From the President's Office
Dear Friend:
Nothing makes me madder than hearing about phony charities or those unscrupulous actors who take advantage of the nonprofit sector for personal gain. They hurt all of the hard-working nonprofits doing amazing good work and lessen the public's—including well-meaning donors'—confidence in the entire sector. But it's not always easy to determine what is a legitimate charity. With more than 1.5 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States and the number growing at nearly 5 percent a year, there's a lot to research and consider.
In an effort to streamline this important responsibility, GuideStar created Charity Check, an on-line service that enables grantmakers to perform their due diligence quickly and efficiently by providing instant access to different kinds of IRS data in a single report. Due diligence—determining whether a nonprofit qualifies to receive a grant or contribution—has always been an essential part of grantmaking. Like all donors, grantmakers want to ensure that their organizations' funds are going to nonprofits that will make good use of them. Grantors also must ensure that recipients qualify to receive grants under the law and according to each grantor's guidelines.
Last summer, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 added a new wrinkle to grantmaking due diligence. ... Read more
IRS Updates, May 2007
Next year, many nonprofits that don't file a 990 will need to start filing an
"e-Postcard," and in 2010, organizations that have neglected to file their annual returns or e-Postcards will start losing their exemptions.
The IRS has announced the next round of changes required by the Pension Protection Act of 2006: smaller nonprofits will be required to file Form 990-N starting in 2008, and organizations that fail to file Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-N for three consecutive years will lose their tax exemptions.
Starting next year, an organization that does not file IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ because its income is $25,000 or less will have to file Form 990-N, the "Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations Not Required to File Form 990 or 990-EZ." ... Read more
Developing a Search Strategy: Your Roadmap for Hiring
Gulp! You have a vacancy to fill. What all will you need to do? What should you do first? The answer to the last question is easy: read this article.
Navigating the hiring process can be daunting for even the most seasoned managers, particularly if hiring is not their primary responsibility. When faced with an open position, most managers want to hire as quickly as possible and therefore may try to shortcut the process. We have found, time and again, that the organizations that lead the most effective searches have a clearly defined and strategic process outlined before they even post the position. ... Read more
Volunteers, Part II: Why Do They Leave?
Find out what causes volunteers to head for greener pastures.
Last month, we examined factors that motivate volunteers, the things that keep them coming back to their volunteer stints. This month, we look at the factors that cause them to leave.
A dingy or poorly arranged office/workplace, inadequate supervision or leadership quality, and nonexistent or ineffective communication can all make a volunteer head for the door, never to return. Fortunately, these environmental factors are all under a nonprofit's direct control. ... Read more
Keeping Everyone in Your Organization on Brand Message
A messaging package can help you and your colleagues stay on point.
Question: How can we do a better job of keeping everyone in our organization on brand message?
Answer: It doesn't matter how good the choir is. If everyone is singing from different song sheets—it's just noise! The same holds true for an organization's brand. If everyone is sending out different messages, it confuses the audiences you are trying to reach. One of the best ways to keep everyone on message is to create a "messaging package." ...
Read more
Wired Fundraising: April Question of the Month Results
Many Newsletter readers report that their organizations have benefited from
e-philanthropy.
"Charity begins at home, but should not end there." (Proverb)
If the wise and venerable author of this proverb were alive today, he or she would most certainly add in parentheses, "especially if that home has an Internet connection." Thanks to today's technology, charity can be directed from the comfort of one's home to causes anywhere in the world. ... Read more
GuideStar on the Road
GuideStar staff members will be at the following events this month.
Click here to learn more.
- May 3: Rollins College Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center, Orlando, Fla.
- May 6-8: Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, Williamsburg, Va.
In This Issue
Developing a Search Strategy: Your Roadmap for Hiring
Volunteers, Part II: Why Do They Leave?
Keeping Everyone in Your Organization on Brand Message
Wired Fundraising: April Question of the Month Results
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