A better way to manage donor relationships
In many ways, customer relationship management (CRM) software has revolutionized how for-profit businesses interact with their customers. Widespread adoption has generally led to better customer satisfaction rates, greater brand loyalty and higher company revenues. Although it’s not as well known, a similar tool — donor relationship management (DRM) software — is available to not-for-profit organizations. […]
Don’t Leave Money on the Table: How to Maximize Matching Gift Donations
Over 26 million Americans work for companies that match at least part of employees’ charitable donations. Software company Double the Donation has found that this includes at least 65% of Fortune 500 companies. Of those employers, 91% match donations at a 1:1 ratio. Not surprisingly, workers consistently report they’re more likely to make charitable contributions — and […]
Make recruiting volunteers a community affair
For many people, autumn is a time to start fresh. Kids are back in school and adults may have more time to pursue new hobbies and interests before the rush of the holiday season. So if your nonprofit could use some helping hands, now’s a good time to recruit volunteers from your community. Consider these […]
Make Your Board Retreat Count: Pick a Strategic Topic
If you’re organizing a nonprofit board retreat, you’ll probably want board members to make the most of their time together. One of the best ways to do this is to choose a theme or central topic of discussion. Although board members may be tempted to talk about the latest events or challenges (and there likely […]
Grant proposals in the age of AI
With fewer federal grants available to not-for-profit organizations, the competition to qualify for funding — from all sources, including foundations — has become more intense. Now, more than ever, your nonprofit needs to submit sharp, clear, and attention-getting grant proposals to potential funders. Many organizations are enlisting AI tools to generate proposals. However, it remains […]
How to keep cost-cutting from increasing fraud risk
In the process of slashing expenses? Just be careful not to cut essential items, such as sufficient staffing to maintain strong internal controls, from your not-for-profit’s budget. Internal controls are critical for preventing occupational theft. Cybersecurity is something else your organization can’t afford to do without. The good news is fraud prevention measures don’t have […]
4 ways to prevent common accounting errors
Establishing strong financial practices from the start sets your nonprofit up for long-term success. Whether you’re handling accounting internally or working with professionals, focusing on these four key areas will help ensure accuracy and compliance: 1. Document detailed procedures. Even the smallest nonprofit should establish formal, documented, and detailed procedures for managing accounting tasks. Your […]
6 ways to make your nonprofit’s board meetings more productive
If your not-for-profit’s board members frequently miss meetings, show little enthusiasm for their roles or resign before their terms are up, board meetings may be to blame. Perhaps they run too long and rarely end in actionable decisions. Or maybe one member dominates every discussion or bullies other members. Any of these reasons can make […]
Your nonprofit has lost an executive. Now what?
A fictional nonprofit lost its executive director (ED) unexpectedly. The charity had a basic contingency plan, but the document didn’t name an actual successor for the ED position. Fortunately, the plan outlined procedures for finding a new leader, and the already-assembled search team was able to interview several candidates and hire a qualified individual within […]
Are your nonprofit board meetings as focused as they could be?
According to nonprofit BoardSource, not-for-profit boards that meet monthly should be able to cover all business in one to two hours. If your meetings last longer, they may lack planning and focus. This can ultimately harm your organization as busy board members lose confidence in your leadership — and even quit. Here’s how to hold […]