The Annual Giving Exchange

Czar (noun) – any person exercising great authority or power in a particular field.

Organizations in crisis often resemble organizations faced with rapid innovation.  In both scenarios there is no playbook, and success usually depends on two factors: flexibility and leadership.  The willingness to adjust organizational ideals, priorities, and resources is just as important as the ability to identify, empower, and follow good people.

The emergence of social media in fundraising has created great excitement, but the current recession has added a unique challenge.  Hiring freezes and budget constraints have forced many development programs to rethink how they might otherwise approach the many new opportunities presented by social media.  If you don’t currently have the resources to hire new staff to respond to and manage these opportunities, then consider appointing a current member of your team to serve as your social media czar.

Ideally, your czar should be someone who is curious about social media, but also understands the traditional operations of an annual giving program.  They should spend time each week talking with peer programs and reading publications and blogs, and should attend conferences and webinars when possible.  They should create a list of ways that your organization is (or could be) using Facebook, Linked-in, and Twitter to enhance your donor community, and they should share their findings and recommendations with others on your team.