Thursday October 9- Competition

Hi !

Simon: What’s cookin this week

In this week’s enews…

• What do others think of you?

• A new word for 2026

• Learn from the good: Helping everyone to participate

• Great post: But how do I describe what we do?

• The best 9 minutes and 54 seconds on YouTube

The solution to the Triple E (enews easter egg) from last week: Names of characters from Law and Order, an alltime TV fav.

This week I wanna discuss with you the words “unique” and “the only.” One of the pain points I see is how nonprofits describe themselves. They don’t realize it’s a pain point and that they need to deal with it.

So this week I’m gonna share with you some thoughts as you head into the year-end campaign, thoughts related to how others see you. And talk about you. And describe you to others.

And I’m gonna intro you to one of my favorite words, a word that could be helpful to your fundraising in 2026.

Let’s dive into it.

Speak & Spell: You may not be what you think you are 

I spent the first half of 2025 working with a growing nonprofit. I crafted a custom organizational strategy which laid out a roadmap for short and long-term growth. The plan focused on these areas:

• improving internal processes

• fundraising

• marketing

• programming

• succession plan to a new ED

This particular organization has been around for thirty years and works with the homeless, specifically young mothers and their kids. Over three decades the organization has developed a very unique approach to helping the moms get back on their feet and support their families on their own.

You’ll notice in the above paragraph I used the word “unique.” That was a messaging technique they used in their fundraising and marketing. They wanted people to know that no one in their geographical region did what they did.

But is that true?

In fact, their approach WAS unique on the local landscape. But that’s not the question I’m asking:

Did their audience view their mission and program as unique?

Here is where things got a little muddy and not very clear. When I asked donors and people in the community, here’s what I found: People viewed them like other homeless shelters in the area.

Problem. Suddenly they’re not so “unique” and people in the community view them the same as their “competition.” They’re not “the only” ones doing what they’re doing.

That is a big messaging problem. Donors have lots of choices of where to give their hard earned dollars. And if they see you as just one of a bunch of the same type of service…

This is something many nonprofits don’t consider. Internally you know that your services are unique, your programs yield great results, your impact is huge.

But externally: Do you know how others view you? And just as important: What do you know about your local competition?

(And yes, 99.9% of nonprofits have a competitor. Again, this is not about you. This is about how others view you as compared to other charities.)

(And yes, they’re not “competitors.” They’re also trying to solve a problem and doing their best to impact the lives of those in your community. This isn’t Coke vs. Pepsi. There’s potentially enough to go around for everyone but then again, the number of households giving annually continues to dwindle which means lots of competition for the donor dollar…)

Which is why in the middle here I’m adding a quick survey:

Any audit/analysis I conduct includes a competitive landscape analysis. Here’s what I’m looking for:

• How competitors present themselves- messaging, branding

• How they conduct their fundraising (who they’re targeting, what language they use, channels etc.)

• What they tell their audience on their website, social channels, email

• Programs and services they offer

Before year-end you should conduct your own analysis of the local scene. Look for similarities and differences in how you present your organization, programs and services, audience you’re turning to, what they do better than you and where you excel. All of that is important to the messaging and content you’ll be publishing over the next 12 weeks.

Given the content overload we all experience and the huge amount of causes a person can give to, you need to know how your nonprofit can stand out in a sea of information.

I’d also survey donors, email subscribers and others in your audience. See what they know about your mission and work. Just as important, find out what they don’t know or what misconceptions they have. Given the volume of what you’ll be producing until Dec. 31, you have a chance to fix perceptions and sharpen who you are and how you want people thinking and talking about you.

But this isn’t just about year-end. I’m thinking ahead to 2026 and how you can grow next year.

Slinky: Your new word for 2026

One of my favorite words is “coopetition.” It means to cooperate with your competitors.

Example: As a consultant I have a lot of competitors. In fact, I’m friends and colleagues with a whole bunch of them and we talk and discuss shop often.

But wait: Why would you do that?! You’re potentially both competing for the same contracts!

When a colleague shared that word with me about 15 years ago, he explained it this way: You’re not giving away your awesomesauce. You’re not giving away the secret ingredients to how you do what you do. But you and your competitors work in the same space. Sit with them, exchange thoughts on the latest innovations, discuss market changes, enrich each other with particular experience and knowledge.

That’s why I talk to my competitors. I learn from them. And yes, on certain projects we cooperate. Two minds are better than one and all that.

For 2026, I want you to consider coopetition. Talking and potentially working with local organizations operating in the same space you do. The advantages:

1️⃣ I was a grant writer and I also spent time working for a global family foundation. I learned that there are foundations and donors who are more likely to say yes when more than one organization applies for a grant/donation.

We know that foundations are being inundated with grant applications. (I blame The Big Three for this.) That means your application has to stand out.

One of the best ways to do that is to submit a joint request. Two or more organizations joining forces and requesting funding which will impact even more people than if you went in alone. Those types of applications may have a better shot at passing the first round and making it up the chain of decision makers.

2️⃣ Given the huge amount of causes out there that donors are exposed to, raising money gets harder and harder. What would happen in 2026 if you joined forces with a similar organization and combined your fundraising and marketing powers to run a joint campaign? Double the impact, double the people being helped.

Know who would love messaging like that? Donors!

3️⃣ In 2026 I suggest your organization (if this doesn’t already exist) host a quarterly meeting of local organizations with similar missions. A chance to discuss challenges and pain points, consider joint advocacy efforts, talk about the needs of the local community and how best to help them. When you put a bunch of experts in the same room and start exchanging ideas, great things happen.

Nooooooowwwwwwwwww…. having been in this sector for 25 years, I am well aware how everyone guards their turf like they’re fighting a war against an enemy. “But what if we say something that helps them raise money that we could’ve gotten?!”

Yes, I’ve heard that before. My response: “Is this about the money or about impacting people’s lives at a point when they need it most?!”

Growth happens when you do everything that’s best for your beneficiaries. But when you close your doors to outside “interference” and refuse to cooperate with others, learn from their experiences and try to collectively make the world a better place, I firmly believe you’re not following your mission and doing right by those who need it.

So as you dive into year-end and plan for next year, here are two things to do:

1. Check out your competition. Know how to differentiate yourself out there.

2. Now that you know which organizations are similar to yours, reach out and talk to someone. Get a conversation started. Make 2026 a year where coopetition HELPS your organization grow and thrive.

Rubik’s Cube: Love this idea!

In this section I will share with you something good being done by a nonprofit that you can learn from.

A few weeks ago I learned about Bricks for the Blind in Boston.

Rather than me telling you about them, watch this video about their mission and work. As a Lego lover, I thought this was such a great idea!

Give everyone the chance to participate and good things happen.

Etch A Sketch: A little of this and that

In this section I’m going to share with you great content I’ve picked out that you can learn from.

1. How to write fundraising copy when what you do isn’t always quantifiable. MUST READ!!! (The Better Fundraising Company)

2. How to build lasting trust with stakeholders (Nonprofit Hub)

3. Tips for becoming a better copywriter (Copyblogger)

4. How to engage DAF holders in your challenge match (re:Charity)

5. 10 best practices for nonprofit financial management (Blackbaud)

View-Master: I’m Ephraim and I’m obsessed with…

the song “Africa” by Toto. Long time obsession.

So what music was I listening to while composing this week’s email? Actually it’s both Toto and nonprofit related!

It’s what I consider to be the best 9 minutes and 54 seconds on YouTube. Watch, laugh and enjoy as author Steve Almond DESTROYS the lyrics to the song Africa by Toto.

If you didn’t know the nonprofit connection to this song, now you will. 🤦‍♂️ 

I’ll be back in your inbox next Thursday. Have a great weekend!