Friday, July 12, 2013

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times: DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles
By Patrick Sullivan - July 11, 2013

The Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) has released its first set of fundraising principles. The principles are effective immediately and cover general principles, use of funds and costs of fundraising, as well as contracts with commercial partners. “The principles really pull together standards and best practices around several areas,” said Xenia “Senny” Boone, DMANF’s general counsel.

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy: This is a two-part blog. This first part is all about general nuggets, probably most useful people new to the world of work. The second part is specifically about nuggets for managers.

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published its Exempt Organizations Update for July 2013.

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation: I care about Millennials getting involved in causes, but I care more about the state of the organizations that are trying to make a difference in our communities. I worry they are not prepared to engage Millennials who want to be involved and have not adapted to the growing business changes this generation and others are demanding, such as: transparency, real time reporting, digital connectedness, and collaborative leadership.

Lets face it. Today we are dealing with a whole new way to do business and social sector work that is playing an increasingly important role across sectors.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Congress should scrap the Obama administration’s proposal to overhaul the federal government’s annual charity drive next year with changes that could “devastate” the campaign, a United Way official told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday.

Federal employees donated $258-million in 2012 to nearly 25,000 charities through the Combined Federal Campaign’s 160 local drives, which are managed mostly by local United Ways.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |: In other words, nearly three quarters of charities struggle to access the support they need, and yet only a third want support from outside the charity sector. The reasons are to do with how people look at their problems. If a task can be broken down and clearly articulated, many skills are transferable across sectors. It’s only when a project is taken as a complete item that you are stuck needing help and advice only from someone else doing the same job as you but with more experience.

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success: At the Association of Fundraising Professionals'Opens in a new window Fundraising Day in New YorkOpens in a new window last month, Clint O'BrienOpens in a new window, vice president of business development at Care2Opens in a new window, laid out acquisition techniques in today's fundraising landscape in the session, "Acquisition in Tough Times: Finding New Donors Without Breaking the Bank."

Half Of All Fundraisers Flee | The NonProfit Times

Half Of All Fundraisers Flee | The NonProfit Times: Half Of All Fundraisers Flee
By Patrick Sullivan - July 9, 2013

More than half of all chief development officers (CDOs) recently polled served less than two years in their most recent position, according to a study by Campbell & Company. A panel of chief development officers shared how things could and should be during the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference on Fundraising (ICON).

One Hundred Mass. Nonprofits Receive Grants of $100K Each:

massnonprofit.org ::: One Hundred Mass. Nonprofits Receive Grants of $100K Each

July 5, 2013 — One hundred greater Boston nonprofits have been awarded grants of $100,000 each from the Cummings Foundation through its $100K for 100 program that “reflects a desire to give back in the areas where the grant funds were derived.”

The 100 nonprofits charities were chosen from about 370 applicants during a competitive review process by the Woburn-based foundation.

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Should Detroit sell its art?: Motown steps on Degas | The Economist

Should Detroit sell its art?: Motown steps on Degas | The Economist: Desperate times call for harsh measures. Kevyn Orr, the city’s emergency manager, who was appointed this year with almost dictatorial powers to turn the city’s finances around, has ordered an inventory of the treasures in the DIA. These were valued at $1 billion in 2004; they may be worth more now. If Detroit formally declares bankruptcy, they may be sold. That would be controversial.

All Eyes on Philanthropy: Warby Parker Hits a Donation Milestone | TIME.com

All Eyes on Philanthropy: Warby Parker Hits a Donation Milestone | TIME.com: Nearly five years after that trip to the bar, Warby Parker has hit a deeply personal milestone–a total 500,000 pairs of glasses distributed through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program and an updated Do Good website that places full focus on their charitable aims. The initiative works with companies like VisionSpring to donate one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair Warby Parker sells. It’s a concept that echoes TOMS’ one-for-one mode, but it adds in an element of sustainability. VisionSpring creates jobs and trains low-income entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.

N.Y. Library Systems Struggle with Legacy of Carnegie Gift - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

N.Y. Library Systems Struggle with Legacy of Carnegie Gift - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A $5-million donation from industrialist Andrew Carnegie that built 67 New York libraries in the early decades of the 20th century has produced unanticipated burdens for the city’s three library systems, writes The Wall Street Journal.

Marketing for Nonprofits: Innovation is Overhead

Marketing for Nonprofits: Innovation is Overhead: Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Innovation is Overhead
My bestie, Laura Caligan, shared this brilliant thought with me today.

"Innovation is overhead."

Vatican Bank donated $70 million to charity in 2012 | The Catholic Response to the Huffington Post


Vatican Bank donated $70 million to charity in 2012 | The Catholic Response to the Huffington Post: The Vatican Bank donated some $70 million to charities in 2012, according to a Vatican statement released Thursday.

At St. Louis’ biggest nonprofits, it’s all in the family - St. Louis Business Journal

At St. Louis’ biggest nonprofits, it’s all in the family - St. Louis Business Journal: In this week’s paper, we took a look at the 16 local executives who serve on the boards of three or more of the region’s 25 largest nonprofits. But family ties expand even further the connections of some board members to the local nonprofit community.

Words Of Wisdom To Anyone Eager To Start An Encore Career - Forbes

Words Of Wisdom To Anyone Eager To Start An Encore Career - Forbes: . They’d just completed Encore! Hartford, a University of Connecticut workforce development program designed to help seasoned corporate professionals transition into encore careers through managerial positions in the nonprofit sector.

Vive (avec) la difference

Vive (avec) la difference: It’s 11pm in London. It’s 5pm in Minneapolis, 6am in Taipei, 3pm in Vancouver and 8am in Melbourne. Trying to work out the time zone makes my head spin. It’s midnight in Pretoria and in Vienna and they’re not on the call.

This is a monthly board meeting of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). My question in my last blog was whether or not I would find that being on a global board would be any different from being on a UK board.

I have an answer for you. Yes it is.

Program trains future members of cultural boards � Philanthropy North Carolina

Program trains future members of cultural boards � Philanthropy North Carolina: So, building on efforts in cities such as Boston and Portland, Ore., the Council launched a program to prepare people to serve on boards.

Launched in 2005, the nine-month program

Straight Talk about Outcomes from a Nonprofit Executive Director Who Holds a Ph.D. in Sociology by Caryl I. Goodman of Hospitality Homes | Community Techknowledge

Straight Talk about Outcomes from a Nonprofit Executive Director Who Holds a Ph.D. in Sociology by Caryl I. Goodman of Hospitality Homes | Community Techknowledge: Most of the information on nonprofit organizations and outcome measures [1] suggests that assessing outcomes is something new, and that such organizations lack the experience and knowledge to perform this type of assessment. A quick literature review or chat with nonprofit leaders quickly reveals the inaccuracy of this assumption.

Monday, July 08, 2013

The NonProfit Times: The Top 10 Nonprofit Jobs That Employ The Most People

The NonProfit Times: The Top 10 Nonprofit Jobs That Employ The Most People: "The Top 10 Nonprofit Jobs That Employ The Most People
According to a recent study by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society, nearly 7.4 percent of the world's workforce are employed at some type of nonprofit. The report doesn't state what types of jobs are the most popular, but that's exactly the kind of data The NonProfit Times' Salary and Benefits Reports has handy."

'via Blog this'

About High Fundraising Costs: It’s Complicated - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

About High Fundraising Costs: It’s Complicated - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: It’s time to make sure everyone understands that direct marketing is about the long run, not the short term.

As an example of what I mean by that, let me take you back to 2001, when the direct-marketing firm I was working at landed a new client. It had a small pool of donors—just 40,000—and raised about $7-million, mostly in small gifts.

Breaking Through the Noise: How to Get Media Coverage for Your Nonprofit | GuideStar Blog

Breaking Through the Noise: How to Get Media Coverage for Your Nonprofit | GuideStar Blog: "When it comes to pitching your organization to the media you are at a distinct advantage because everyone, including the media, loves a good story. That’s where nonprofits shine; they are never at a loss for powerful stories."

'via Blog this'

A simple retention calculation packs a powerful punch | Anita Lee |

A simple retention calculation packs a powerful punch | Anita Lee |: "It’s symptomatic of our approach to retention.  We focus on individual program delivery. We do it in bits and pieces, here and there and then cobble it together.  An overarching strategy that looks holistically at how we are going to grow our active supporter base and increase the amount that base gives is more powerful than a piece-meal approach."

'via Blog this'

Allison Fine: Bird-Dogging and Blogging the Primaries

Allison Fine: Bird-Dogging and Blogging the Primaries: Two years ago he helped launch the Nonprofit Congress housed at the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (ncna.org.) The purpose of the Congress was to develop a common voice for grassroots nonprofits on the importance of the sector to American communities. The Congress had its first national convening in 2006 and out of that meeting came the idea of the Primary Project (video description here). And it worked. For months, volunteers in New Hampshire asking candidates for the presidency three questions as reported in the Chronicle of Philanthropy:

Penn State says fundraising bounced back last year - SFGate

Penn State says fundraising bounced back last year - SFGate: STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State said Monday its fundraising efforts rebounded last year after a drop-off in donations followed the arrest of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on child molestation charges.

Yes, Kickstarter raises more money for artists than the NEA. Here’s why that’s not really surprising

Yes, Kickstarter raises more money for artists than the NEA. Here’s why that’s not really surprising: During a session at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Aspen Institute president Walter Isaacson asked Perry Chen, founder of Kickstarter, whether it was true that Kickstarter now funds more arts-related projects than the National Endowment for the Arts.

The crowdfunding site has, Chen told Isaacson, funded over $600 million in arts projects. “And,” said Isaacson, “that might be now more than the federal government spent on the arts in a given year?” adding a bit later that “in some ways… you’ve invented something that does what the NEA used to do and can’t quite do now.

Fundraisers 'should measure long-term impact of campaigns on donors'

Fundraisers 'should measure long-term impact of campaigns on donors': The consultant Roger Lawson tells the Institute of Fundraising's national convention that charities should focus on cost per acquisition and lifetime value

Fundraisers should be "measuring the donor" in addition to the basic details of campaigns, according to Roger Lawson, a fundraising consultant.

Lawson told delegates at the Institute of Fundraising’s national convention on Wednesday that the sector needed to move away from analysing campaigns and look at the effect that campaigns have on donors’ behaviour in the longer term.