No decision you make regarding your nonprofit organization carries more importance than who is chosen to lead it. The members of your board of directors make up the governing body of your nonprofit and are legally accountable for its actions. Practically speaking, they are accountable to your supporters and beneficiaries to oversee the accomplishment of [...]
The Challenges of Expanding Your Nonprofit
One of the most challenging situations your nonprofit organization can face is the need to expand. It is also an exciting challenge. Compared with the alternative of diminishing effectiveness and shrinking support, growth is a good thing. At least it means (usually) that your programs are having a positive impact and people are motivated about [...]
Safeguard Your Mission: How to Protect Your Nonprofit from Fraud
Fraud is a word that conjures up many images in your mind. Maybe your definition of fraud is someone lying to you, stealing from you or conspiring against you while pretending to help you. All of these are true…and it can happen to your nonprofit if you don’t know how to protect it. Those who [...]
Who Really Owns a Nonprofit?
The concept of who owns a nonprofit organization can be hard for some to grasp, especially given that the answer is, “No one…and everyone!” We encounter this confusion with new clients on a fairly regular basis. And, given people’s understanding of how basic business operates, it is understandable. In order to fully appreciate the concept of [...]
The Dirty (Half) Dozen Nonprofit No-Nos
Occasionally, you have to protect people from themselves. Even those with the best of intentions can mess things up so badly that it can jeopardize what they are trying to accomplish. In the nonprofit world, there are best practices, good practices and acceptable practices…and, really, really bad practices that will cause your organization, its board, [...]
How to Protect Your Nonprofit’s Board Members
Your board of directors is one of the most important assets your nonprofit has. Assuming they understand their role and are there for the right reasons, your board members provide invaluable insight, direction and oversight. They volunteer their time and expertise, usually for little more than a pat on the back. They also assume a [...]
How To Get Funding For Your Nonprofit (Part II)
In last week’s blog post, we looked at a set of core principles that are critical for nonprofit organizations needing to raise financial support. If you haven’t read it yet, check that one out before diving into this one. It will make the ideas discussed below more effective. So, what are some funding strategies that [...]
How To Get Funding For Your Nonprofit
It is the burning question of every nonprofit organization: “How do we get funding?” With the economy in the dumps, and recovery looking like a distant hope, this question screams for an answer. In fact, we get more requests from newsletter subscribers for articles on funding than just about any other topic. The purpose of [...]
Five Considerations When Starting A Nonprofit in a Tough Economy
In this tough economy, nonprofit organizations are needed more now than ever. More and more people are finding themselves in difficult circumstances and, according to all available evidence, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Despite all the assurances of government, it simply isn’t possible for government to keep up with the need. [...]
Bad Seeds – Why the ACORN Scandal Matters to Other Nonprofits
Posted on September 16, 2009 by Greg McRay in Commentary, Hot Topics
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, aka ACORN, was, until the past year, a relatively unknown organization to most Americans. Founded in 1970 and based in New Orleans, Louisiana, ACORN’s most visible face is that of a 501(c)(3) public charity ostensibly advocating for low- and moderate-income families in the areas of neighborhood safety, [...]