From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
People—and organizations—do better work and get more accomplished when they have goals, particularly goals that can be measured. In the spirit of the New Year, I'd like to share my thoughts on GuideStar's activities in 2005 and some of our goals for 2006:
GuideStar's Web site. Even without the natural disasters that tested us all, last year would have been a momentous one for GuideStar. We spent the first five months taking apart and rebuilding our Web site, and on June 1, we launched a completely new version of GuideStar. The new site represented our most significant change since October 1999, when we posted our first Form 990 images.
All the hard work of 2005 came about because we've been learning that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to using nonprofit data. We have many different kinds of users and there are many different reasons to use GuideStar data. All users have one thing in common: you recognize that GuideStar information is critical to making important decisions. Look to GuideStar in 2006 to offer you new and better ways to help you meet your objectives, whether they be making informed grantmaking decisions, improving your organization's effectiveness, or achieving your business goals. ... Read more
Planning an On-line Fundraising Event
Toying with the idea of holding an Internet fundraiser? Want to know what's involved and how to determine if it's even feasible for your organization? Here's advice from two experts.
You already know you want to hold a fundraiser. Now you need to get the important members of your immediate community to decide they want to undertake an on-line auction fundraiser. ... Read more
Nonprofit Leadership, It Soon Will Be a-Changin'
Will the Sector Be Ready?
Nearly a quarter of nonprofit leaders anticipate moving on this year. What can organizations expect as they try to fill these positions?
If you are involved with a nonprofit organization, take a look at the people who run it. Pretty soon, there may be entirely new faces in those positions. Results of a survey published late last year by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that 23 percent of 2,210 executive directors anticipate leaving their organizations. ... Read more
On the Road to a Conflict-of-Interest-Free Sector:
December 2005 Question of the Month Results
Nonprofits throughout the country are implementing conflict of interest policies. Learn more about the policies and about resources for developing one for your organization.
"As a matter of recommended practice," page 10 of the final report of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector states, "charitable organizations should adopt and enforce a conflict of interest policy consistent with ... state laws and organizational needs." If the results of the December 2005 Question of the Month are representative, then the sector is well on its way to achieving that goal. ... Read more
In This Issue
Planning an On-line Fundraising Event
Nonprofit Leadership, It Soon Will Be a-Changin'
On the Road to a Conflict-of-Interest-Free Sector
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Did your organization experience the "Katrina effect" during the last three months of 2005? Share your answer |
