From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
The results of our eighth annual nonprofit economic survey are in. The news is mixed: The number of nonprofits reporting decreased contributions is significantly higher than last year, which in turn was markedly higher than in 2007. On the other hand, the results of our latest survey are not that dissimilar from the two surveys we conducted earlier this year. (See the articles we published in May and August.)
What these results say to me is that the recession hit charitable organizations hard at the end of 2008, but that giving levels held even at those lower levels throughout 2009 and did not significantly decline further throughout the year. Once again, I am struck by the resilience of our sector. ... Read more >
Down but Not Defeated: Results of GuideStar's Eighth Annual Nonprofit Economic Survey
A survey of public charity and private foundation employees was conducted online from October 1, 2009, until October 15, 2009, the eighth annual nonprofit economic survey conducted by GuideStar, and the third of three such surveys conducted by GuideStar in 2009. The purposes of the survey were to compare how charitable organizations fared during the first nine months of 2009 to previous years and to try to gauge the effect of the downturn in the economy on the American nonprofit sector. ... Read more >
Year-End IRA Gifts Are Still Possible
On December 31, 2009, an easy-to-get gift expires, so you've got two to three weeks to encourage your donors who are 71 and over to donate to you through their Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs. It works like this. Those who are the right age (technically, 70½ and over) inform their traditional IRA administrators that they wish to make a "qualified charitable distribution" to your nonprofit. Your donor may have to fill out and fax back a simple form, and he or she will need your federal tax ID number and legal name. The administrator cuts the check and sends it directly to your office. ... Read more >
How Cross Promotions Can Help Your Organization
Sharing lists for fundraising outreach has long been accepted as a cost-effective practice in the direct mail world. But list sharing has yet to be applied to online lists in any great numbers. Many nonprofits are held back by fears over negative impacts to their e-mail lists or the quality of the new supporters. Others are simply uncertain about how online cross promotions (or "list swaps" or "list chaperones," as they're sometimes called) work. That's why we put it to the test. ... Read more >
Word of Mouth Marketing
Word of mouth. It is the holy grail of marketing. It's effective and inexpensive. Everyone dreams of achieving it, but few organizations are truly able to make it work. Most likely it's because they are not ready for word of mouth. Before you get started on this journey, look in the mirror and ask yourself a few questions. Answer them honestly; if you don't answer Yes to these questions, you may need to address some internal challenges first. ... Read more >
The IRS View of Nonprofit Governance
With recent substantial changes to Form 990, the Internal Revenue Service has taken the position that good governance is of paramount importance to nonprofit organizations. Its Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TE/GE) has identified what constitutes good governance—an engaged, informed, and independent board; defined policies and practices; and transparency—and is focusing agency resources on enforcement of compliance with these standards. ... Read more >
This Month's Webinar
- Dec. 8—Grantmaker Due Diligence in the Pension Protection Act Era. Register now >
Down but Not Defeated: Results of GuideStar's Eighth Annual Nonprofit Economic Survey
Year-End IRA Gifts Are Still Possible
How Cross Promotions Can Help Your Organization
The IRS View of Nonprofit Governance
Earning $1,000 for Your Organization May Be Easier Than You Think
|
Earning $1,000 for Your Organization May Be Easier Than You Think GuideStar is giving $1,000 to five randomly selected nonprofits that hold the GuideStar Exchange seal. Enter your organization in the 2009 GuideStar Exchange Giveaway now! |
