It goes without saying that cultivating donors is a major task for any nonprofit organization. To find these individuals, most nonprofits undergo a process known as prospect research. What is prospect research, you ask? It is is a process in which a researcher will identify relevant information about potential donors, which will be used to develop a solicitation profile of an individual. Prospect research is most often utilized to find donors who have the potential to provide major gifts. However, the process is used to find donors at all levels and for all fundraising channels. This is done by evaluating a prospect’s ability to give and the person’s affinity for the nonprofit. It's a complicated task but hey, somebody has to do it.
The NonProfit Times has a number of articles on this topic, so you can head you our prospect research page to find out more about how it can help your organization.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
All About Donor Management Software
One of the most important responsibilities for a nonprofit is keeping track of its donors. With the use of donor management software, this has become easier than ever. Here's a quick definition for the uninitiated:
Donor management software is technology that allows nonprofits to cultivate donors and donations on their computers. This affordable fundraising software, made specifically for nonprofits, organizes all your donor information in one database, making it easy to stay close to your best supporters, track gifts, send thank you notes, produce fundraising appeals and track campaign effectiveness. Overall, this technology is designed to be a one-stop-shop that lets nonprofits and charities to manage their fundraising efforts online.The NonProfit Times organizes all of its articles by categories, and one of these is donor management software. Have you been wanting to learn more about this technology, or have you been wondering how it can help your nonprofit? Head on over to our "Search Articles" page to read more about it, as well as the others topics we have posted.
The NonProfit Times Remembers 9/11
This coming September 11th will be the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. To commemorate this event, the just released September 1st issue of The NonProfit Times contains 9/11-related articles. Here is what you can expect to find in the latest issue:
Articles:
Articles:
- "Sites Rush To Complete September 11 Memorials"-As the title suggests, this article focuses on the various 9/11 memorials that are being worked on, including the Flight 93 National Memorial.
- "Toll Of War On Terror Taken On Military"-The September 11th attacks spured our nation to war in Afghanistan, and then into Iraq. This article tells the story of how veterans of these wars are coping as the 10th anniversary of tha attacks approach.
- "Outpouring Of 9/11 Financial Support Slowed In A Few Months"-Although giving surged in the days and weeks after the attacks, this trend did not last for long.
- "Bounced"-Our editor-in-chief, Paul Clolery, wonders why 9/11 first responders were not invited to Ground Zero this year.
- "Safety Blueprint"-Melanie Lockwood Herman, executive director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, gives tips on how to increase safety at your workplace.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Retro Article Of The Week: Hurricane Katrina And Nonprofits
Hurricane Irene caused havoc up and down the East coast over the weekend. It caused major flooding, power outages, and some loss of life, but we should consider ourselves lucky we didn't have another Katrina on our hands. That fateful storm struck 6 years ago, and we all know the damage and chaos it caused. The storm hit during what was supposed to be the Community Action Partnership's (CAP) annual convention, which was being held in New Orleans that year. In our October 1st, 2005 issue, we wrote about the impact Katrina had on conferences in New Orleans:
As Category 4 winds battered New Orleans approximately 300 people huddled in the confines of The New Orleans Marriott hotel just steps from the historic French Quarter. The accommodations were modest -- cots set up on the facility’s ballroom floor became a safe haven from the danger of flying glass shards from broken windows.
The tenor was a far cry from the buzzing activity of what was intended to be the Community Action Partnership’s (CAP) annual convention. Three of the CAP staff, one member of its board and some of its delegates were among those waiting out the storm.
“We were getting updates from the hotel staff and some people had the small, transistor-like radios,” recounted Brian Peterkin-Vertanesian, J.D., vice president for programs, and grants management, one of CAPs staff holed up at the Marriott.
“Things were mostly calm, although people did get a little more worried when we heard what was going on with the problems at the Superdome. You could tell that people were a little nervous but most were resigned to being there for a couple of days.”
New Orleans was a top convention city, with numerous charities and associations having to cancel or move their biggest revenue generator of the year.
Located near the Mississippi River, the area immediate to the Marriott was spared the deep flood water resulting from the broken levees on the 17th Street Canal in the western part of the city and the Industrial Canal on the east side.
Once the brunt of the storm had passed, Marriott allowed its guests to use the one functioning elevator to retrieve personal items from their rooms. When Peterkin-Vertanesian was able to look outside to assess the damage, he reported seeing blown out windows and flood water that had halted approximately a block away from the hotel.
During his time in the Marriott ballroom Peterkin-Vertanesian befriended a woman and her son, who worked at the Marriott. It was through that relationship that he was able to hop a 1 a.m. ride out of town after the storm had passed. Other than a strong police presence blocking off impassable roadways, Peterkin-Vertanesian described the departing trip as “not much of a problem.”
The magnitude of the disaster didn’t fully hit him until he arrived back in Washington, D.C. “I usually don’t tend to watch a tremendous amount of television coverage of these events -- with the tsunami and 9/11, I wasn’t tuned in 24/7 like a lot of people,” he explained. “But I took a few days off and watched it with my wife. I’ve been to New Orleans many times, I love jazz, and this was just totally devastating.”
You can read the rest of this article over on our website.
As Category 4 winds battered New Orleans approximately 300 people huddled in the confines of The New Orleans Marriott hotel just steps from the historic French Quarter. The accommodations were modest -- cots set up on the facility’s ballroom floor became a safe haven from the danger of flying glass shards from broken windows.
The tenor was a far cry from the buzzing activity of what was intended to be the Community Action Partnership’s (CAP) annual convention. Three of the CAP staff, one member of its board and some of its delegates were among those waiting out the storm.
“We were getting updates from the hotel staff and some people had the small, transistor-like radios,” recounted Brian Peterkin-Vertanesian, J.D., vice president for programs, and grants management, one of CAPs staff holed up at the Marriott.
“Things were mostly calm, although people did get a little more worried when we heard what was going on with the problems at the Superdome. You could tell that people were a little nervous but most were resigned to being there for a couple of days.”
New Orleans was a top convention city, with numerous charities and associations having to cancel or move their biggest revenue generator of the year.
Located near the Mississippi River, the area immediate to the Marriott was spared the deep flood water resulting from the broken levees on the 17th Street Canal in the western part of the city and the Industrial Canal on the east side.
Once the brunt of the storm had passed, Marriott allowed its guests to use the one functioning elevator to retrieve personal items from their rooms. When Peterkin-Vertanesian was able to look outside to assess the damage, he reported seeing blown out windows and flood water that had halted approximately a block away from the hotel.
During his time in the Marriott ballroom Peterkin-Vertanesian befriended a woman and her son, who worked at the Marriott. It was through that relationship that he was able to hop a 1 a.m. ride out of town after the storm had passed. Other than a strong police presence blocking off impassable roadways, Peterkin-Vertanesian described the departing trip as “not much of a problem.”
The magnitude of the disaster didn’t fully hit him until he arrived back in Washington, D.C. “I usually don’t tend to watch a tremendous amount of television coverage of these events -- with the tsunami and 9/11, I wasn’t tuned in 24/7 like a lot of people,” he explained. “But I took a few days off and watched it with my wife. I’ve been to New Orleans many times, I love jazz, and this was just totally devastating.”
You can read the rest of this article over on our website.
Arab American Philanthropy On The Rise
Philanthropy among Arab Americans is increasing, according to a report in New America Media; and The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) is a big part of that increase. The Dearborn, Mich.-based group, which is a project of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), is the first national giving program in the Arab American community. This doesn't mean that philanthropy is a foreign subject to this group, however. The article notes that charity is something that has long been stressed by the Arab culture. For example, there is an Islamic tradition known as Zakat, that requires followers to set aside a portion of their income for those in need.
Nonprofits like ACCESS, which was formed in 2005, have been very important for the Arab community in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. They have sought to fight the negative perception of Islam that some Americans had after the deadly attacks. Kate Casa, director of communications at ACCESS, says that many in her community were reluctant to participate in public philanthropy for fear of being accused of supporting extremist groups. To combat this fear, ACCESS has created a system of transparency.
To read the full article, including details on the organizations that received CAAP grants, head on over to New America Media.
Nonprofits like ACCESS, which was formed in 2005, have been very important for the Arab community in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. They have sought to fight the negative perception of Islam that some Americans had after the deadly attacks. Kate Casa, director of communications at ACCESS, says that many in her community were reluctant to participate in public philanthropy for fear of being accused of supporting extremist groups. To combat this fear, ACCESS has created a system of transparency.
To read the full article, including details on the organizations that received CAAP grants, head on over to New America Media.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Breaking News: CDR Fundraising Group Sold
The NonProfit Times has just learned that CDR Fundraising Group has been sold to direct marketing entrepreneur James Moore. Terms of the deal were not disclosed at this writing, though sources told NPT that CDR's net revenue was about $9 million.
Geoffrey W. Peters, president and CEO of CDR, will remain in that role, the company announced. Peters wrote the following in a memo to clients:
Geoffrey W. Peters, president and CEO of CDR, will remain in that role, the company announced. Peters wrote the following in a memo to clients:
"The company itself will continue to operate as usual -- with the same name, the same staff, the same values and in the same fashion as previously. I will remain president and CEO of CDR. We truly don't expect any changes in the way in which we operate, except that we may have some new opportunities to provide additional services to our clients that we could not offer before."Read more about the sale of CDR at the NPT website.
Monday, August 29, 2011
9/11 Widows Join Nonprofit For Families Of Fallen Soldiers
Those who lost loved ones on 9/11 might know about the pain of loss more than anyone. That's why it should be of no surprise that two of the board members of the newly created Massachusetts Military Heroes Funds are 9/11 widows. The Eveningtribune.com published a report on these two individuals, Christie Coombs and Cindy McGinty, and why they decided to join the organization, which is dedicated to providing support to families who have lost loved ones to war. The group relies on private donations, and also receives a percentage of revenue from the sale of United We Stand licence plates.
In the story, Coombs said she felt it was natural for her and other 9/11 families to be involved in this project, when the office of the late Senator Ted Kennedy approached her and other families to create the organization in 2009. Combs lost her husband Jeff, who was aboard the flight which crashed into the World Trade Center back on the fateful September day. She said her experience dealing with loss motivated her to do something good for other families. McGinty, the other 9/11 widow on the board, lost her husband Mike, who worked in the Twin Towers.
With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, it's good to read stories like this. We would also like to remind you that the September 1st issue of The NonProfit Times will feature a Special Report on the anniversary, so keep an eye out on our site for that. You can read the rest of the story on these two widows on Eveningtribune.com.
In the story, Coombs said she felt it was natural for her and other 9/11 families to be involved in this project, when the office of the late Senator Ted Kennedy approached her and other families to create the organization in 2009. Combs lost her husband Jeff, who was aboard the flight which crashed into the World Trade Center back on the fateful September day. She said her experience dealing with loss motivated her to do something good for other families. McGinty, the other 9/11 widow on the board, lost her husband Mike, who worked in the Twin Towers.
With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, it's good to read stories like this. We would also like to remind you that the September 1st issue of The NonProfit Times will feature a Special Report on the anniversary, so keep an eye out on our site for that. You can read the rest of the story on these two widows on Eveningtribune.com.
Management Tip: Timing Your Communications With Strategy
Did everyone stay safe during Hurricane Irene this weekend? We didn't get much damage here at the office, though it looks like there was some flooding.
Today's weekly nonprofit management tip deals with communications. Timing your organization's communications plans can be very tricky. How are you supposed to know how much correspondence is too much? This tip, bought to you by the good folks at Idealware, will answer this question for you:
Different communications tools work in different time frames. For example, it’s not practical to send out more than a few direct mail pieces during the course of a year, while email is more of a monthly or weekly communication stream.
Facebook or blogs are weekly, or a couple of times a week, but you can easily post to Twitter several times a day. Photo and video sites, on the other hand, are not particularly timing-specific. You could post weekly or more frequently, if you wanted to, but you could also simply post photos or videos when you have them.
According to the nonprofit technology experts at Idealware in Portland, Maine, depending on your campaign, you might want to choose a mix of channels that are relatively similar in timing, or one that uses channels with completely different time frames.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to encourage people to attend your conference in two months, channels with different timing could reinforce each other -- for example, you could send out an introductory direct mail, follow it up with several emails spaced out over that time period, create a blog focusing on all the great content and speakers, and use Twitter to try to get the word out to folks in the topic area (and potentially get some press), according to Idealware.
Remember, however, that the channels that allow you to post frequently generally come with the expectation that you will post frequently. It’s not enough to post to Twitter several times a day in the heat of a campaign, abandon it for months, and then pick it up again the next time you need it. That’s not how people use Twitter, and they may well stop following you. The same is true of Facebook or blogs. It’s important to establish a baseline frequency (close to what people would expect) and stick with it.
Want to read more tips like this? Head over to our Management Tips page.
Today's weekly nonprofit management tip deals with communications. Timing your organization's communications plans can be very tricky. How are you supposed to know how much correspondence is too much? This tip, bought to you by the good folks at Idealware, will answer this question for you:
Different communications tools work in different time frames. For example, it’s not practical to send out more than a few direct mail pieces during the course of a year, while email is more of a monthly or weekly communication stream.
Facebook or blogs are weekly, or a couple of times a week, but you can easily post to Twitter several times a day. Photo and video sites, on the other hand, are not particularly timing-specific. You could post weekly or more frequently, if you wanted to, but you could also simply post photos or videos when you have them.
According to the nonprofit technology experts at Idealware in Portland, Maine, depending on your campaign, you might want to choose a mix of channels that are relatively similar in timing, or one that uses channels with completely different time frames.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to encourage people to attend your conference in two months, channels with different timing could reinforce each other -- for example, you could send out an introductory direct mail, follow it up with several emails spaced out over that time period, create a blog focusing on all the great content and speakers, and use Twitter to try to get the word out to folks in the topic area (and potentially get some press), according to Idealware.
Remember, however, that the channels that allow you to post frequently generally come with the expectation that you will post frequently. It’s not enough to post to Twitter several times a day in the heat of a campaign, abandon it for months, and then pick it up again the next time you need it. That’s not how people use Twitter, and they may well stop following you. The same is true of Facebook or blogs. It’s important to establish a baseline frequency (close to what people would expect) and stick with it.
Want to read more tips like this? Head over to our Management Tips page.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Google Rejects Religious Nonprofits
The launch of Google for Nonprofits in March seemed like a boon for organizations. Qualifying nonprofits would be able to use many of their popular services--including its office programs and Gmail--for free or at discounted rates. The key here, however, is the word "qualifying." Google placed some restrictions on which nonprofits would be eligible for their new program and, according to a report in Christianity Today, religious nonprofits were one of the groups that got the axe.
Faith-based groups that already had access to Google's free resources will be "grandfathered in" according to the report, but the search engine giant has made it a policy not to give these resources to any new group that considers religion, politics, or sexual orientation in hiring decisions. This practice has created headaches for organizations like Living Hope Baptist Church. The Christianity Today article reported that the Kentucky-based organization had hoped to connect 50 paid staffers and 270 volunteers with customized Gmail and office software, among other things. Those plans now have to be nixed.
The report says that Google is evaluating future changes. Religious organizations will now have to wait and see if any of those include them. To read the full article, head on over to Christianity Today. You can also read more articles about faith-based organizations on The NonProfit Times.
Faith-based groups that already had access to Google's free resources will be "grandfathered in" according to the report, but the search engine giant has made it a policy not to give these resources to any new group that considers religion, politics, or sexual orientation in hiring decisions. This practice has created headaches for organizations like Living Hope Baptist Church. The Christianity Today article reported that the Kentucky-based organization had hoped to connect 50 paid staffers and 270 volunteers with customized Gmail and office software, among other things. Those plans now have to be nixed.
The report says that Google is evaluating future changes. Religious organizations will now have to wait and see if any of those include them. To read the full article, head on over to Christianity Today. You can also read more articles about faith-based organizations on The NonProfit Times.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
"Jewish Indiana Jones" Reined In
File this one under "bizarre but true." Menachem Youlus, a self-proclaimed "Jewish Indiana Jones" who co-founded a Jewish charity to rescue Torah scrolls, has been arrested according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Youlus will be prosecuted in New York City on charges of defrauding donors of hundreds thousands of dollars.
According to the charges against him, Youlus made up accounts that his charity, Save a Torah, found Torahs in Europe. These scrolls were said to have been lost or hidden during the Holocaust, and the charity claimed to have found some in concentration camps. Youlus used these stories to get money for Save a Torah, which raised $1.2 million between 2004 and 2010. To make matters worse for him, he is accused of embezzling $145,000 of those funds to the personal bank accounts of his Maryland business, the Jewish Book Store.
But wait, there's more! Youlus was also said to have claimed that Torahs he bought from dealers were rescued, using those claims to submit inflated and doctored invoices to his charity. This allowed him to be reimbursed at a far higher price than he actually paid for the scrolls. If convicted, Youlus will face up to 20 years in prison. No word as of yet if he claimed to have found the Holy Grail.
You can read the full article of this bizarre story in The Wall Street Journal.
According to the charges against him, Youlus made up accounts that his charity, Save a Torah, found Torahs in Europe. These scrolls were said to have been lost or hidden during the Holocaust, and the charity claimed to have found some in concentration camps. Youlus used these stories to get money for Save a Torah, which raised $1.2 million between 2004 and 2010. To make matters worse for him, he is accused of embezzling $145,000 of those funds to the personal bank accounts of his Maryland business, the Jewish Book Store.
But wait, there's more! Youlus was also said to have claimed that Torahs he bought from dealers were rescued, using those claims to submit inflated and doctored invoices to his charity. This allowed him to be reimbursed at a far higher price than he actually paid for the scrolls. If convicted, Youlus will face up to 20 years in prison. No word as of yet if he claimed to have found the Holy Grail.
You can read the full article of this bizarre story in The Wall Street Journal.
The 10 Commandments Of Nonprofit Communication
It's pretty incredible how much can change in a decade. Back in 1999, the Internet was still a new phenomenon; people still didn't know what to make of it. In 2011, the thought of doing anything without the it seems absurd. The rise of social media and mobile technology has allowed us to be plugged in at all times, for better or for worse. This has made the world of nonprofit communication much simpler, but it's also made it more convoluted. That's why Herschell Gordon Lewis, author of Hot Appeals or Burnt Offerings and frequent contributor to The NonProfit Times, wrote a new column which we just published on our site. He outlines "10 Commandments" that all nonprofits should follow if they want to survive in this new era of technology. Let's take a look at some of them:
The First Commandment: Thou shalt make response simple.
We’re deep in the Internet Era, in which attention spans have shrunk to minuscule size. Don’t ask for more information than you need until you have the prospect at least comfortably secured in your own web. And, avoid the nasty and too-common word “Submit.” Right now, before facing “Submit” head-on, start thinking about a substitute.
The Second Commandment: Thou shalt stay in character.
A peculiar development is what some veteran fundraisers call “The Facebook Effect.” The projected mood bobs, weaves, and shifts as the appeal thinks it progresses but actually generates confusion for what should be the most probable donors.
The Third Commandment: Thou shalt not steal, except from noncompetitive sources.
Yes, yes, all nonprofit appeals are competitive with all other nonprofit appeals. But if you’re a hospital in Albuquerque and see a usable bright idea in an appeal by a college in Pittsburgh (you should be decoying every nonprofit mailing and email you can find), grab it and run with it.
The Fourth Commandment: Thou shalt not fall for fads.
This is back to Facebook and Twitter. If with dollars spent, against dollars returned, these media work for you, stay with them. But if you’re there because you subscribe to the dangerous dictum “That which represents a change automatically represents a profitable change,” be more than observant. Be critically comparative.
The Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt never again start a fundraising letter with the ancient cliché, “Dear Friend.”
If this Commandment puzzles you, you’re in trouble.
Don't stop here, there's still 10 more commandments to go! Read the rest of them over at The NonProfit Times.
The First Commandment: Thou shalt make response simple.
We’re deep in the Internet Era, in which attention spans have shrunk to minuscule size. Don’t ask for more information than you need until you have the prospect at least comfortably secured in your own web. And, avoid the nasty and too-common word “Submit.” Right now, before facing “Submit” head-on, start thinking about a substitute.
The Second Commandment: Thou shalt stay in character.
A peculiar development is what some veteran fundraisers call “The Facebook Effect.” The projected mood bobs, weaves, and shifts as the appeal thinks it progresses but actually generates confusion for what should be the most probable donors.
The Third Commandment: Thou shalt not steal, except from noncompetitive sources.
Yes, yes, all nonprofit appeals are competitive with all other nonprofit appeals. But if you’re a hospital in Albuquerque and see a usable bright idea in an appeal by a college in Pittsburgh (you should be decoying every nonprofit mailing and email you can find), grab it and run with it.
The Fourth Commandment: Thou shalt not fall for fads.
This is back to Facebook and Twitter. If with dollars spent, against dollars returned, these media work for you, stay with them. But if you’re there because you subscribe to the dangerous dictum “That which represents a change automatically represents a profitable change,” be more than observant. Be critically comparative.
The Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt never again start a fundraising letter with the ancient cliché, “Dear Friend.”
If this Commandment puzzles you, you’re in trouble.
Don't stop here, there's still 10 more commandments to go! Read the rest of them over at The NonProfit Times.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Kellogg Co. To Nonprofit: Lay Off Our Toucan!
What does a nonprofit created to defend indigenous Mayan culture have in common with a sugary cereal? According to Kellogg Co., a toucan.
In a report in The Battle Creek Inquirer, the cereal company is requesting that Maya Archaelogy Initiative (MAI) stops using an image of a toucan in their logo, claiming it infringes on Toucan Sam, the mascot that promotes their Fruit Loops cereal. MAI has denied the charge, saying that the image in their logo is made up of "iconic images."
It does seem slightly strange that this would even be an issue. Kellogg and MAI have absolutely nothing in common, so there is really no competition there. What do you think? Battle Creek Inquirer has both images posted in their article, so check it out and decide for yourself.
In a report in The Battle Creek Inquirer, the cereal company is requesting that Maya Archaelogy Initiative (MAI) stops using an image of a toucan in their logo, claiming it infringes on Toucan Sam, the mascot that promotes their Fruit Loops cereal. MAI has denied the charge, saying that the image in their logo is made up of "iconic images."
It does seem slightly strange that this would even be an issue. Kellogg and MAI have absolutely nothing in common, so there is really no competition there. What do you think? Battle Creek Inquirer has both images posted in their article, so check it out and decide for yourself.
Retro Article of The Week: Shock And Awe Makes An Impression
For this week's Retro Article, we go back to September 15th, 2008. On this day in history, the largest bankruptcy filing in US history occured when Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This was one of the many financial institutions that fell because of the impact of the Great Recession. In happier news, The NonProfit Times published their September 15th issue, which contained the following article about controversial ad campaigns:
A poster featuring a busty, D-cup model will turn heads. Couple it with a precocious, pig-tailed face of a little girl and it will stir an Internet frenzy.
That's what happened to The United Way of Greater Milwaukee's (UWGM) statutory rape awareness campaign when the faces of adolescent girls were imposed on full-figured, adult female bodies. But before the campaign could launch, the ad images leaked on the Internet and the campaign was tossed, even though the ads tested well in focus groups.
"It was obvious that the ads were being misconstrued," said Nicole Angresano, the community impact associate director for UWGM. Angresano said that changes were made to the images and text and the leaked versions represented earlier design prototypes.
"If we were to move forward, those were not the versions they would have seen," said Angresano, who explained that the ads were created to discourage adult men from having sex with under-aged girls.
Some 71 percent of babies born to teen girls in Wisconsin are fathered by adult males older than 20. In 20 percent of those cases, the fathers are at least six years older than the mothers, according to the Wisconsin Subcommittee on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention study. The UWGM assumes that the statistics have stayed relatively the same since 1998, through case studies and anecdotal evidence from law enforcement, said Angresano. A new study is under way but results have not yet been released.
If you wish to read the full article, simply head on over to NPT's back-issue archive.
A poster featuring a busty, D-cup model will turn heads. Couple it with a precocious, pig-tailed face of a little girl and it will stir an Internet frenzy.
That's what happened to The United Way of Greater Milwaukee's (UWGM) statutory rape awareness campaign when the faces of adolescent girls were imposed on full-figured, adult female bodies. But before the campaign could launch, the ad images leaked on the Internet and the campaign was tossed, even though the ads tested well in focus groups.
"It was obvious that the ads were being misconstrued," said Nicole Angresano, the community impact associate director for UWGM. Angresano said that changes were made to the images and text and the leaked versions represented earlier design prototypes.
"If we were to move forward, those were not the versions they would have seen," said Angresano, who explained that the ads were created to discourage adult men from having sex with under-aged girls.
Some 71 percent of babies born to teen girls in Wisconsin are fathered by adult males older than 20. In 20 percent of those cases, the fathers are at least six years older than the mothers, according to the Wisconsin Subcommittee on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention study. The UWGM assumes that the statistics have stayed relatively the same since 1998, through case studies and anecdotal evidence from law enforcement, said Angresano. A new study is under way but results have not yet been released.
If you wish to read the full article, simply head on over to NPT's back-issue archive.
Some Data On Religious Donors
In case you missed it, we posted two new articles from our August 1st issue yesterday. One of these was an exclusive study done with Infogroup about religious donors. There's a lot of information in this study, but the most interesting thing to me is that those who give to religious groups are more likely to give to more charities than those who don't. Let's take a look at the numbers:
It's clear from these numbers that, for whatever reason, religious donors tend to give to more charities than secular donors. Why this is happening is not so clear. Perhaps the religion they follow encourages giving? One theory, which is explored in the article, is that a large percentage of religious donors come from high-income families. In fact, 97 percent of respondents with households incomes of $100,000 or more said they gave to other groups in addition to their religious charities.
What are your thoughts on this study? Do you have any theories as to why religious donors give more than secular ones?
- Nine out of 10 people who gave to religious organizations said they also gave to at least one other charity. This is compared to seven out of 10 who did this but did not give to a religious group.
- Of the 90 percent that gave to other groups, three-quarters of them focus their giving on one to five charities besides their religious groups; 11 percent give to six to 10 charities, and only five percent give to more than 10 charities.
- Forty-seven percent of respondents said they gave to religious groups.
- For those 65 and older who gave to religion, only six percent did not give to another group. This is compared to 21 percent of seniors who did not give to religion.
It's clear from these numbers that, for whatever reason, religious donors tend to give to more charities than secular donors. Why this is happening is not so clear. Perhaps the religion they follow encourages giving? One theory, which is explored in the article, is that a large percentage of religious donors come from high-income families. In fact, 97 percent of respondents with households incomes of $100,000 or more said they gave to other groups in addition to their religious charities.
What are your thoughts on this study? Do you have any theories as to why religious donors give more than secular ones?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Management Tip: 3 Ideas For Transformative Major Gifts
It's the constant question for all nonprofits: How do I get a donor to give a major gift? They are the engine for nonprofits, yet it can be intimidating to ask donors to give more and more money. There has to be an easier way, right?
At the 2011 Bridge Conference, Nina Fascione, executive director for Bat Conservation International, and Martha H. Schumacher, president of Hazen, Inc, explained what nonprofits can do to improve their success with major gifts. We covered these suggestions in our most recent management tip:
* Cultivate -- Nonprofits can cultivate major donors through education and outreach activities. By demonstrating the value of a philanthropic investment and by highlighting value-added benefits, donors can be put into mid-level donor track.
* Upgrade Mid-Level Donors -- Once you’ve added mid-level donors to your organization, it is important to try to upgrade them. Show them outcome measurements and demonstrate mission impact, while giving monthly giving options to provide a multitude of giving options.
* Introduce Your New CEO to Your Major Donors -- After you’ve upgraded your mid-level donors, make them feel like they are playing an active role in the organization. With active listening and including transparency, your donors will feel more attached to the organization.
And remember the Three E’s: Enthusiasm, Energy, Economic Accountability.
As you can see, cultivating relationships with donors is a major part of these suggestions. You have to start at the ground level before you start seeing the results you want. There may be no quick fix to start seeing those major gifts flow in, but these tips might be the next best thing.
At the 2011 Bridge Conference, Nina Fascione, executive director for Bat Conservation International, and Martha H. Schumacher, president of Hazen, Inc, explained what nonprofits can do to improve their success with major gifts. We covered these suggestions in our most recent management tip:
* Cultivate -- Nonprofits can cultivate major donors through education and outreach activities. By demonstrating the value of a philanthropic investment and by highlighting value-added benefits, donors can be put into mid-level donor track.
* Upgrade Mid-Level Donors -- Once you’ve added mid-level donors to your organization, it is important to try to upgrade them. Show them outcome measurements and demonstrate mission impact, while giving monthly giving options to provide a multitude of giving options.
* Introduce Your New CEO to Your Major Donors -- After you’ve upgraded your mid-level donors, make them feel like they are playing an active role in the organization. With active listening and including transparency, your donors will feel more attached to the organization.
And remember the Three E’s: Enthusiasm, Energy, Economic Accountability.
As you can see, cultivating relationships with donors is a major part of these suggestions. You have to start at the ground level before you start seeing the results you want. There may be no quick fix to start seeing those major gifts flow in, but these tips might be the next best thing.
Three Nonprofit Hospitals Are Denied Tax-Exempt Status
On the heels of the recent report that some California nonprofits were being denied tax-exempt status, FierceHealthcare.com reported last week that 3 nonprofits hospitals in Illinois lost their claims for tax-exemption. According to the report, the Illinois Department of Revenue shot down the request because the hospitals didn't provide enough charitable care to their patients. The three hospitals were Northwestern Memorial Hospital: Prentice Women's Hospital, Edward Hospital, and Decatur Memorial Hospital.
The decision by the state of Illinois is hardly surprising given its recent history on these matters. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled last year that Provena Covenant Medical Center didn't fit the requirements of a nonprofit because only one-half of a percent of patients received charitable care during 2002. Provena flatly denied this charge, saying they provided $38 million in free care and benefits.
Similarly, the three hospitals in this most recent decision have released statistics to fight the charges from the state. They now have 60 days to have a judge review the state's decision. We will be sure to provide an update should that happen. In the mean time, read the full article from FierceHealthcare.com.
The decision by the state of Illinois is hardly surprising given its recent history on these matters. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled last year that Provena Covenant Medical Center didn't fit the requirements of a nonprofit because only one-half of a percent of patients received charitable care during 2002. Provena flatly denied this charge, saying they provided $38 million in free care and benefits.
Similarly, the three hospitals in this most recent decision have released statistics to fight the charges from the state. They now have 60 days to have a judge review the state's decision. We will be sure to provide an update should that happen. In the mean time, read the full article from FierceHealthcare.com.
Friday, August 19, 2011
NJ Will Not Pursue Disclosure Requirement
The NonProfit Times reported last month on a proposal by the state of New Jersey that would have required nonprofits to provide donors an opportunity to designate a specific program when they made their gifts. After receiving a wave of negative comments from concerned nonprofits, the state no longer plans to pursue this proposal.
In an article just posted on the NPT website, we learn that the comments garnered by the pre-proposal process made it clear to the state that nonprofits were not at all excited about the proposed rule. They were able to successfully convince the state that the rule would have been very difficult to implement, and also proposed alternative ways to generate donor awareness about the right to designate.
If you would like to read the full article, which includes a list of why nonprofits felt the proposed rule was unacceptable, head on over to The NonProfit Times.
In an article just posted on the NPT website, we learn that the comments garnered by the pre-proposal process made it clear to the state that nonprofits were not at all excited about the proposed rule. They were able to successfully convince the state that the rule would have been very difficult to implement, and also proposed alternative ways to generate donor awareness about the right to designate.
If you would like to read the full article, which includes a list of why nonprofits felt the proposed rule was unacceptable, head on over to The NonProfit Times.
Heifer CEO Suing Board For $5 Million
We just put an article up on our website in which we learn that Heifer International Foundation CEO Domingo Barrios is suing the organization's board for $5 million in damages. Barrios was suspended for allegedly violating confidentiality rules. He claims that the real reason stems from his questioning of their governance practices. Here's an excerpt from the story:
In his lawsuit, Barrios alleges that Williams and Smith encouraged him to “violate his fiduciary responsibilities” to the foundation by directing him not to reveal “certain pertinent information which would be detrimental to the foundation.” In June, the board approved a resolution that would give Heifer’s CEO the power to decide on unrestricted bequests, permitting the organization “to control and participate in planned giving,” Barrios said, and essentially destroying a primary purpose of the foundation.
Barrios claims he was asked by Smith and Williams not to share the proposal with the foundation until Heifer met to approve the resolution, which he believes violated rules of governance. He informed the foundation’s board of the adverse effect the resolution could have and subsequently was suspended for allegedly violating confidentiality rules and claims by the board chairman that he was “ripping the organizations apart,” according to court documents.
Shannon Boshears, director of communications and research at the foundation, said the organization has not been served with legal papers and does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.
These situations usually turn out pretty ugly; when bad blood builds up, you never know what can happen. Get the full scoop on this story at The NonProfit Times.
In his lawsuit, Barrios alleges that Williams and Smith encouraged him to “violate his fiduciary responsibilities” to the foundation by directing him not to reveal “certain pertinent information which would be detrimental to the foundation.” In June, the board approved a resolution that would give Heifer’s CEO the power to decide on unrestricted bequests, permitting the organization “to control and participate in planned giving,” Barrios said, and essentially destroying a primary purpose of the foundation.
Barrios claims he was asked by Smith and Williams not to share the proposal with the foundation until Heifer met to approve the resolution, which he believes violated rules of governance. He informed the foundation’s board of the adverse effect the resolution could have and subsequently was suspended for allegedly violating confidentiality rules and claims by the board chairman that he was “ripping the organizations apart,” according to court documents.
Shannon Boshears, director of communications and research at the foundation, said the organization has not been served with legal papers and does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.
These situations usually turn out pretty ugly; when bad blood builds up, you never know what can happen. Get the full scoop on this story at The NonProfit Times.
Amy Winehouse Foundation Hits A Snag
Mitch Winehouse, father of the late Amy Winehouse, told the BBC Newsbeat blog that plans to create a foundation in his daughter's name have hit a snag. The problem? The proposed name, 'The Amy Winehouse Foundation,' has already been registered. Winehouse insists the foundation will still be created, but he's going to hold off on his plans until this issue has been resolved.
Foundations created in celebrities' names are often meant to promote a cause that was important to that individual. In this case, Mitch Winehouse had planned to have his foundation help those who were struggling with substance abuse. Amy Winehouse, who died last month at the age of 27, had long struggled with addictions to drugs and alcohol. Her father said that she had gotten past her drug addictions at the time of her death, but that she was having trouble with alcohol. The cause of her death has yet to be determined.
If you would like to read more about The Amy Winehouse Foundation, head over to BBC Newsbeat. If there is any update on the status of the foundation, we will be sure to post about it here.
Foundations created in celebrities' names are often meant to promote a cause that was important to that individual. In this case, Mitch Winehouse had planned to have his foundation help those who were struggling with substance abuse. Amy Winehouse, who died last month at the age of 27, had long struggled with addictions to drugs and alcohol. Her father said that she had gotten past her drug addictions at the time of her death, but that she was having trouble with alcohol. The cause of her death has yet to be determined.
If you would like to read more about The Amy Winehouse Foundation, head over to BBC Newsbeat. If there is any update on the status of the foundation, we will be sure to post about it here.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tim Nelson, CEO Of Hammer Residences, Dies
Tim Nelson, CEO of Hammer Residences, died yesterday while on vacation in Colorado, according to a report by KARE 11 NBC. He was 58. At this writing, the cause of death was not revealed. Lisbeth Armstrong, who is currently Hammer's Director of Program Services, has been selected as interim CEO.
Nelson worked at the Minnesota-based nonprofit for 34 years, and was well known for his work on disabilities. He was appointed as CEO in 1998, and led Hammer to be selected for NPT's Top 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For in 2011. You can read the full obituary over at the KARE 11 website. Our thoughts go out to Nelson's family, friends, and colleagues.
Nelson worked at the Minnesota-based nonprofit for 34 years, and was well known for his work on disabilities. He was appointed as CEO in 1998, and led Hammer to be selected for NPT's Top 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For in 2011. You can read the full obituary over at the KARE 11 website. Our thoughts go out to Nelson's family, friends, and colleagues.
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