Board of Directors
How to Build, Strengthen, & Support It
Whose Job Is It Anyway?
Nonprofit Boards of Directors operate on many different levels of sophistication, from a 25-member national board that follows Robert’s Rules of Order (2011) to the letter at every meeting, to the five-person local board that has never heard of Robert’s Rules of Order and on which the sitting members are all friends with the organization’s founder.
How to Build, Strengthen, & Support It
Whose Job Is It Anyway?
Nonprofit Boards of Directors operate on many different levels of sophistication, from a 25-member national board that follows Robert’s Rules of Order (2011) to the letter at every meeting, to the five-person local board that has never heard of Robert’s Rules of Order and on which the sitting members are all friends with the organization’s founder.
Overtime Pay or No Overtime Pay?
That is the Nonprofit Question.
I started writing this article a few weeks ago. At that time, the day nonprofit organizations would need to implement any necessary changes in order to be in compliance with new Fair Labor Standards Act overtime regulations was drawing near. December 1, 2016 was the proverbial D-Day. Now that the day is nearly here, the situation is far less certain than when I began.
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Religion, Politics, and Nonprofit Organizations
Anyone who has worked as a fundraiser or the Executive Director of a 501c3 nonprofit organization knows it is, for the most part, smart to keep your political opinions to yourself in the nonprofit realm as well. There are a number of reasons for this; at the risk of oversimplification, I’ll boil it down to the benefit of neutrality. It is best never to assume that because someone supports the mission of your organization, then they also hold the same personal beliefs as you... Read full article
Anyone who has worked as a fundraiser or the Executive Director of a 501c3 nonprofit organization knows it is, for the most part, smart to keep your political opinions to yourself in the nonprofit realm as well. There are a number of reasons for this; at the risk of oversimplification, I’ll boil it down to the benefit of neutrality. It is best never to assume that because someone supports the mission of your organization, then they also hold the same personal beliefs as you... Read full article
NONPROFITS IN THE KNOW
Crowdfunding: Personal Gift or Charity Donation?
The Orlando Attack’s $7+ Million
GoFundMe Phenomenon
Beware of Chicken Little Fundraising
Nonprofits will go to great lengths to grab people’s attention in the ongoing effort to raise funds. In general, this willingness to do whatever it takes is commendable. But when it comes to direct mail appeals (and even email communications), a bit of restraint can go a long way.
Nonprofits will go to great lengths to grab people’s attention in the ongoing effort to raise funds. In general, this willingness to do whatever it takes is commendable. But when it comes to direct mail appeals (and even email communications), a bit of restraint can go a long way.
Abundance in Fundraising
Donors want to feel like they are investing in something that is good for the community – and in an organization that has sound business practices. They don’t want fundraisers fighting against each other to “get” the donor’s dollars.
Donors want to feel like they are investing in something that is good for the community – and in an organization that has sound business practices. They don’t want fundraisers fighting against each other to “get” the donor’s dollars.
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Storytelling for Nonprofits
Nonprofits have to spend so much time on numbers - funding, delivering, tracking, and reporting numbers. But numbers aren't what compel people to believe in and support an organization's mission. It is important to know when numbers are appropriate: in annual reports, grant applications, and outcome metrics. But it is also important to know that when sharing the message about your organization, stories and images are key. Efforts to both engage new friends for the organization and share success stories with donors are made better by creating an emotional connection through storytelling. |
How Much is Too Much? Extravagance in Fundraising
There are a several schools of thought in fundraising. The first two are polar opposites and the rest are somewhere on the continuum in between. In fundraising as in life, extremes are usually, well, too extreme.
There are a several schools of thought in fundraising. The first two are polar opposites and the rest are somewhere on the continuum in between. In fundraising as in life, extremes are usually, well, too extreme.
Writing Winning Direct Mail Appeals
Brian Weiner, President
One to One Group
"I find the most compelling appeals are not windows into an organization, but rather a mirror of the donor and their personal interest in the organization.
Often, I will use a client story (or an amalgam of stories) to illustrate just what I mean. Helping them understand that their gift (when combined with those of other like minded individuals), their passion, their empathy, is sole the reason the charity has succeeded is vital to a successful message. The opportunity to understand in the clearest way possible that 'we could never do this without you' is important in retaining donors and maintaining passion."
Brian Weiner, President
One to One Group
"I find the most compelling appeals are not windows into an organization, but rather a mirror of the donor and their personal interest in the organization.
Often, I will use a client story (or an amalgam of stories) to illustrate just what I mean. Helping them understand that their gift (when combined with those of other like minded individuals), their passion, their empathy, is sole the reason the charity has succeeded is vital to a successful message. The opportunity to understand in the clearest way possible that 'we could never do this without you' is important in retaining donors and maintaining passion."
Click to read the Nonprofits in the Know newsletter "A Death in the Family and a Blue Stuffed Monkey"
Why I Volunteer
-Sharon Barhorst, Manatee County, FL
“I love to volunteer in my community so I can make a difference in the lives of children and improve my overall community. The reason I joined Kiwanis was to truly live their mission statement, ‘Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.’ I like to do good, feel good, and do what Kiwanis is all about - live the Golden Rule.”
Why I Volunteer
-Sharon Barhorst, Manatee County, FL
“I love to volunteer in my community so I can make a difference in the lives of children and improve my overall community. The reason I joined Kiwanis was to truly live their mission statement, ‘Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.’ I like to do good, feel good, and do what Kiwanis is all about - live the Golden Rule.”
Click to read the Nonprofits in the Know newsletter
"We don't choose our moments. They just happen."
Why I Volunteer
-The Rev. Nathan Speck-Ewer, Bradenton, FL
I give my time and energy to the community because in doing so I help others and discover a better, truer version of myself. I serve in lots of different roles, but each of them brings me joy to see my time and energy going to improving someone else's life. For me, that's a sacred moment.
"We don't choose our moments. They just happen."
Why I Volunteer
-The Rev. Nathan Speck-Ewer, Bradenton, FL
I give my time and energy to the community because in doing so I help others and discover a better, truer version of myself. I serve in lots of different roles, but each of them brings me joy to see my time and energy going to improving someone else's life. For me, that's a sacred moment.
Click to read the Nonprofits in the Know newsletter "Why do people give?"
Why I Volunteer
-Alice Shipman, Sarasota, FL
I volunteer my time because, frankly, the world can be a pretty screwed-up place. None of us have the power to fix everything in one fell swoop, but we can still help. It may be contained to the one person sitting in front of us today, but we can keep pushing at it and build up momentum up for the bigger changes.
Why I Volunteer
-Alice Shipman, Sarasota, FL
I volunteer my time because, frankly, the world can be a pretty screwed-up place. None of us have the power to fix everything in one fell swoop, but we can still help. It may be contained to the one person sitting in front of us today, but we can keep pushing at it and build up momentum up for the bigger changes.