One of the challenges with social media most cited in my interactions with nonprofit professionals and in the Marts & Lundy social media challenges survey is convincing executive leadership of social media’s importance.

So why should nonprofits - and their leaders - care about social media?

When speaking to non-profit leaders, one of the first things I ask them to share with me is their elevator pitch - the quick description of your cause that will motivate a listener to ask for more information, invest in your efforts and/or encourage others to engage with your organization. This provides me with:

I am honored that my colleagues at Marts & Lundy have asked me to serve as their chair of the board and partner with Don Fellows, President & CEO, a long-time friend and former colleague at Stanford, in leading the firm. A long line of distinguished individuals going back 85 years to the firm’s founder, Arnaud Marts, have filled this role, including my early counselor, Burr Gibson, and my predecessor, Bruce McClintock. Each has helped shape the firm’s values and its abiding commitment to its clients while contributing to best practices in the field of philanthropy.

We invite you to participate in our annual survey about giving trends, campaigns, & how FY 2011 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011) outcomes compare with past results. The survey should take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete once the data have been collected. We hope that you will respond as soon as possible, but no later than August 15th.