Philanthropy Front and Center - Washington, DC

Next Week at the Foundation Center (November 2-6)

Courses:
Earned Income: Assessing Your Nonprofit's Revenue Options
Tuesday, November 3, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
cost: $195 per person;
Save $25 for each additional registration

Developing a Fundraising Plan
Friday, November 6, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
cost: $195 per person;
Save $25 for each additional registration

Classes:
Principios de la escritura de propuestas
Proposal Writing Basics (in Spanish)
Monday, November 2, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts
Wednesday, November 4, 2:00-3:15 pm

Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits
Thursday, November 5, 9:30-11:00 am

Introduction to Fundraising Planning
Thursday, November 5, 11:30 am-12:30 pm

These classes are free to attend, but registration is required. For programs offered over the next three months, please see our Events Calendar.

Library:
Use Foundation Directory Online Professional, borrow books, and get reference help free of charge with no appointment necessary. See our website for directions.

Hours:
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
10:00 am-5:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am-8:00 pm

Frightening Proposals

Foundation staff review stacks upon stacks of grant proposals each year. From time to time, they may even see proposals that are downright scary. In the spirit of Halloween, here are three 'monster' proposals that you should hope to avoid.

Frankenstein's Monster
Sure - it sounds easy enough. Everyone writes their respective sections of the proposal and then puts them together in one document and sends it to the funder. Too often, however, the result can be a loosely-stitched-together proposal that is confusing and full of inconsistencies and repetition. Reviewers can tell when a proposal has been patched together without substantial revision, and a narrative that is disorganized and incoherent is much less convincing than one with a uniform voice that flows smoothly from section to section.

While it's not uncommon for several different individuals in an organization to be involved in the proposal writing process, it is imperative that one person take the lead when it comes to editing and formatting the final document. This individual should review the proposal for accuracy, consistency, organization, and especially continuity. A well-edited proposal will flow naturally from section to section and convey the story of your organization and its programs with ease.

The Blob
It starts with an executive summary and a statement of need. Then the narrative hits the project description and continues to grow - rapidly surpassing 3, 5, 10 pages - until the proposal has become a bloated mass of paper and ink.

Brevity can be one of the most difficult traits to develop as a proposal writer. There is a compelling urge to include as much detail as possible when describing programs to prospective funders. However, this can cause a proposal to become lengthy and cumbersome for the reader. Besides, most applications now come with strict guidelines that limit sections of the proposal to certain page lengths. How can a proposal writer cope with these restrictions?

First, it's all about finding the right amount of detail to include. For example, if you are seeking funding for a tutoring program, the grantmaker probably doesn't need to be told how many desks are in each classroom. They might want to know, however, the number of volunteer tutors you plan to recruit and how. Other ways to keep your proposal concise include using simple, direct language and avoiding long, rambling sentences. Having an outline can also help you stay focused and remember the key points you want to get across to the reader in each section. Brevity doesn't just apply to the narrative, either, so remember to limit your attachments and supporting materials to those items that the funder specifically requests in their guidelines.

Night of the Living Dead
Who among us hasn't pulled an all-nighter? Whether it was cramming for that final exam in college or staying up to get that presentation ready for the big meeting, we've all been guilty of procrastination at some point in our lives. Still, this is no way to succeed in grantseeking.

What quality do reviewers look for most in a proposal? Clarity. This is something that you're not likely to achieve while hunched over your laptop at 2 o'clock in the morning. Moreover, the less time you leave to check through a proposal, the more likely it is that the reviewer will find troubling mistakes in grammar and spelling that may contribute  to a negative response. How do you fight the urge to put off finishing a proposal until just before the deadline?

Keeping an updated grants calendar with important submission deadlines and follow-up dates will help you stay on track with your proposals. Going even further, creating self-imposed due dates for proposals well in advance of actual deadlines is one way of ensuring that you have plenty of time to revise and edit the document before sending it off. Also, on those occasions when you become aware of a new opportunity only at the last minute, consider waiting until the next funding cycle to apply. Keep in mind - you only get one chance to make a first impression with a grantmaker. Don't let it be a frightening one!

Want some more tips on proposal writing? Try these titles from our collection:

Grant Proposal Makeover: Transform Your Request from No to Yes.
By Cheryl A. Clarke and Susan P. Fox.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2007.

The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing
(5th ed.)By Jane C. Geever.
New York: Foundation Center, 2007.

Thanks to Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta for this great post!

Foundation staff review stacks upon stacks of grant proposals each year. From time to time, they may even see proposals that are downright scary. In the spirit of Halloween, here are three 'monster' proposals that you should hope to avoid.

Frankenstein's Monster
Sure - it sounds easy enough. Everyone writes their respective sections of the proposal and then puts them together in one document and sends it to the funder. Too often, however, the result can be a loosely-stitched-together proposal that is confusing and full of inconsistencies and repetition. Reviewers can tell when a proposal has been patched together without substantial revision, and a narrative that is disorganized and incoherent is much less convincing than one with a uniform voice that flows smoothly from section to section.

While it's not uncommon for several different individuals in an organization to be involved in the proposal writing process, it is imperative that one person take the lead when it comes to editing and formatting the final document. This individual should review the proposal for accuracy, consistency, organization, and especially continuity. A well-edited proposal will flow naturally from section to section and convey the story of your organization and its programs with ease.

The Blob
It starts with an executive summary and a statement of need. Then the narrative hits the project description and continues to grow - rapidly surpassing 3, 5, 10 pages - until the proposal has become a bloated mass of paper and ink.

Brevity can be one of the most difficult traits to develop as a proposal writer. There is a compelling urge to include as much detail as possible when describing programs to prospective funders. However, this can cause a proposal to become lengthy and cumbersome for the reader. Besides, most applications now come with strict guidelines that limit sections of the proposal to certain page lengths. How can a proposal writer cope with these restrictions?

First, it's all about finding the right amount of detail to include. For example, if you are seeking funding for a tutoring program, the grantmaker probably doesn't need to be told how many desks are in each classroom. They might want to know, however, the number of volunteer tutors you plan to recruit and how. Other ways to keep your proposal concise include using simple, direct language and avoiding long, rambling sentences. Having an outline can also help you stay focused and remember the key points you want to get across to the reader in each section. Brevity doesn't just apply to the narrative, either, so remember to limit your attachments and supporting materials to those items that the funder specifically requests in their guidelines.

Night of the Living Dead
Who among us hasn't pulled an all-nighter? Whether it was cramming for that final exam in college or staying up to get that presentation ready for the big meeting, we've all been guilty of procrastination at some point in our lives. Still, this is no way to succeed in grantseeking.

What quality do reviewers look for most in a proposal? Clarity. This is something that you're not likely to achieve while hunched over your laptop at 2 o'clock in the morning. Moreover, the less time you leave to check through a proposal, the more likely it is that the reviewer will find troubling mistakes in grammar and spelling that may contribute  to a negative response. How do you fight the urge to put off finishing a proposal until just before the deadline?

Keeping an updated grants calendar with important submission deadlines and follow-up dates will help you stay on track with your proposals. Going even further, creating self-imposed due dates for proposals well in advance of actual deadlines is one way of ensuring that you have plenty of time to revise and edit the document before sending it off. Also, on those occasions when you become aware of a new opportunity only at the last minute, consider waiting until the next funding cycle to apply. Keep in mind - you only get one chance to make a first impression with a grantmaker. Don't let it be a frightening one!

Want some more tips on proposal writing? Try these titles from our collection:

Grant Proposal Makeover: Transform Your Request from No to Yes.
By Cheryl A. Clarke and Susan P. Fox.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2007.

The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing
(5th ed.)By Jane C. Geever.
New York: Foundation Center, 2007.

Thanks to Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta for this great post!

Getting Social at the White House

The Young Nonprofit Professional Network of Greater DC held its annual networking reception at the White House on October 22 in the South Court Auditorium, and I was glad to be able to attend. Guests were treated to talks by a number of Obama staffers including:  Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director, White House Office of Public Engagement; Trooper Sanders, Deputy Director of Policy, Office of the First Lady; and Sonal Shah, Director, Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Macon Phillips, Director of the White House Office of New Media, however, stole the show with his lively presentation on how the White House is using social media tools. He acknowledged that many administrators fear social media because it opens you up to "failing big in public."

In sharing tips for success with new media, Mr. Phillips stated that content is key -- a message we have heard from others during our TechSense programs. He counseled the audience not to go online just because everyone one else is. You need to have a clear message. His message is simple -- "Obama." He also underscored the need for a social media strategy. Theirs is to open up the White House so that is seen as belonging to the people, increasing engagement in government, and amplifying the administration's agenda. In fact, his post to the White House blog on Inauguration Day focused on their new media priorities.

So take a look at the White House web site to see how Mr. Phillips and his team are working to engage people. And if you missed our previous blog posts on our TechSense programs, including how nonprofits can use social media, you can find them here.

Legal Issues Every Nonprofit Manager & Trustee Should Know

Wouldn't you love the chance to get free legal information directly from an expert?  Register now for our program on November 9 -- Legal Issues Every Nonprofit Manager & Trustee Should Know.  Regina Hopkins of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program will discuss some of the most common legal issues nonprofits face.

In the meanwhile, the following post, originally featured on the Foundation Center-Atlanta blog, gives a great overview of what your organization can do to avoid some legal problems during the current financial crisis.

Staying Legal in Tough Economic Times By Rachel Epps Spears

Donations are down; requests for assistance are up.  Nonprofits that already operate on a lean budget are tightening the belt another notch or two.  Now is not the time to let down your guard when it comes to the legal health of your nonprofit.  Here are tips for keeping your organization out of legal trouble while you weather the economic downturn.

#1.  Don’t stop paying your taxes.

With decreased revenue, nonprofits sometimes fall into the trap of not paying employment taxes to the IRS .  Don’t do this!  The IRS won’t be moved by your charitable works; the Service wants its money.  Also, Board members should know that they can be held personally liable for a nonprofit’s failure to pay employment taxes.  As a related issue, make sure that any one you are treating as an independent contractor is correctly classified as such.  Follow the IRS guidelines or seek legal counsel to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.  Make sure that you are properly withholding and paying employment taxes for anyone who should be treated as an employee.  See the IRS web site for more information.

#2.  Be careful when laying off employees.

When laying off employees, you must keep several things in mind to avoid future legal challenges to your decisions.  First, prepare a written layoff plan and carefully document layoff decisions.  This will help protect you from accusations that your decisions were made improperly.  Make sure that the business reason for the layoffs is clear and that the selection criteria for determining who is laid off is clearly defined so that you will have evidence if your decisions are later questioned.  Always remember that you cannot make termination decisions based on an employee’s race, national origin, sex, age, or any other characteristic protected law.  Also, before an employee is laid off, you must check if the employee has an employment agreement  and if there is an agreement, check for a certain period of service and for a severance payment.  Be aware that when you lay off an employee, he or she may be eligible for unemployment compensation.  It is important that you consult legal counsel to assist in creating a layoff plan that will be compliant with various applicable laws.

#3.  Make sure you pay minimum wage and overtime as required.

As an alternative to layoffs, you might consider retaining your employees but reducing their compensation.  Any such compensation reduction program must comply with federal and state wage and hour laws.  If you decide to lower salaries, make sure that you are still paying at or above minimum wage.  Also, don’t slack off on paying overtime to non-exempt employees.  If you don’t know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees or haven’t carefully considered this classification, seek help.  See the Department of Labor for more information.

 #4.  Keep up to date your insurance premiums.

Insurance is costly but you need it more than ever when times are tough.  Be sure to pay all premiums due on general liability, workers’ compensation, director’s and officer’s liability and any other insurance that is vital to your organization.

#5.  Keep the Board informed and engaged.

Make sure the Board of Directors is well aware of the financial challenges facing the nonprofit and be sure to give them time to respond to those challenges.  Board members should meet more frequently, if necessary, and stay on top of any potential problems.

#6.  Check your contractual obligations.

If a lease or contract (including an independent contractor agreement) becomes too expensive or unnecessary to your business and you want to terminate, be sure to read the termination clause first and understand what risk you face by ending the contract. There may be cancellation fees or other requirements. 

Also, don’t use funds from one contract or grant to cover shortfalls in operations or other less-funded programs without properly considering your obligations under the contract and taking any necessary steps.

#7.  Renegotiate outstanding debt.

If you have a mortgage or other type of loan and are having trouble keeping up with the payments, don’t avoid your lender.  Most lenders would rather renegotiate the debt than foreclose. Contact your lender and see what can be arranged.

#8. Be sure subcontractors are being paid.

If you are in the process of building or renovating, don’t get caught between your general contractor and any unpaid subcontractors.  Make certain that your general contractor signs a release that he has received payment to pay subcontractors and make sure he pays them. 

A subcontractor that does not get paid by the contractor can put a mechanic’s lien on the property to obtain his payment.  Mechanic’s liens increase during difficult economic times.   Make sure that you have evidence that the owner paid the contractor in order to protect your organization.

#9. Be careful about additional fundraising efforts.

Nonprofits look for new and innovative ways to raise money in a bad economy but be aware that there are many laws and regulations for fundraising.  For example, Georgia has strict gaming laws governing raffles, door prizes and bingo games.  The IRS has many regulations that affect fundraising, including rules about unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). 

The UBTI regulations may require organizations to pay tax on any income (including fundraising income) that is not directly related to their charitable mission.   Finally, if you decide to try to raise additional funds by hiring a professional fundraiser, make certain the agreement will not affect your tax-exempt status.

#10. To Merge or Not to Merge?

Combining forces with another organization may be the only way to survive an economic downturn.  Although it is important that your organization’s mission, programs and culture are sustained, you must consider that merger with another organization may be the key to surviving during a period of fierce competition for scarce resources.  Combined organizations are more likely to attract funding than each organization alone and also experience more efficiency in operations.  Attorneys can help with the many legal issues that arise in a merger.

Rachel Epps Spears is the Executive Director of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide free legal services to other nonprofits

Wouldn't you love the chance to get free legal information directly from an expert?  Register now for our program on November 9 -- Legal Issues Every Nonprofit Manager & Trustee Should Know.  Regina Hopkins of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program will discuss some of the most common legal issues nonprofits face.

In the meanwhile, the following post, originally featured on the Foundation Center-Atlanta blog, gives a great overview of what your organization can do to avoid some legal problems during the current financial crisis.

Staying Legal in Tough Economic Times By Rachel Epps Spears

Donations are down; requests for assistance are up.  Nonprofits that already operate on a lean budget are tightening the belt another notch or two.  Now is not the time to let down your guard when it comes to the legal health of your nonprofit.  Here are tips for keeping your organization out of legal trouble while you weather the economic downturn.

#1.  Don’t stop paying your taxes.

With decreased revenue, nonprofits sometimes fall into the trap of not paying employment taxes to the IRS .  Don’t do this!  The IRS won’t be moved by your charitable works; the Service wants its money.  Also, Board members should know that they can be held personally liable for a nonprofit’s failure to pay employment taxes.  As a related issue, make sure that any one you are treating as an independent contractor is correctly classified as such.  Follow the IRS guidelines or seek legal counsel to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.  Make sure that you are properly withholding and paying employment taxes for anyone who should be treated as an employee.  See the IRS web site for more information.

#2.  Be careful when laying off employees.

When laying off employees, you must keep several things in mind to avoid future legal challenges to your decisions.  First, prepare a written layoff plan and carefully document layoff decisions.  This will help protect you from accusations that your decisions were made improperly.  Make sure that the business reason for the layoffs is clear and that the selection criteria for determining who is laid off is clearly defined so that you will have evidence if your decisions are later questioned.  Always remember that you cannot make termination decisions based on an employee’s race, national origin, sex, age, or any other characteristic protected law.  Also, before an employee is laid off, you must check if the employee has an employment agreement  and if there is an agreement, check for a certain period of service and for a severance payment.  Be aware that when you lay off an employee, he or she may be eligible for unemployment compensation.  It is important that you consult legal counsel to assist in creating a layoff plan that will be compliant with various applicable laws.

#3.  Make sure you pay minimum wage and overtime as required.

As an alternative to layoffs, you might consider retaining your employees but reducing their compensation.  Any such compensation reduction program must comply with federal and state wage and hour laws.  If you decide to lower salaries, make sure that you are still paying at or above minimum wage.  Also, don’t slack off on paying overtime to non-exempt employees.  If you don’t know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees or haven’t carefully considered this classification, seek help.  See the Department of Labor for more information.

 #4.  Keep up to date your insurance premiums.

Insurance is costly but you need it more than ever when times are tough.  Be sure to pay all premiums due on general liability, workers’ compensation, director’s and officer’s liability and any other insurance that is vital to your organization.

#5.  Keep the Board informed and engaged.

Make sure the Board of Directors is well aware of the financial challenges facing the nonprofit and be sure to give them time to respond to those challenges.  Board members should meet more frequently, if necessary, and stay on top of any potential problems.

#6.  Check your contractual obligations.

If a lease or contract (including an independent contractor agreement) becomes too expensive or unnecessary to your business and you want to terminate, be sure to read the termination clause first and understand what risk you face by ending the contract. There may be cancellation fees or other requirements. 

Also, don’t use funds from one contract or grant to cover shortfalls in operations or other less-funded programs without properly considering your obligations under the contract and taking any necessary steps.

#7.  Renegotiate outstanding debt.

If you have a mortgage or other type of loan and are having trouble keeping up with the payments, don’t avoid your lender.  Most lenders would rather renegotiate the debt than foreclose. Contact your lender and see what can be arranged.

#8. Be sure subcontractors are being paid.

If you are in the process of building or renovating, don’t get caught between your general contractor and any unpaid subcontractors.  Make certain that your general contractor signs a release that he has received payment to pay subcontractors and make sure he pays them. 

A subcontractor that does not get paid by the contractor can put a mechanic’s lien on the property to obtain his payment.  Mechanic’s liens increase during difficult economic times.   Make sure that you have evidence that the owner paid the contractor in order to protect your organization.

#9. Be careful about additional fundraising efforts.

Nonprofits look for new and innovative ways to raise money in a bad economy but be aware that there are many laws and regulations for fundraising.  For example, Georgia has strict gaming laws governing raffles, door prizes and bingo games.  The IRS has many regulations that affect fundraising, including rules about unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). 

The UBTI regulations may require organizations to pay tax on any income (including fundraising income) that is not directly related to their charitable mission.   Finally, if you decide to try to raise additional funds by hiring a professional fundraiser, make certain the agreement will not affect your tax-exempt status.

#10. To Merge or Not to Merge?

Combining forces with another organization may be the only way to survive an economic downturn.  Although it is important that your organization’s mission, programs and culture are sustained, you must consider that merger with another organization may be the key to surviving during a period of fierce competition for scarce resources.  Combined organizations are more likely to attract funding than each organization alone and also experience more efficiency in operations.  Attorneys can help with the many legal issues that arise in a merger.

Rachel Epps Spears is the Executive Director of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide free legal services to other nonprofits

Funding Information for Artists and Arts Organizations

October is Funding for the Arts Month at the Foundation Center, so we have put together information to help artists and arts organizations find funding, which has become a real challenge in the current economy.

Individual Artists

You might want to begin by reviewing our reference guides listing resources specifically for artists, video and filmmakers, musicians, and writers. These guides list both books and web sites with funding information, such as:

• Funding lists for different disciplines | Women Arts
  This site brings together resources for funding for female artists of all disciplines, including links to emergency funding.
• Grants - International Documentary Association
  Provides a listing of grants with and without deadlines and information on fiscal sponsorship.
• Music Grants
  Michigan State University Library's comprehensive listing of funding opportunities including web sites, databases, books, and announcements.
• Grants and Awards Database | Poets & Writers
  Interactive and searchable details of writing contests and awards published in Poets & Writers magazine during the past year. Entries include information about deadlines and application requirements and procedures.

You can look for artist grants from foundations using our database Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, which is available for free use at Foundation Center libraries and our partner Funding Information Centers. You can also subscribe to this database yourself for a low monthly fee.

Arts Organizations

Those working with arts organizations may want to start by reviewing the information resources offered on our special web portal, Focus on Funding for the Arts. Here you will find a map showing arts funders by state and by categories like performing arts, visual arts, and museums. You will also find reports on arts in the nonprofit sector, interviews with art leaders, and a link to sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter, Arts Funding Watch.

To get more details on arts funders, like their application guidelines, or to search for funders by the types of support they offer, try Foundation Directory Online, which has information on almost 100,000 US grantmakers, including over 17,000 with an interest in the arts. You can subscribe to this database, or visit one of our locations to use it for free.

Both Artists and Arts Organizations

You can learn about current Requests for Proposals (or RFPs) in the Philanthropy News Digest section of our web site. Some foundations publish RFPs when they have set aside funds for a special program or topic and are inviting applications or proposals. You can browse by the subject Arts and Culture to find open grants for both artists and arts groups. You can also register to receive our weekly RFP Bulletin to find out about new RFPs.

If you are looking for information on local art support, a list of DC area organizations that provide funding for individual artists and/or art nonprofits is available on our web site.

Next Week at the Foundation Center (October 26-30)

Course:
Foundation Fundraising: An Introductory Course
Thursday, October 29, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
cost: $125 per person;
Save $25 for each additional registration

Classes:
Grantseeking Basics
Tuesday, October 27, 9:30-11:00 am

Introduction to Foundation Directory Online
Tuesday, October 27, 11:30 am-12:30 PM

Proposal Writing Basics
Wednesday, October 28, 9:30-10:45 am

Proposal Budgeting Basics
Wednesday, October 28, 11:15 am-12:15 pm

Grantseeking Basics and Introduction to Foundation Directory Online
Held offsite during an open house at the Fairfax County Public Library in Fairfax, Virginia
Thursday, October 29, 8:30 am-12:30 pm

Prospect Research Basics:
Researching Individual Donors
Friday, October 30, 10:30-11:45 am

These classes are free to attend, but registration is required. For programs offered over the next three months, please see our Events Calendar.

Library:
Use Foundation Directory Online Professional, borrow books, and get reference help free of charge with no appointment necessary. See our website for directions.

Hours:
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
10:00 am-5:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am-8:00 pm

Important! Date Change for Technology Day of Service

NPower Greater DC Region just announced that it has changed the date for its Technology Day of Service, which we featured in a post on our blog last month.

The Technology Day of Service will now be held on Friday, December 4, 2009.

On this day, NPower will arrange for volunteers from IT departments of several local corporations to meet with nonprofits to assess each organization’s current technology environment, including hardware, software, security, and on-going tech support. Organizations will receive a report with recommendations that address the areas of greatest need and assist with better business planning.

This date change gives you another chance to take part, so don't miss this great opportunity to get pro bono professional IT assistance! To participate, visit the NPower web site and download a brief online request form.

Pulse Check 3: How Are Nonprofits Doing?

As a follow-up to our earlier Pulse Check posts in March and July, here is another round-up of the latest surveys and studies indicating how the nonprofit sector is handling the effects of the recent economic downturn.

Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Results of GuideStar's Latest Nonprofit Economic Survey (August 2009)
GuideStar’s most recent nonprofit economic survey takes a look at the financial health of charitable organizations from March-May 2009. They found that since the last update, covering October 2008-February 2009, the percentage of nonprofits reporting decreased contributions has remained steady at 52%. Other findings showed that:

• 18% of responding nonprofits saw their contributions increase, while 29% reported that their contributions had stayed about the same from the previous survey period.
• Nonprofits reported that the decrease in giving was the result of the following:
  • Fewer individuals gave (69%)
  • Gifts from individuals were smaller (68%)
  • Corporate gifts were smaller (38%)
  • Private foundation grants were smaller (37%)
  • Read more>>

Volunteering in America: Research Highlights (August 2009) [PDF]
The Corporation for National and Community Service collects information on the American volunteer landscape in an effort to track changes and developments that may be useful for civic leaders and nonprofit organizations. Some of the key findings showed that:

• In 2008, 61.8 million Americans or 26.4 percent of the adult population contributed 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion, using Independent Sector’s 2008 estimate of the dollar value of a volunteer hour ($20.25).
• As the economy slows and nonprofit organizations struggle to provide services on smaller budgets, volunteers become even more vital to the health of our nation’s communities. Between September 2008 and March 2009, more than a third (37%) of nonprofit organizations report increasing the number of volunteers they use, and almost half (48%) foresee increasing their usage of volunteers in the coming year. Almost no nonprofit organizations are showing a decrease in their volunteer usage.
• Volunteers were much more likely than non-volunteers to donate to a charitable cause in 2008, with 78.2 percent contributing $25 or more compared to 38.5 percent of non-volunteers.
• Read More [PDF]>>

Nearly 30% of Nonprofit Leaders Took a Pay Cut This Year; Pay in 2008 Grew Quickly (Sept. 2009)
The Chronicle of Philanthropy conducted a survey of 325 organizations that raised the highest amounts of donations from private sources in 2008, as well as grantmakers holding the highest assets that year. The results of the survey revealed that:

• 57 charities and foundations—29 percent of the 195 groups that responded—reported that their top executive had taken a pay cut this year due to the recession, declined raises or bonuses, or had his or her pay frozen. The median pay cut was 10 percent.
• The median compensation for chief executives at the organizations surveyed was $361,538, based on information from 253 groups that provided data for both 2007 and 2008. In 2007 the median compensation was $330,395.
• Read more>>

Nonprofit Finance Fund's and Business Volunteers Unlimited's Nonprofit Survey - Northeast Ohio (August 2009)
Locally, the Nonprofit Finance Fund and Business Volunteers Unlimited recently conducted a survey of Northeast Ohio nonprofits and found that nonprofits are struggling to balance falling revenues and an increase in demand as they plan for 2010. Read a summary of the survey for more information about the findings.

Have you read other enlightening reports and survey findings? Tell us about them.

Thanks to Cindy Bailie, Director, Foundation Center-Cleveland, for sharing this post.

Nominations for Leadership Awards Are Open

The Washington Area Women's Foundation is now accepting nominations for its annual Leadership Awards.

This year's program, called Between the Cracks & At the Intersections, is seeking emerging and innovative nonprofit organizations in the Washington metro area that are working to positively impact the lives of women and girls from underresourced, oppressed, or marginalized communities or through innovative work at the intersection of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and ability in their communities.

The Leadership Awards Committee will make awards of $10,000 each to ten nonprofits selected through a process of nomination reviews, interviews, and site visits. In addition, an online vote will be open to the public and will result in an additional award of $5,000 to one of the ten award recipients.

Nominated organizations must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and a board of directors in place, have been in operation for at least two years, have an annual budget of no more than $2 million, and primarily serve women and/or girls in the areas of this year's chosen theme.

Anyone in the Washington metro area can make a nomination, and you can even nominate your own organization. The deadline for submitting nominations is November 3, 2009. Learn more on the Women's Foundation web site. 

Is Your Organization Raising Money Online?

Did you know that the only form of fundraising that didn't decline in 2008 was donations given online? Revenue from direct mail, special events, and planned giving all decreased last year.

This was just one valuable piece of information heard during our TechSense program on October 16, A Rookie's Guide to Online Fundraising. Rebecca Higman from Network for Good talked about how any nonprofit can enhance its presence on the Internet and start its own online giving program. Based on Network for Good's experience, even a small organization -- one with a budget under $250,000 -- can raise an average of over $10,000 a year through online giving.

If you missed this program, you can view the slides from Rebecca's presentation online. And here are some of the other key takeaways from the program:

• Online fundraising is the Great Equalizer -- it can be used by nonprofits of any size, not just the big, well-known organizations. And it's not as hard (or expensive) to get started as you may think!

• All kinds of people donate online, not just young people. In fact, about 52% of online donations come from the Baby Boomer generation.

• People give online for lots of different reasons, including:
  • it's easier than writing a check.
  • they can make a donation quickly, like to help after a natural disaster.
  • it can be anonymous.
  • they can use "autopay" options to give regularly to causes they care about.

• Bad web site design is the "donation killer." Make sure your Donate button is big, bold and easy to find.

• Develop a strategy for your online giving program. Sure, it's great to be on Facebook and to send out email newsletters, but how is this all working together?

• Focus on your donor's experience. Remember, it's not about you -- it's about them! Talk about what your donors can do to help and how their contributions make a difference.

About 50% of online charitable donations come in during the month of December, so it doesn't pay to put this off any longer! You can find lots of other useful information about online giving on Network for Good's training site, Fundraising123.org.

Has your organization started raising money online? If you have, tell us about your experience!