From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
Private foundations are an integral component of our nation's nonprofit sector. Without these influential institutions, only a fraction of the charitable programs that so many people rely on would receive the funding they need to survive. We here at GuideStar are grateful for the generous and patient funding we have received from many foundations.
Over the last few years, much attention has been given to how nonprofit organizations can be more effective and efficient. Increasingly donors are asking how to measure the outcome and impact of the work of nonprofits. Despite the indispensable role that foundations play, however, less attention has been paid to how they spend their money and the impact they make.
There is something undeniably mysterious about the ways in which foundations function, but this aura is perhaps due less to a lack of transparency on the part of foundations and more to a lack of clear understanding on the part of the public. ... Read more
Going for Consensus, Not Robert's Rules
If you're on a nonprofit board, there is life outside Robert's Rules of Order.
In my work with nonprofits, I'm always mystified by the pervasive use and abuse of parliamentary procedure, also known as Robert's Rules of Order. Many, many board members believe that their discussions and decisions are somehow more valid when they make motions, second those motions, call the question, and hold formal votes that are recorded in the minutes. ... Read more
Federal Agency Taps into the
Power of the GuideStar Database
It's now easier for federal grantmakers, policy analysts, contract procurers, and regulators to get the GuideStar data they need.
The General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced the addition of GuideStar products and services to its Financial and Business Solutions Schedule. As the agency that is responsible for facilitating the basic operations of other federal agencies, the GSA has recognized the GuideStar database as an effective means of providing federal employees with easy access to the information on nonprofit organizations that they need. ... Read more
The Case for MBAs in the Nonprofit Sector
This (just might be) a job for an MBA.
There is a lot of buzz out there about MBAs joining the ranks of the nonprofit sector. We wanted to find out what is behind all the buzz. Are nonprofits really hiring MBAs? Are MBAs interested in working in the social sector? What are some of the challenges that nonprofits face when considering hiring candidates with MBAs? ... Read more
Poised to Make a Difference in D.C.
The Catalogue for Philanthropy is relying on GuideStar to help them help smaller charities reach out to donors.
The Catalogue For Philanthropy: Greater Washington is the latest philanthropy portal to take advantage of GuideStar's unparalleled ability to promote transparency. (You can see a list of other clients at www.guidestar.org/about/partners.jsp.) The goal of this Washington, D.C., nonprofit is "to raise the visibility of effective nonprofits in metropolitan Washington, and to introduce new donors to new charities." ... Read more
Building Donor Affinity While Incorporating
Financial Data into Fundraising Campaigns
We keep telling you: transparency helps fundraising. Now someone else is saying it, too.
Every once in a while the finance team and the development and marketing departments will get together, mostly for budgeting purposes. But the finance department and the numbers it maintains can make a dramatic difference in the success of the development team's campaigns. Financial information can be used for more than setting and maintaining the budget. ... Read more
In This Issue
Going for Consensus, Not Robert's Rules
Federal Agency Taps into the Power of the GuideStar Database
The Case for MBAs in the Nonprofit Sector
Poised to Make a Difference in D.C.
Building Donor Affinity While Incorporating Financial Data into Fundraising Campaigns
|
Feb. 12-14: Create Hope/United eWay Users' Conference, Arlington, Va. |
