Latest Articles and Resources
- Bylaws - How to Write Bylaws - Learn About BylawsUpdated: Thu Jul 3 14:29:37 2008
A legal document outlining the self-imposed rules that will regulate an organization's own actions… - D.B.A. - Doing Business As - Definition of D.B.A.Updated: Thu Jul 3 14:25:56 2008
D.B.A. (Doing Business As): An alternative name or trade name used by a business. … - Learn About Bequests - What Is a Bequest - More About BequestsUpdated: Thu Jul 3 14:17:22 2008
There are several forms of bequests… - Low Cost Legal Advice - How to Find Low Cost Legal Advice - Learn Ab…Updated: Thu Jul 3 14:09:35 2008
Sometimes good legal advice is crucial to starting your nonprofit organization… - Tax Number - EIN - What Is an EIN? - All About EINUpdated: Thu Jul 3 14:05:03 2008
Does having a tax id number make you a nonprofit? … - Nonprofit Business Plan - Learn About Business Plans for Nonprofit -…Updated: Thu Jul 3 14:01:54 2008
Nonprofits have a lot in common with a business and managers of both must understand and follow a lot of the same practices. One of those is to have a business plan… - Contracts for Nonprofits - When Should a Nonprofit Use a Contract?Created: Thu Jul 3 13:58:43 2008
I am so confused about contracts and agreements. I want to help people, not worry about legalese. Are there some guidelines for what to do when?… - Sarbanes-Oxley Act - Learn About the Sarbanes-Oxley Act - What Is th…Updated: Tue Jul 1 23:16:41 2008
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted to govern publicly-held companies, provides a blueprint for nonprofits that want to ensure financial responsibility and transparency… - The American Red CrossUpdated: Tue Jul 1 23:11:06 2008
The American Red Cross is an American tradition, and deeply engraved in our national memory. We give to it generously; and it responds with aid and relief during our worst disasters… - Learn About Word-of-Mouth Marketing - How to Do Word-of-Mouth Market…Updated: Tue Jul 1 23:06:33 2008
Word-of-mouth marketing is so old that we take it for granted. But, it deserves another look and some targeted attention… - Nonprofit Puts Baby Boomers Into Public Service - ReServe Helps Nonp…Updated: Tue Jul 1 23:03:06 2008
ReServe, an award-winning nonprofit organization in New York City, has an answer for nonprofits looking for help and baby boomers and seniors looking for meaningful work… - Top 10 Tips for Setting Up a Family Volunteer ProgramUpdated: Tue Jul 1 23:01:36 2008
Family Volunteer programs are more than a trend these days. Busy families welcome the opportunity to do something together. Setting up a family volunteer program could be a great plus for your orga… - Things You Need to Know About Form 990Updated: Tue Jul 1 22:57:26 2008
The 990 allows the IRS and the public to evaluate nonprofits and how they operate. Since nonprofits are not required to file annual reports or even to have financial audits by independent accounta… - Eight Tips for Jumping Ship: For-Profit to Nonprofit CareerUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:55:21 2008
There is plenty of opportunity for corporate employees to move into the nonprofit world if they are drawn to work that is mission-driven. But it takes more than a fuzzy dream… - Top 8 Tips for Working With Baby Boomer VolunteersUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:44:53 2008
Baby boomer volunteers are not their parents and working with them will be different. Here are some tips on recruiting and managing them… - Top 7 Tips for Getting Your Dream Nonprofit JobUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:40:45 2008
The nonprofit world has been creating more jobs in the last few years than other sectors of the economy. Here are some tips to help you in your nonprofit job search… - 12 Tips for Nonprofits On Getting Started With Social MediaUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:39:42 2008
Social sites are about relationship building and it is harder than it looks. Many nonprofits are struggling to get their social site networks to actually pay off. But all nonprofits need to be inve… - Make Giving to Charity a Family Affair at the HolidaysUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:34:30 2008
Giving to charity at the holidays can be fulfilling, but where to start? Children, especially, love to visualize what their contribution will actually do. Heck, so do adults, so we've focused on ch… - Top 10 Tips for Online FundraisingUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:32:26 2008
Everyone is excited about online fundraising. It isn't easy but it can be effective and cost effective when done right… - Top 10 Tips for Local Media RelationsUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:28:16 2008
Whether your nonprofit is in a large city or a small town, reaching your local media is essential to your public relations program. Here are tips for becoming a favorite source for your local repor… - Top 6 Websites for Free Donor ResearchUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:22:04 2008
You may not be able to hire a donor prospect researcher to prepare detailed information about your donor prospects, but you can start pulling together some basic information just with some time and… - Top 6 Tips for Protecting Your Donor DataUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:13:46 2008
Protecting your online donor data from abuse is not always about technology. Of course, you should have the best security solutions in play, but there are other considerations that can undermine th… - Top 6 Tips for Effective EmailsUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:09:35 2008
There are a lot of issues around email communication, but the fact is that electronic-based communication is here to stay. So, whether you use email for fundraising or communicating with your volun… - Managing Nonprofit - Consulting for NonprofitUpdated: Tue Jul 1 22:04:53 2008
Consulting and managing are more similar than you might think. Taking a consulting viewpoint as a manager might provide some needed distance from the everyday hassles of managing and allow you to f… - Starting a Nonprofit Corporation - Nonprofit Corporation - How to St…Updated: Tue Jul 1 21:58:06 2008
The most frequently asked question of visitors to our site is "I want to start a nonprofit...Where do I start?" Here is a book that will guide you through that crucial first step of incor… - Learn About Branding a Nonprofit - How to Brand a Nonprofit - Steps …Updated: Tue Jul 1 21:53:15 2008
Branding your nonprofit is not marketing and advertising (although both of those activities will help your brand). Branding is about selling everything associated with your organization. … - How to Write a Donor Newsletter - All About Donor Newsletters - Lear…Updated: Mon Jun 30 16:24:39 2008
Research has shown that donors like to receive newsletters...the problem is that they are not always read. Author Ahern says this is because so many newsletters are simply not interesting… - How to Get Sponsors - How to Succeed With Sponorships - Learn About …Updated: Mon Jun 30 16:21:24 2008
Every year, corporations spend millions of dollars on cause-related marketing and event sponsorships. Unfortunately, many nonprofits don't have a clue about how to approach a potential sponsor… - Nonprofit Job Hunting - How to Do Nonprofit Job Hunting - More About…Updated: Mon Jun 30 16:14:43 2008
Breaking into nonprofit work is not a slam dunk by any means. But, a new book, Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector:Shifting Your Focus from the Bottom Line to a Better World by Laura Gassner Otti… - Nonprofit Planning and Self-Assessment - Learn About Nonprofit Plann…Updated: Mon Jun 30 16:07:33 2008
Peters Drucker's self-assessment model is so flexible that it can be used anywhere, from the corporate boardroom to the smallest of nonprofits… - Cause Marketing and Baby Boomer Women - Learn How to Appeal to Baby …Updated: Mon Jun 30 15:54:02 2008
Although Barletta's book is aimed at business, nonprofit marketers should pay attention as well. Older women represent a large vein of social responsibility that nonprofits and businesses can mine… - Writing a Fundraising News Release - Learn About News Releases for F…Updated: Mon Jun 30 15:44:52 2008
Your news release must include all the information needed to persuade the editor to inquire about doing a feature story. You are not writing the story for the media. Your news release needs to cont… - Are You a Social Entrepreneur - Spotting Social Entrepreneurs - Char…Updated: Sat Jun 28 22:55:25 2008
David Boorstein, in his book, "How to Change the World," provides many clues to identifying or becoming an organization that is entrepreneurial, and the qualities that characterize people… - Donor-Advised Funds - What Is a Donor-Advised Fund?Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:57:46 2008
Donor-advised funds are charitable giving accounts offered by a sponsoring charity that are designed as an accessible, simple, and less expensive alternative to private foundations… - How to Engage Youth Volunteers - Ways to Attract Youth Volunteers - …Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:47:05 2008
How do you use young volunteers? One nonprofit involves them in a youth media agency to fill the communitys need for social marketing while providing the teenagers with a positive experience … - Data On US Giving for 2004 - Learn About US Giving for 2004 - Facts …Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:44:03 2008
Giving USA provides an annual report on charitable giving. Here are key points from the 2005 report which covers 2004… - Giving Circles - Learn About Giving Circles - How to Set Up a Giving…Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:41:39 2008
Giving circles are rapidly becoming a popular way for individuals to channel and amplify their philanthropic impulses… - How to Retain Baby Boomer Volunteers - Learn How to Retain Baby Boo…Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:37:36 2008
Baby Boomers are too valuable to pass up. But recruiting them as volunteers and retaining them may be a bit more complicated than we at first thought. It is clear, however, that smart analysis and… - Create a Preuthorized Gift Program - How to Create a Preauthorized G…Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:34:31 2008
Would you like to reduce your fundraising costs, increase the lifetime value of your donors, while making it as easy as possible for your donors to give on a regular basis? It may seem too good to … - Top 6 Must-Have Publications for NonprofitsUpdated: Sat Jun 28 18:29:21 2008
These publications are the most widely consulted in the nonprofit sector. They are must-have's for anyone working in a nonprofit… - Ten Resources That Will Help Your Nonprofit Use Social MediaUpdated: Sat Jun 28 18:12:44 2008
Social media (or Web 2.0) is everywhere these days, but it is not easy to get your arms around. For those of us not born to the Internet, here are some resources that help explain social media and … - Celebrities for PSAs - Paying Celebrities for PSAs - Public Service …Updated: Sat Jun 28 18:06:39 2008
Two unions govern performers: SAG and AFTRA… - Social Media for Nonprofits - How to Use Social Media In Nonprofits …Updated: Sat Jun 28 17:50:29 2008
So, what are social media? The characteristic that most applies to social media is the ability to "upload." That is, individuals (formerly the audience) are now providing content by up… - Nonprofit Postage Rates - How to Apply For Nonprofit Postage Rates -…Updated: Sat Jun 28 17:42:48 2008
A perk of nonprofit status is nonprofit postage rates. Here is how you can apply for this privilege… - Nonprofit Leadership - Lessons In Nonprofit LeadershipUpdated: Sat Jun 28 15:36:50 2008
I contend that a truly good nonprofit leader not only maps out a course for him or herself, but knows how to chart a course for those he or she seeks to lead. … - Donor Guide to International Emergencies - How to Donate to Internat…Updated: Sat Jun 28 15:23:57 2008
The Middle East is the hot spot right now, but there are more than enough emergencies around the world today. We all want to help but are sometimes confused about how… - How to Work with Young High Net Worth Donors - Attracting High Net W…Updated: Sat Jun 28 15:17:30 2008
The demographic profile of high net worth (HNW) donors has changed rather dramatically in recent years. First, there are more of them, and second, they are younger… - How to Write Winning Grants - Learn About Grant Writing - Writing Gr…Updated: Sat Jun 28 15:14:29 2008
Journalists know that an effective article tells the reader who, what, where, when, why, and how. Well-written, interesting grant proposals should do the same for their readers and, in the process,… - Social Media and Nonprofits - How Can Nonprofits Use Social Media? -…Updated: Sat Jun 28 14:59:48 2008
A good question that is floating around among nonprofit professionals is "How can nonprofits use social media?" I'm not sure what the answer is and probably few people so far really… - Social Marketing - How to Do Social Marketing - Learn About Social M…Updated: Sat Jun 28 14:56:03 2008
Social marketing is a lot about regular marketing except that you are trying to promote behavioral change such as cessation of smoking or safe sex. … - Product Fundraising - Learn About Product Fundraising - How to Find…Updated: Sat Jun 28 14:34:53 2008
Here are frequently asked questions about product fundraising and how to find fund raising products… - Green Printing - Become Eco-Friendly With Green Printing - Use Green…Updated: Sat Jun 28 14:26:04 2008
Do you automatically rule out green, or environmentally-friendly, printing for your nonprofit because you think it is too expensive?Read on, and learn how you, too, can make green printing as affor… - Nonprofit Incorporation - How to Incorporate a Nonprofit - Learn Abo…Updated: Sat Jun 28 14:21:58 2008
Incorporation is the first step toward becoming a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Here are the steps you will have to take to achieve nonprofit incorporation. … - Optimizing Your E-Philanthropy - More About E-Philanthropy - How to …Updated: Fri Jun 27 19:31:02 2008
Today, almost every nonprofit has basic online marketing capabilities such as a Web site as well as the ability to take donations and send email. But, are those nonprofits making the most of their … - How to Market Your Planned Giving Program - Marketing a Planned Givi…Updated: Fri Jun 27 19:23:43 2008
Planned giving is not just about setting up the many planned gift vehicles. It is also about marketing your program to donors and prospective donors… - Annual Report - Writing an Annual Report - How to Write a Nonprofit …Updated: Fri Jun 27 18:13:31 2008
Annual reports can help you demonstrate your accomplishments to current and future donors, cultivate new partnerships, and recognize important people. … - Donor Disclosures - What Are Donor Disclosures - Learn About Donor …Updated: Fri Jun 27 18:04:20 2008
501(c)(3) nonprofits must abide by many IRS rules in exchange for their considerable tax advantages. The most common rules have to do with donor disclosures. … - How Nonprofits Can Recruit Older Workers - Learn Why Nonprofits Shou…Updated: Fri Jun 27 18:00:25 2008
Nonprofits could avoid a predicted labor shortage by learning how to attract older workers who might be able to fill the expected shortfall… - Fundraising Fundamentals - Learn About Fundraising - Fundraising Bas…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:55:19 2008
Fundraising is the life blood of any nonprofit organization. But, where do you start? Here is a briefing on the major methods of fundraising and sources of those donor dollars… - IRS Classifications for Nonprofits - Nonprofit Classifications - How…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:50:45 2008
The IRS has several classifications under which you can register your nonprofit organization. Determining which category to use is an important part of applying to the IRS… - Flexible Volunteering - How to Do Flexible Volunteering - Learn Abou…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:45:12 2008
Do you frequently have 15 minutes or so to spare? Do you sometimes have a free hour or two on the weekends? Would you like to make a positive impact on the environment? Then get ready to be a flexi… - Volunteer Recruitment - How to Recruit Volunteers - Learn How to Rec…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:39:51 2008
There are numerous methods you can use to recruit volunteers. However, not all of them will be appropriate for your organization or your specific needs… - Design a Website for Your Mature Donors & Volunteers - Learn How to …Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:35:42 2008
Your donors and volunteers are aging. Learn how to design a website that will keep those mature readers coming back… - Volunteering Increasing--More People Volunteering - Volunteering Amo…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:27:32 2008
Despite the busy lifestyles of most Americans, they are volunteering at a greater rate than just a few years ago. That is good news for nonprofit organizations who need the people-power… - Volunteering and Women - Women Volunteers - Learn About Women Volunt…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:25:55 2008
Women learn many business skills as volunteers that translate into career success. … - Baby Boomers Targeted as Volunteers - Baby Boomer Volunteers - All A…Updated: Fri Jun 27 17:16:55 2008
Baby Boomers are 77 million strong and present a tremendous opportunity for social engagement. A major campaign is being waged to recruit them. Learn facts about baby boomers and read tips on how t… - Trends in Philanthropy for 2008 - Giving Sets New HighUpdated: Thu Jun 26 00:42:09 2008
For the first time charitable giving in 2007 broke through the $300 billion mark, with a total of $306.39 billion contributed by individuals, foundations, and corporations… - Non-ProfitUpdated: Wed Jun 25 12:04:17 2008
Non-Profit organizations are a crucial part of our society, providing help to the needy, education for a lifetime, funds for good causes, and social services from crisis relief to elder care. Find… - Elinor Gale - Articles by Elinor GaleCreated: Tue Jun 24 12:42:22 2008
Elinor Gale is a freelance writer who specializes in the mature market and nonprofits… - Story-Telling for the Nonprofit - How Stories Can Make Your Message …Updated: Mon Jun 23 13:24:37 2008
We all know that story-telling is crucial to getting our nonprofit messages across to the public and supporters. In Mobilizing Generation 2.0: A Practical Guide to Using Web 2.0, contributor Jonah … - How to Keep Your Nonprofit Ethical - Protecting Your Nonprofit's Bra…Updated: Thu Jun 19 11:43:11 2008
A brand is nothing less than your DNA; its a true reflection of how healthy, or unhealthy, your organization is from top to bottomincluding its ethical behavior… - How to Make Your Nonprofit Auction More Effective - More About Nonpr…Updated: Thu Jun 19 01:07:30 2008
Respondents had a variety of thoughts in what they will do differently next year. Over 60% said they would start the process of getting items earlier. Greater use of online was cited by 39% of resp… - Making the Most of Special Events - Successful Special Events - How …Updated: Tue Jun 10 00:27:19 2008
Special events are not a way to raise a lot of money immediately, but they can be a part of your strategic plan to cultivate future donations, and to boost your profile in the community… - Volunteering Abroad - Paying for Volunteering AbroadUpdated: Tue Jun 10 00:17:08 2008
Many of us, when we first think about volunteering, think that it should be enough that we give our time. Why should we pay for the privilege of volunteering? The truth is that it is commonplace to… - How to Choose an NPO Graduate Degree Program- All About NPO Graduate…Updated: Mon Jun 9 23:54:28 2008
Whether youre looking for a career boost or an opportunity to break into the nonprofit world, a masters degree focused on the public sector can help you get there. … - Top 5 Reasons to Work at a NonprofitUpdated: Mon Jun 9 23:46:27 2008
It is more appealing than ever to work for a nonprofit organization. Find out why and cool reasons to go there first… - Donor-Advised Funds - What Are Donor-Advised Funds?Created: Mon Jun 9 20:34:32 2008
Donor-advised funds are charitable giving accounts offered by a sponsoring charity that are designed as an accessible, simple, and less expensive alternative to private foundations… - Giving Internationally Through a Charitable Gift Account - Giving In…Updated: Mon Jun 9 20:33:53 2008
A charitable gift account is set up through a national charitable fund (often called a donor-advised fund). It is a way anyone who can contribute $5,000 or more to help support worthy charities in … - Best Environmental NonprofitsUpdated: Sun Jun 8 16:45:06 2008
It is not easy to choose among the hundreds of nonprofits today that are working on environmental issues ranging from global warming to animal protection to biological diversity. Where should you p… - 10 Ways for Nonprofits to Cut CostsUpdated: Fri Jun 6 22:23:56 2008
Cost-cutting may be as important in hard times as increasing revenues. Here are ten easy ways for nonprofits to save money… - Top 5 Tips for Effective Nonprofit Crisis PlanningUpdated: Fri Jun 6 15:40:47 2008
Crisis management is key to the success of nonprofit organizations. Don't delay your crisis planning. Don't ruin your hard-won reputation by handling difficult situations badly… - How to Lose Your Tax-Exempt Status - How Not to Lose Your Tax-Exempt…Updated: Fri Jun 6 02:31:00 2008
It is wonderful that you have jumped through all the hoops to become a tax-exempt, charitable organization. But now you must be careful that your actions don't draw attention from the IRS or cause … - Safe Charitable Giving - Learn How to Make Your Charitable Giving Sa…Updated: Fri Jun 6 02:26:30 2008
The most frequent questions we get about charitable organizations are, "How do I know if an organization is legitimate?" and "How do I report a possible fraudulent nonprofit?"… - How Much Do Young Donors Give? - Know Your Young DonorsCreated: Fri Jun 6 01:47:57 2008
Members of the Millennial generation are more likely than any other generation to cite the "desire to make the world a better place to live" as a key motivator for their philanthropic giv… - Social Entrepreneur Tackles Online Generation Gap - Case Study of a …Updated: Thu Jun 5 22:56:14 2008
If Tobey Gordon Dichter is not a social entrepreneur, I don't know who would be. She exhibits the innovative thinking that allowed her to first grasp a societal problem and then to develop a solut… - Attract More Donors by Improving Your Trustworthiness ScoreUpdated: Thu Jun 5 20:45:18 2008
It's true. Many donors do not trust many nonprofits. How can you avoid being on the list of distrusted nonprofits? Here are some tips for a trustworthy future:… - Five Policy Changes to Help NonprofitsUpdated: Wed Jun 4 19:28:45 2008
The Aspen Institute recently published a report that made some very smart suggestions for bolstering the nonprofit sector. Here is a brief explanation of our favorite five of the Institute's ten su… - When Can I Start Accepting Donations? - Can I Solicit Donations Whil…Created: Wed Jun 4 15:36:49 2008
Naturally, a start-up nonprofit is anxious to start raising money. But, it is best to wait until all the details are wrapped up…
