From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
What do we do, and why do we do it?
That was a question I asked in my Newsletter column last month. A number of you wrote to agree that it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day details of running a nonprofit, with the result that we lose sight of the big picture—our respective missions and those we serve.
I want to come back to that question this month because it's at the core of our work at GuideStar in promoting transparency and accountability in the nonprofit sector. We see openness not as an annoyance or merely an obligation (although there is a sense of responsibility) but more as an opportunity to share with our various stakeholders our missions, activities, and the ways we measure success.
As it turns out, government representatives at various levels are asking similar questions about nonprofits and our work, sometimes for troubling reasons. ... Read more
Four Steps to Take Board Members from
Fear of Fundraising to Enthusiasm
Help your board members understand: it's not fundraising, it's friend raising.
If you want to get your board members fully active in fundraising, you need to approach them from a new perspective. You have to change their mind-set about fundraising and redefine it from an entirely new point of view. Board members don't understand how powerful the act of raising money can be—it's an effort to make the world a better place. ...
Read more
Recruiting 2.0:
Using On-line Social Networking to Attract Top Talent
Harness the power of the Web to expand your candidate pool.
In the nonprofit sector, an estimated 60 percent of open positions are filled through referrals and networking. For this reason, nonprofit organizations benefit from building wide professional networks. Thanks to the proliferation of social networking Web sites, nonprofits can go on-line to grow their networks, promote their "employer brand," and connect with prospective employees. ... Read more
Using Your Web Site to Support Strategic Goals
Make sure your Web site truly supports your organization's goals.
Every nonprofit organization has goals, and these goals can change over time. Some organizations set out to raise money for research and then begin to provide education. Some set out simply to educate but then move toward advocacy. And still others serve to meet the ever-changing needs of their members. As new goals get added and old ones go by the wayside, nonprofits need to adjust their communications and fundraising efforts accordingly. ... Read more
New Survey Looks at Tomorrow's Nonprofit Leaders
Working in the nonprofit sector appeals to Generations X and Y, but they're concerned about several issues.
When the Baby Boomers begin to retire en masse from the nonprofit sector, will the next generation be ready to replace them? And more important, will they be willing? These crucial questions are addressed in a new survey, Ready to Lead, conducted by the Meyer Foundation in cooperation with CompassPoint, the Anne E. Casey Foundation, and Idealist.org. ... Read more
Keep Out of Politics:
The IRS Political Activities Compliance Initiative
Don't take chances—learn the rules.
With the 2008 presidential campaign season officially upon us, some nonprofits and their employees could soon find themselves faced with gray areas regarding the types of political activities they may or may not be permitted to become involved with. The issue is a serious one: engaging in prohibited political activity can result in excise taxes or even loss of tax-exempt status. ... Read more
GuideStar on the Road
GuideStar staff will be at the following event this month. Click here to learn more: GuideStar events calendar.
- June 5: 2008 IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Conference, Miami, Fla.
- June 11: Indiana CPA Society Not-for-Profit Conference, Indianapolis, Ind.
- June 17-19: GuideStar DonorEdge Community Leadership Conference,
Kansas City, Mo.
In This Issue
Four Steps to Take Board Members from Fear of Fundraising to Enthusiasm
Recruiting 2.0: Using On-line Social Networking to Attract Top Talent
Using Your Web Site to Support Strategic Goals
New Survey Looks at Tomorrow's Nonprofit Leaders
Keep Out of Politics: The IRS Political Activities Compliance Initiative
