Special 4-Day Blue Avocado Issue!

Special 4-Day Discounts, Deals and a Contest! It's Blue Avocado #90 In the best of times or the worst of times, we nonprofits are always ready for a good deal, a good discount or something in our favorite currency: free. All deals, discounts and freebies end at Friday, September 20, 2013 at 5 pm pacific time (8 pmeastern). And as a bonus to our bonus issue, we have a Blue Avocado contest about boards. Thanks to our contributors for making these offers. Keep calm and read on. -- Susan Sanow, Blue Avocado Project Manager CONTEST! How About a Game of Blue Avocado "Truth or Dare" on Boards? Want to sit around the Blue Avocado campfire with Jan Masaoka? 10 lucky readers will be eligible to join the campfire conversation on boards of directors. How do you qualify? Submit a true story in 25 words or less of the most funniest/most interesting/most outrageous/most inspiring thing that ever happened to you at a board meeting. Send it to blueavocado@hotmail.com byFriday, September 27 at 5 pm pacific time (8 pm eastern time). Write "Truth or Dare" in the subject matter line. If selected, the idea may be shared with our readers (with or without attribution --- let us know.) Decisions by the judges are final.  The campfire conversation with Jan will occur with the 10 winners on Friday, November 1 at noon pacific time (3 pm eastern time). Winners will be notifed byOctober 15. BOOK AND MAGAZINE DISCOUNTS! CharityChannel Press offers a 20% discount oneverything in its In the Trenches series of books and workbooks, just for Blue Avocadoo readers. With 24 titles to choose from -- such as fundraising, leading a board, being an executive director, and even how to become a successful consultant -- you're sure to find one you'll like. Review the catalog of titles, and when you’re ready to order, use the code BlueAvocado to get the special deal . . . . but just during the 4-day bonus issue period (Tuesday, Sept 17 through Friday, Sept 20). It applies to any or all of the CharityChannel Press books, manuals, and workbooks, in any quantity. (This offer may not be combined with any other offer except for additional discounts available for bulk purchases.) A fundraising advice call with Kim Klein (the superstar author and speaker) and a subscription to Grassroots Fundraising Journal: Specialsubscription rate for Blue Avocado readers: just $29 for a one-year subscrption with unlimited access to the online archive of over 400 fundraising articles. Each issue of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal has practical, do-able pieces on special events, direct mail, major donor programs, membership campaigns and more.   Go to grassrootsfundraising.org/subscribe, choose the $39 rate and enter "blueavocado" when asked about who referred you to GFJ. You'll then qualify for the $10 off! Offer good through September 20 at 5:00 pmpacific. And, Blue Avocado readers who subscribe will be invited to have your burning fundraising questions answered on a free call with the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training's Laurene Francois and Kim Klein! The one-hour conversation is set for Tuesday, November 12 at 1:00 pm pacific time (4pmeastern). TECHNOLOGY EVENTS DISCOUNTS! Master Class for Technology Champions Technology Champions aren't necessarily code wizards. Instead, they understand the role of technology in supporting the work their organization does, and work to make it part of their organization's master plan. Join NTEN for Master Classes in San Francisco on September 19, in Atlanta on October 24, or in Austin on November 14, and become a Technology Champion at your organization! Blue Avocado subscribers can click on the city name to register for the master classes at $30 off (discount code MC-BlueAvo!) Must register by September 20th to get this great rate. Social Media for Nonprofits / Nonprofit Bootcamp If you're in the Bay Area, don't miss these TWO opportunities: attend the Nonprofit Boot Camp on October 10 or Social Media for Nonprofits on October 11 at a special Blue Avocado reader price! Blue Avocado readers get $30 off your registration for either day. Tickets include registration, breakfast and lunch. Just visit here and use the promo code "AVO" to register now. FREE WEBINARS! Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability October 17, 2013, 12 noon – 1 pm Pacific time (3 pm – 4 pm eastern) Speakers:  Jan Masaoka, Blue Avocado and CEO of CalNonprofits, and Steve Zimmerman,Spectrum Nonprofit Services Too often program goals are discussed separately from financial means, although we all know that both must be discussed together. Jan and Steve will present the methodology for doing so from the book they co-authored with Jeanne Bell: Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability. This model can be used as an adjunct to or substitute for traditional strategic planning. Click here to register free by Friday, September 20 at 5 pm pacific time (8 pm eastern). Get The Most Out of Your Year-End Fundraising November 7, 2013, 10 am - 11:30 am pacific time (1:00- 2:30 eastern time) Speaker: Kim Klein, Klein & Roth Consulting (and famous author and speaker!) Can you say yes to any of these statements? I had a year-end plan but I got way behind and didn't revise it My year end plan is on track but we have to raise more money than we thought I admit I never had a year-end plan and now it seems late to create one You are not alone. It is not too late to raise a lot more money in 2013. In this fast-paced webinar, Kim Klein will discuss six different strategies most organizations can do in the time that remains before December  31, 2013. You will learn how to focus on the donors most likely to give, who you should ask in person, what you really can do with social media, and how to get ready for next year. Click here to register forfree. Registration remains open only until 5 pm pacific time (8 pm eastern) onFriday, September 20. Matter-ness...How to Make Everyone in Your Ecosystem Count November 13, 2013  10 am- 11:30 am pacific time (1 pm-2:30 pm eastern) Speaker: Allison Fine, Senior Fellow, Demos At the heart of all social change work are people. Allison Fine will explain how to re-organize our work to ensure that every person who wants to matter has an opportunity to speak, create, organize and donate on their behalf. Allison is a Senior Fellow on the Democracy Team at Demos: A Network for Change and Action in New York City. She is the author of two award-winning books, contributes to HBR.org, hosts a monthly podcast for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and writes her own blog. To register for the free workshop, click here.  Registration remains open until 5 pm pacific (8 pm eastern) on Friday, September 20. DISCOUNTED SERVICES FOR NONPROFITS Accounting and Bookkeeping Services for nonprofits Jitasa currently serves over 200 nonprofits (they only work with nonprofits) across the United States, saving them up to 25% on their bookkeeping and accounting needs. Jitasa is offering Blue Avocado readers who are new customers an additional 20% off set-up fees. That could translate into savings of over $1,000 for your nonprofit. To take advantage of this four-day offer follow the steps below: Fill out the Request a Quote Form by Friday, September 20 Type the code BLUEAVOCADO13 in the comments section on the bottom of the form Speak with our agent to discuss the right solutions for your nonprofit Sign a contract for Jitasa solutions and receive 20% off your setup fees (you have only have to request a quote by September 20, not get through all the steps) To learn more, visit www.jitasa.is or contact sales@jitasa.is. To request a quote, click here. AND FINALLY, KEEP CALM AND SUPPORT BLUE AVOCADO Don't forget that the biggest deal of all just may be your subscription to Blue Avocado – and you get that delivered to your inbox for absolutely free. What a deal! Why not say thank you with a gift to support Blue Avocado? Click here.