an "honest broker to improve the world" 3. Advocacy - share information, remain non-partisan 4. Efficiency - show how organization spends fewer resources for greater impact

Social media is taking off.  And nonprofits can take off with it.  By plugging into existing social networks, nonprofits can take advantage of the power of online chatter.  The Stanford Social Innovation Review highlights the role social media can play in fundraising.  They suggest, in particular, that nonprofits "should not use the failing economy as an excuse to avoid social media," rather the economy should be driving them to this outlet.