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If your fundraising hasn't been going well, you might have been telling yourself it's not your fault — it's the economy. But it's not. At least not entirely. Here are five much more likely reasons your fundraising doesn’t work.

StratusLIVE, makers of StratusLIVE for Fundraisers, the leading Microsoft Dynamics® CRM-based Constituent Engagement and Fundraising Suite, has announced general availability of its new 2011 version. The latest version is powered by the recently released CRM/xRM platform from Microsoft: Dynamics® CRM 2011.

We might look at Borders and think that can never happen to our organizations — we’re far too savvy, right? But what are the lessons we can learn as nonprofits and fundraisers from this and other sad endings? Are our methods and technology threatening to make us the dinosaurs, while the Amazons of our sector plough ahead without us?

Jeff Bezos, the self-made billionaire who started Amazon.com out of a Bellevue, Wash., garage and built it into the world's dominant online retailer over the past two decades, has given $10 million to the Museum of History & Industry to establish a "Center for Innovation" at MOHAI's new location on South Lake Union.

The gift is the largest in the museum's 59-year history. It also is the most visible sign yet of personal giving by Bezos, who is better known for spending money on space exploration and other business investments than on local philanthropic activities.

Check out recent blog posts from the AdLibbing and Marketing for Nonprofits blogs.

Big blue bins popping up around Oregon are labeled "Books for Charity." But most of the books don't land in the hands of nonprofits or literacy groups.

The bins are managed by for-profit Thrift Recycling Management, which ships the books to its headquarters for sorting. Thrift then sells 25 percent at online websites like Amazon, pulps about 50 percent and hands the remaining 25 percent to nonprofits.

Local groups like Friends of the Tualatin Public Library say the bins are deceptive and will unfairly siphon books from nonprofit efforts.

Based on more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit communications and 15,000+ hours spent utilizing social and mobile media, "Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits," by Heather Mansfield, is packed with more than 100 best practices covering Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 nonprofit communications and fundraising. From building your e-newsletter list to finding your “Twitter voice” to launching a mobile website and texting campaign on a small budget, this guide presents a step-by-step strategic plan for launching and maintaining successful social-media and mobile-marketing campaigns.

Online fundraising software provider DoJiggy introduces a referral incentive program, which runs April 15-June 30, 2011. The program rewards DoJiggy and GolfRegistrations customers for referrals that result in software sales more than $279. Referring organizations can choose a $50-credit on future DoJiggy software services or $25 Gift Card to Amazon.com.O rganizations who complete three or more sales referrals by June 30 will receive a $100 donation from DoJiggy Giving toward their cause. For rules and details visit Refer A Friend.

Here are six online donation tools recommended by Idealware.

Here are three of the main ways marketing was turned on its head in 2010, and what that means for fundraisers.