“How Much Should We Increase Our Fundraising Goal Over Last Year?” | Fundraising for Nonprofits

“How Much Should We Increase Our Fundraising Goal Over Last Year?” | Fundraising for Nonprofits: Some time ago, an email raised the question: “When you are setting your fundraising goal for the coming year, is there a formula or commonly accepted “rule” on which to base an increase over the prior year’s goal?”

Nonprofits Added Jobs Faster Than Businesses Did in the Past Decade, Study Finds - Jobs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofits Added Jobs Faster Than Businesses Did in the Past Decade, Study Finds - Jobs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The study, by the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University, also found that nonprofits are the third largest type of private employer in the United States, behind only retail trade and manufacturing. Nonprofits employed nearly 10.7 million workers in 2010, which is just over 10 percent of the country’s work force, not counting government employees. More than half of all nonprofit employees have jobs at health-care organizations, while 15 percent work at colleges and other educational institutions.

What do we do about giving levels? Should we add them? | Event Fundraising Tips with Amy Braiterman | a Blackbaud Blog

What do we do about giving levels? Should we add them? | Event Fundraising Tips with Amy Braiterman | a Blackbaud Blog: We go through this debate every year, should we add giving levels to participant pages? Last year we decided to leave them off. I’m not sure if giving levels make a difference, we saw a nice increase in 2011 without using them. Needless to say we’re having the giving level debate again. What’s your take on giving levels?

DVIDS - News - CFC-Overseas successful

DVIDS - News - CFC-Overseas successful: CAMP FOSTER, Japan - The Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas wrapped up its 2011 campaign here Dec. 2, after two months of raising money for approved charitable organizations around the world.

According to the CFC website, the CFC is the world’s most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 200 campaigns worldwide, helping to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign seasons go toward nonprofit organizations that pro

Earl Martin Phalen: Looking Ahead: How We Can Make 2012 the Year of the Nonprofit

Earl Martin Phalen: Looking Ahead: How We Can Make 2012 the Year of the Nonprofit: And where there were increases, The Chronicle reminded us, they "don't come close to erasing an unprecedented 11-percent decline in the total raised by charities on the survey in 2009."
We are now in 2012. It's a new year. It's time to move forward and rally around 2012 as the year that nonprofits -- and the children, families and causes that we serve -- make their comeback.

As the founder of two nonprofits and the CEO of a third, I've thought long and hard about how we, as a community, can make this year different than the past few:

California Watch: Public schools increasingly rely on private donations | abc7news.com

California Watch: Public schools increasingly rely on private donations | abc7news.com: School foundations and PTAs used to raise money for the extras high-tech projectors and special field trips. But these days, private donations to schools have grown dramatically and are being used to prevent teacher layoffs, keep libraries open, and save music and foreign-language classes.

California K-12 foundations, PTAs and booster clubs raised about $1.3 billion in 2007, according to the most recent tax filings analyzed by the Public Policy Institute of California. That's up from $70 million in 1989, according to the institute.

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Report from Growing Philanthropy Summit: Let’s Spread the Word

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Report from Growing Philanthropy Summit: Let’s Spread the Word: Surely we all want to grow philanthropy, and the total dollars do grow, except during a recession. So that's good. But, for 40 years, U.S. charitable giving has stayed fairly constant—at about two percent of average household income according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University’s annual “Giving USA” report on philanthropy. That's just not so good. Actually, that’s pretty bad. Now is the time to face this problem. But let’s think of this as an opportunity—the opportunity to grow philanthropy in the U.S. To begin, read the “Growing Philanthropy in the United States” report from the Growing Philanthropy Summit, held in June 2011 in Washington, D.C.

Fundraising Returns to Pre-Recession Levels - MarketWatch

Fundraising Returns to Pre-Recession Levels - MarketWatch: Views from the sector

"Challenge the status quo." That's the advice that Andrew Watt, president and chief executive officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals shares as fundraisers head into 2012, uncertain how to grow their fundraising beyond the minimal growth trajectory that is hovering on flat. "We've been getting quite positive messages from our members, who are optimistic, but I don't think anyone feels they are going to see spectacular growth in 2012," he said. "If the economy continues to stagnate, I cannot see that people can afford to hold off on investing in growth."

Charity events buck tradition to draw young crowds - The Denver Post

Charity events buck tradition to draw young crowds - The Denver Post: Many of the benefits grabbing the buzz — and the bodies — these days are those planned by the young professionals who come to the table with fresh ideas and no fear of taking chances with themes and locations that never would have flown in their mothers' day.

Formats that were popular a decade ago — cocktail hour/silent auction, seated dinner, speaker, live auction and dancing — haven't vanished and certainly still have their place. But just as the new group of planners calls event settings "venues" rather than "locales" and refers to caterers, florists and musicians as "vendors," they're rethinking the approach to raising money.

Blackbaud Take Over of Convio - Little Impact on Australian NFPs | Pro Bono Australia

Blackbaud Take Over of Convio - Little Impact on Australian NFPs | Pro Bono Australia: While the US and UK are abuzz with news that the international software provider to Not for Profits, Blackbaud, has announced a $275 million acquisition of rival company Convio, there’s likely to be little immediate impact in the Australian market.

Foundation rewards nonprofits | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com

Foundation rewards nonprofits | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com: The grants presented Wednesday were part of the latest round of awards from the Gannett Foundation, which in 2011 presented more than 900 totaling $3.9 million.

Locally, the largest grant - $10,000 - will help fund Imagination Library, a United Way of the Capital Area program that provides 60 free books to children in targeted ZIP codes.

The Daily Home - Local nonprofits to benefit from Alabama Gives Day

The Daily Home - Local nonprofits to benefit from Alabama Gives Day: At least two local nonprofits, the Palmer Place Talladega County Children’s Advocacy Center and Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement Services Centers, will be among the hundreds of benefactors of the Alabama Gives Day.

Salary scale / LJWorld.com

Salary scale / LJWorld.com: Salaries for Lawrence’s nonprofit leaders vary widely, according to a report in Sunday’s Journal-World. Each nonprofit examined performs what the Internal Revenue Service considers charitable, tax-exempt work. That’s everything from serving the poor to running the Kansas University Endowment Association to operating Lawrence

Using Volunteers a “Courageous” or Bold Act? Oh Please!

Fundraising Returns to Pre-Recession Levels - Barrons.com

Fundraising Returns to Pre-Recession Levels - Barrons.com: CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 19, 2012--

Blackbaud, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB) today announced that fundraising has returned to pre-recession levels. Through the first 11 months of 2011, overall giving is up 3.4% over 2010, and is now officially above the level of giving last seen in 2007.

Typography 101 for Nonprofits | Achieve Guidance Blog

Typography 101 for Nonprofits | Achieve Guidance Blog: Creating collateral that is clear and sends the right message is very important for a successful fundraising campaign. Unfortunately, nonprofits are often met with the challenge of limited resources in finding the time and money to hire a good designer. I know that I speak for the entire Achieve staff when I say that we believe nonprofits should invest into a good designer! Especially with something as big as a fundraising campaign, if you do not have effective design you will have a hard time connecting with your audience, which leads to fewer donations.

But with that said, there are certainly times when nonprofits need to create a promotional piece internally, whether it be laying out a newsletter, a thank you card or a proposal. So here are a few basic guidelines to think about when you are using typography (fonts) in promotional pieces.

Peer to Peer Fundraising: It's Not What You Think

Peer to Peer Fundraising: It's Not What You Think: Excerpted from How to Raise $500 to $5,000 from Almost Anyone, revised and expanded edition

My friend Susan was the chief fundraiser for a nonprofit in a rural part of the country. In the course of her work, she interacted with a number of major donors.

Before launching a recent fundraising campaign, she sat down with her spouse and said, "I'm preparing to ask a lot of people for a lot of money. If I'm going to have any credibility during these conversations, we need to donate as much as we possibly can." They discussed it and committed $2,500—a significant gift given their economic situation.

Austin Gives program encourages area businesses to share profits

Austin Gives program encourages area businesses to share profits: The initiative — called Austin Gives: Business Giving Back — is to be unveiled this morning by 2011 chamber board Chairman Bobby Jenkins and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

The measure aims to encourage area companies of all sizes to pledge — via an online form at austingives.net — to give a portion of their pre-tax earnings to local nonprofit agencies.

Any Color You Want … As Long As It’s Black | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

Any Color You Want … As Long As It’s Black | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: witterland, the nonprofit newswires, and my email lit up early Tuesday morning with news that Blackbaud, the largest provider of fundraising software to nonprofit organizations, had announced its plans to acquire Convio, one of its largest competitors, for $275 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of March.

PhilanTopic: Five Qs for...Mario Morino, Co-Founder/Chair, Venture Philanthropy Partners

PhilanTopic: Five Qs for...Mario Morino, Co-Founder/Chair, Venture Philanthropy Partners: So convinced, in fact, that he wrote and (in 2011) published Leap of Reason: Managing to Outcomes In an Era of Scarcity, a monograph "intended for leaders...who know in their bones that they want and need better information in order to fulfill the mission that compelled them to dedicate their lives to serving others."

PND chatted with Morino recently about the book, performance measurement (and its costs) in a nonprofit context, and the importance of leadership in shaping a performance culture.

Giving grows among communities of color | Philanthropy Journal

Giving grows among communities of color | Philanthropy Journal: Charitable giving in the U.S. quickly is becoming more ethnically, culturally and socioeconomically diverse, yet conventional philanthropy has not fully recognized, embraced and partnered with communities of color and needs to understand and support their philanthropy if it wants to drive social change, a new report says.

One in four Fla. millionaires giving less Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/17/2594277/one-in-four-fla-millionaires-giving.less

One in four Fla. millionaires giving less - Business - MiamiHerald.com: About 25 percent of Florida’s millionaires plan to cut back on charitable giving, according to a PNC survey of the nation’s financial elite.

PNC Wealth Management Study: 59% Of Millionaires Feel Obligation To Give Back

PNC Wealth Management Study: 59% Of Millionaires Feel Obligation To Give Back: Fifty-nine percent of millionaires agree they feel they have an obligation to give back to their community, according to a survey released Jan. 17 by PNC Wealth Management . The percentage remains the same as it was in 2008.

Enid Ablowitz: Social investing by women - Boulder Daily Camera

Enid Ablowitz: Social investing by women - Boulder Daily Camera

Bay Area Theater Companies Stage Productions in Unusual Places, Including a Mint - NYTimes.com

Bay Area Theater Companies Stage Productions in Unusual Places, Including a Mint - NYTimes.com: Bay Area performers taking theater out of theaters is nothing new, of course — in the late ’60s and ’70s, thanks to influential countercultural groups like the Diggers and the S.F. Mime Troupe, there was an explosion of experimental work.

But with a stagnant economy and a decline nationally in audiences for traditional dance and theater, there is renewed interest in performances outside darkened black- box theaters. Unusual spaces are also popular with patrons of the arts, who give grants for “creative place-making” — art that can reach broad audiences and help revitalize downtrodden neighborhoods like the Mid-Market area in San Francisco.

UM offers free help for S. Fla. nonprofit groups - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com

UM offers free help for S. Fla. nonprofit groups - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com: The University of Miami is offering free advertising and creative services to South Florida nonprofits during the Third Annual PhilADthropy event Feb. 17 at the University of Miami School of Communication.

The 30 Most Generous Celebrities - Forbes

The 30 Most Generous Celebrities - Forbes: Thanks to a record donation of $10,569,002 to the Ressler-Gertz Foundation, actress Jami Gertz and her husband, Anthony Ressler, top the list of the 30 Most Generous Celebrities compiled by The Giving Back Fund, a non-profit organization that tracks philanthropic giving worldwide.