A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that donors in that state who gave to charities, only to have the charity use the money for purposes other than that intended by the donor, are due a refund. This precedent-setting decision…
Just this morning the CEOs of Guidestar, Charity Navigator and BBB Wise Giving Alliance released a co-signed letter calling for an end to what they call "The Overhead Myth". This marks the first time the three leading nonprofit information providers…
Here we go again. Just when charities thought they dodged a bullet during the fiscal cliff negotiations in late 2012, it looks like the administration still harbors the desire to limit the deductibility of charitable donations by higher income donors.…
File this one in the "this should be interesting" column. According to Bloomberg this morning, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska) and Representative Walter Jones (R - North Carolina) are working with Democrats on possible legislation that would change disclosure…
Sound like something you'd like to know how to do? Of course it does! Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 20 from 1 to 4 Eastern. Our good friend and fundraising guru, Sandy Rees, will be presenting a special, 3-hour…
This morning, the Chronicle of Philanthropy published an fascinating article entitled, America's Generosity Divide. In it, the writers break down giving by region, income and other demographics. The results are very interesting. Generally speaking, the middle class, the religious and…
An Annual Fund is an organized effort to obtain gifts on a yearly basis to support, at least in part, the general operations of a nonprofit organization. These unrestricted funds are typically raised through a combination of special events, direct…
Guest Author: Daniel Neel of The Fundraising Resource Group I loved the newspaper when I was a kid. Not because I was so concerned about the world’s events as a tot, or even to check the latest sports scores. No,…
I've got some great news to share. We just finalized the details on an intensive day-long, hands-on workshop that will give you the tools and know-how necessary to make 2012 the best fundraising year your nonprofit has ever had. Sounds…
This popular article is reprinted from October 2009. Enjoy!
Halloween is upon us…and there is no more appropriate topic that we could cover than how to effectively scare away donors. In the, um, spirit of the season, let’s look at six ways to guarantee donors will want nothing to do with you!
Be undefinable. Keep ’em guessing, we say. Why box yourself into a specific purpose when you can be fluid and flexible…you know, all things to all people. You need the freedom to pounce on whatever new cause-de-jour comes along. Let those other nonprofits label themselves. Not you, though…you be a chameleon. Keep changing it up.
Be ineffective. Boy, this one gets them every time. If you want to make a really bad impression, just refuse to accomplish anything measurable. Rely on grand platitudes and empty rhetoric. Plan constantly, but never, ever get anything done. That’s waaaay too much work. Hey, I know…just pretend you are a congressman! Talk the talk, then talk some more! With a little practice, you’ll be a pro at kicking the can down the street.
