Black Friday and Nonprofits

Nonprofits can learn a lot from our counterparts in the private sector. One such item is Black Friday. Retailers used the day after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season and get people to get into the stores. Most of all, earn enough money to have a profitable year or be in the "black". Well we, the most creative people in the world are not be counted out. Today I received an email from the White House Project for the following Black Friday "sale".

The White House Project Celebrates Black Friday!Dear Orletta,For the first time ever, The White House Project is throwing our hat into the Black Friday ring! With ever-increasing popularity, Black Friday – the biggest shopping day of the year which comes on the heels of Thanksgiving – is sweeping the nation with deals, steals, bargains, and holiday spirit! This year we’re joining the fray and inviting you to get caught up in the spirit of the holidays - give the gift of women’s leadership through a donation to The White House Project!This holiday season if you make a donation to The White House Project you could receive a gift in return! Here is what we have to offer in honor of Black Friday 2010:$50.00 Donation: JCPenney/Sephora Make-Up Bag$100.00 Donation: JCPenney/Sephora Make-Up Bag + a WHP T-shirt$250.00 or more Donation: Ernst and Young or Lifetime Tote Bag with a signed copy of Marie Wilson’s book, Closing the Leadership Gap, inside!$1000.00 or more Donation: A 30-Minute Coaching session via phone with Marie Wilson**available to first 3 donors**Supplies are limitedso donate now!Your donations support the work of our national Vote, Run, Lead leadership training program. This program has given over 9,000 women the tools they need to run for office, to broaden their civic and community leadership, and engage their communities in the political process.Through our Vote, Run, Lead leadership training program, The White House Project fills the political pipeline with some of the most underrepresented citizens in our political and civic sectors:• * 43% of our alumnae are women of color;* 46% earn less than $30,000/year; and* 70% are under the age of 35.• As a result of our trainings, 107 WHP Alumnae ran for office in the 2010 midterm elections and many of them won!We still have one training left in 2010, the No Labels Women’s Leadership Pre-Conference Training! Click here to learn more about this incredible training – and donate today to ensure that more women can be trained in 2011 than ever before!Have a great weekend!The White House Project Staff

Now 2010 Black Friday is in the books, but again, this is the year-end. Get out there and raise some funds. If you are running out of ideas, look at our private sector brethren and get to work!