From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
Hasn't this been a fantastic primary election season? I had my doubts—and I still have some reservations—about this long-drawn-out affair. Between states jostling for position with early primaries, oversaturated media coverage, and a seemingly endless series of debates, a certain degree of voter fatigue would be understandable. But the energy, enthusiasm, and participation, particularly from young voters, have been intoxicating. This is turning out to be the best and most exciting primary election in my lifetime.
It is incumbent upon anyone with an interest in the nonprofit sector to consider the potential outcomes from a philanthropic perspective before making a decision on which candidate to back. Before I go any further, I'd like to take this moment to offer a friendly reminder:
501(c)(3) organizations cannot—under any circumstances—either endorse or oppose any political candidate. ... Read more
Voluntourism: Making It Work for Your Organization
When you hear about people using their vacations to help teach English in China or care for abandoned babies in Romania, do you think: "Wow. I wish we could get vacationers to volunteer for our organization"? Maybe you can.
A growing trend is taking hold in the travel industry: "voluntourism." In a combination of vacationing and volunteering, some Americans are foregoing time-shares and are instead sharing their time with people in need. In fact, surveys conducted by Travelocity, Orbitz, and the Travel Industry Association show that the number of groups offering these volunteer vacations has doubled over the past three years. The demographics of "voluntourists" vary widely: young, old, singles, families, and even honeymooners are taking advantage of this win-win situation. ... Read more
Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards
Having trouble getting your board members to pitch in with fundraising? See if you're committing one or more of these errors.
Too often nonprofit board members shy away from fundraising. When the subject comes up, many trustees suddenly become invisible or silent. Yet it is our responsibility to set up board members in active, satisfying roles that can support the fundraising process. But we frequently make mistakes that hurt, rather than help, our cause. ... Read more
Deadly Offenses
And, while we're on the subject of boards, here are some worst practices to avoid when you serve on one.
With some organizations, if you want to kill an idea, get the board to discuss it. They don't know what they want—and won't be happy until they get it. I've been a consultant to philanthropy for 40 years. In that time, I've attended hundreds and hundreds of board meetings—;perhaps a thousand (surely a sufficient number to earn me a place in heaven on the right hand of the saints and martyrs!). Time and time again, I've heard the same seven deadly statements that can kill an idea: ... Read more
Follow the Events Path to Major Gifts
That special event your organization is holding could pay off in more than ticket sales or silent auction proceeds—it could net you some major donors.
Events are a common fundraising tactic among nonprofits. Dinners, galas, runs, walks, and auctions are all variations of the ever-promising, always-delivering event fundraiser. Events encourage constituents to act in favor of the organization and provide a means for nonprofits to cultivate the relationship. But events have much more to offer. They can be a mechanism to discover major gift donors. Events often create a donor's first impression of an organization. They can be the beginning of a long-term relationship, or they can be the end. ... Read more
IRS Updates, March 2008
From the debut of Form 990-N to workshops for charitable organizations, a lot is happening at the IRS.
The Exempt Organizations Division of the Internal Revenue Service was busy in February. It posted information on governance and related topics for 501(c)(3) organizations; announced that registration is open for one-day workshops for small and mid-sized 501(c)(3) organizations; released Form 990-N; posted a database of Form 990-N information; and released fact sheets on the complaint, examination, and compliance processes. Read on for details. ... Read more
Everyone's a Winner on the GuideStar Exchange
In case you missed the announcement on our site, here are the results of the GuideStar Exchange Giveaway.
The GuideStar Exchange Giveaway came to a close January 31, and on February 4, 10 organizations were randomly selected to share the $10,000 grand prize. Every organization that had been accepted as a member of the Exchange was automatically entered into the drawing. The Exchange is a new initiative at GuideStar, aimed at helping nonprofits share a greater scope of information on their goals and achievements with grantmakers and potential donors. ... Read more
GuideStar on the Road
GuideStar staff members will be at the following events this month. Click here to learn more: GuideStar events calendar.
- Mar. 13: Governance Matters, New York, N.Y.
- Mar. 19: Science Fair at the National Technology Conference, New Orleans, La.
- Mar. 28: 66th Annual Human Services Institute, Cleveland, Ohio
- Mar. 30-Apr. 1: AFP 45th International Conference on Fundraising, San Diego, Calif.
In This Issue
Voluntourism: Making It Work for Your Organization
Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards
Follow the Events Path to Major Gifts
Everyone's a Winner on the GuideStar Exchange
