I have recently been doing some brainstorming about how I could have a larger and positive impact on the Outdoors that I love so much. Three things immediately came to mind and they were:

1. Share my experiences (the reason for this blog)
2. Introduce more children to hunting and fishing
3. Starting my own Outdoor Conservation Charity

This post is the first, in a series of posts, that will provide some insight for those of us who would like to start their own Outdoor Charity. I have recently been following an amazing blogger, Dayne Shuda. I shared a portion of my thoughts with him (via email) and asked him if he could give me some direction in my endeavour. He graciously considered my challenge and wrote this blog post for me. With his permission, he has allowed me to post it for our Muskoka Outdoors visitors. It just may help us to change the world.

How to Start an Outdoor Conservation Charity
By Dayne Shuda (@DayneShuda on Twitter)

Most of us who enjoy the outdoors have wondered how we can give back to that which has given so much to us.

Outdoor charities and conservation efforts are one of the best ways for hunters, anglers, and outdoor lovers to give back to that which has provided so much enjoyment.

However, for some of us there is a deeper desire to give back to the outdoors. Some wish to do more. Some wish to start a charity effort of their own.

I whole-heartedly support these efforts. And with the Web these efforts are all the more easily provided to those who wish to provide as much to the outdoor community as it as provided for them.

If you want to start a charity for a cause for which you are passionate…

Here are a few tips on how to give back to the outdoors with an outdoor charity

Make it accessible to people both online and offline

If you’re a small time blogger you’re going to have a better appeal than a large corporation. As a sole person you’re going to be accessible, relatable, and reliable. People like to be able to speak directly to a source.

If you are truly passionate about a charity then being a blogger or Website owner is going to be one of your best assets.

Now, the key to starting your online charity website is going to be making it both accessible online as well as offline. What I mean by this is charity, as is the case with all businesses, is going to have to be able to reach people through multiple channels.

A blog or website can be your focal point (and I recommend this), but don’t forget to use offline activities such as direct mail, face-to-face, conventions (tough in recession), and local outdoor community meet-up groups.

Make it specific

What specifically are you passionate about changing?

In order to get your idea out to the world you’re going to have to be able to convey it to others.

Make your passion easy for others to digest and share with their friends and family.

Make your passion contagious.

The best way to do this is to be specific about your cause.

In my writing, I frequently reference country music. I think it’s because my passion (bow hunting for whitetail deer at my Uncles farm) always had the background music of George Jones, George Strait, etc. Let’s just say that country music has been background music to my life.

Anyway, country music artists have always been able to write about very specific images, stories, occurrences that are somehow able to relate to a wide audience. Think of the songs ‘Chattahoochee’, ‘Vidalia’, ‘Smokey Mountain Rain’, ‘Amarillo By Morning’, etc.

All of these songs were likely turned down initially by country music execs because they seemingly relate to such a small audience. The truth is that if you’re true to yourself and you show your passion and understanding, others will relate to your cause in their own way. People will be willing to connect and help you reach your goals.

The same is true for charity. Even if your cause is to ‘Save the Silver Bellied Rattle Snake of Greater Northern Wisconsin’ you can reach a wide audience.

Show your passion for the topic by sharing your experiences.

Be honest.

Be humble.

Ask for help.

People will relate to the cause and they’ll be willing to help.

How a blog can impact a charity

A blog is the best way to utilize the Web to reach an audience. A blog is a great way to connect with hunters on the Web. And as I mentioned above, hunters will relate to your cause.

I’ve written a few posts on how to start a blog for hunting businesses and the same process can be applied to starting an outdoor charity.

Here are a few of those posts:

20 Steps to Starting Your Hunting Business Blog/Website

The First 4 Days of Your New Hunting Blog

A Plan for Increasing Your Web Presence: The First 3 Months

Basically a blog is the best way to continuously put content out to reach your audience on the Web. It allows for conversation and connection.

It also allows you to include calls to action such as donations (monetary and time/effort), which are ultimately the drivers of a successful charity.

Show actual impact. People are visual. Show them the result of the charity

If there is one thing I’ve learned about the Web and hunters especially, it’s that visual evidence is crucial.

People need to see that their effort and your efforts are leading to success.

Document the progress of your cause the entire way and share it with your followers. Even when it seems like nobody is paying attention. Continue sharing your experiences.

Show photos.

Show write-ups in the press, blogs, and related websites.

Don’t be afraid to show validation for your website and your cause.

Give Specific Direction

Sometimes what it takes in business and in non-profit is direction. Your audience needs direction. As they say in sales, it comes down to asking.

Don’t be afraid to give direction to your audience.

Explain what your charity is about. Explain why it’s important. Explain why the cause is important to you personally. This will allow your audience to relate to you.

Provide specific directions to your audience.

They might not be sending you questions on how they can help out, but they are wondering about how they can help out.

Give them directions.

Tell them how to spread the word about your cause.

Tell them that you’re holding events.

Tell them to share your cause on their blogs.

People truly want to help others. It’s our nature.

Allow people to help you out and see your charity grow.

Sharability

I’m not sure if this is a word I made up or if it’s already been used.

The point is that if you’re trying to spread the word about something share-worthy, you’re going to have to have sharability on your charity website.

Sharability includes the entire Share-This type buttons for Digg, Stumble-Upon, RSS, Email Newsletters, possibly forums, etc.

Now, as I mentioned in the previous section about sharing content in a blog and sharing your accomplishments, you’re going to have to create content that encourages people to share.

Amazing accomplishments for others are extremely popular on Web sharing networks.

People love seeing that you help others.

And people also love helping others.

Show the Web that you’re helping others in a tangible way (blog, photos, videos, etc.) and they’ll be willing to share.

Provide a way for them to share (Share This, RSS, Newsletters, Etc.).

Ask them to share (see the previous section – Give them direction).

Resources

Resources such as literature, video, photos, etc. are crucial for your audience if you want them to share your cause with others.

Provide knowledge resources so others can learn about what it is you’re passionate about.

Your audience will pick up on your passion, but they will want detailed and specific resources so they can learn more about your charity cause.

Provide a substantial history and make the information prominently available on your site/blog.

If you provide your audience with resources to educate themselves your cause it will allow them to become more emotionally involved and connected.

This will also allow them to better share the cause with others.

And this is how growth occurs.

Summary

It’s ultimately going to take a continuous effort and more work to create a successful charity on the Web, but these basic ideas is a good start for enhancing your favorite cause.

No matter what happens on the Web, the true passions will always rise to the top as successes. It can be business and it can be non-profit. People focus their energy to passion.

People want to be a part of something passionate.

If you want to create a successful outdoor charity to give back to the outdoors you love then start it and put yourself fully into it.

People will follow.

Bonus

Now, I realize what I’ve said above is not the most specific way to start a charity on the Web. Here are a few quick steps on how I would go about starting a charity.

1) Research others charity websites (both in relation to your niche and outside your niche)

2) Start a blog and just start writing about your cause. Have a focus and write passionate articles

3) Work off your site on communities such as Twitter and other blogs to expand your audience

4) Try adding new features to your blog and your charity website. Pay attention to what catches on and what doesn’t. Enhance those that work as your strengths and get rid of the ones that don’t catch on.

5) Continue looking for ways to grow your business with new technology and look for ways to enhance your audience’s ability to share your collective cause with others

The best thing you can do is to be passionate about what you’re doing. Passion is contagious. If you’re willing to put yourself into a project, others will be willing to put themselves into a project.

Bonus #2

Make sure you goal is to help others. When you’re spending time off your site, make sure you adding value to those sites. Help them and you’ll ultimately create pull for yourself and your cause.

-End of Dayne’s Post-

Dayne, has given me many things to work towards as I attempt to formulate a direction for my new project. I trust it may have inspired others to do the same. My next blog post on this topic is still in the processing and fact-gathering phase. I am asking some financially minded people how to set-up and manage the financial aspect of starting an outdoor conservation charity. I will post my findings soon.

Thanks Dayne.