Advocacy
Advocacy is a broad term covering a range of activities that seek
to bring about systemic social change. Advocacy often seeks to
address the root causes, as well as the symptoms, of social and
economic problems. Advocacy by 501 (c)(3) organizations may
include community organizing, public policy and lobbying,
litigation, or nonpartisan voter engagement.
The website includes a Training Resource Center with
“one-pagers”and tutorials on lobbying strategy and laws as well
as success stories about nonprofits lobbying for their causes
Alliance for Justice’s comprehensive program provides information
and training on the legal parameters of nonprofit and foundation
advocacy, plain-language legal guides to refer to as advocacy
campaigns are planned, and real-time technical assistance to
answer questions about advocacy projects as they are implemented.
In addition to complying with federal tax law and California
state law regarding lobbying activities, organizations must know
that certain cities, counties and special districts have
separatelaws regulating lobbying activities.
Call it a contract or an agreement, it’s an excellent idea to
have a written statement outlining your board members’
responsibilities and legal duties.
One of the most effective ways to accomplish productive meetings
— and strong governance — is to carefully design an agenda and
then closely facilitate to that agenda. At All
About Boards you’ll find valuable information and samples of
agendas, minutes, consent agendas, meeting management and
parliamentary procedure.
Follow this
link to an excellent article on board meeting minutes.
Unlike private businesses, nonprofit organizations are not
“owned” by anyone. Instead they are “owned” by the community:
chartered by the government to serve a public purpose. The board
of directors represents the community’s interests. The board,
acting as governors or trustees, is charged with protecting the
nonprofit organization’s public purpose. Nonprofit boards and
boards of private corporations are similar in that both are
responsible for the organization’s success.
PerformWell is a
collaborative effort initiated by Urban Institute, Child Trends,
and Social Solutions. PerformWell provides measurement tools and
practical knowledge that human services professionals can use to
manage their programs’ day-to-day performance.
Leap of Reason, a collaboration between Venture Philanthropy
Partners and its longtime strategic partner McKinsey &
Company, presents a compelling case that we must rise to meet the
difficult challenges of our times with management approaches that
complement heart with head, passion with information.
The Center for What
Works and The Urban Institute recently completed the initial
phase of a research project to provide the first sector-wide
framework for nonprofit program outcomes and indicators for
success.
“Controls” is what accountants and others call policies and
procedures that are designed to prevent fraud and assure accurate
reporting on the affairs–mostly the financial affairs–of
organizations.
Nonprofit managers must be cautious when hiring consultants. The
first step is to determine whether the organization needs help
from an outside expert. Next are decisions around carrying out
the search process, consultant selection and relationship
negotiation. Any organization can do this but it is helpful to
get some guidance about this process. On this page you will find
links to several useful resources to help you with this process.
The 2011 legislative sessions in both Sacramento and Washington,
D.C. have yielded significant developments for labor and
employment law. Some of the new laws have created new
duties for employers and may expose employers to liability for
older claims. Additionally, there are bills still pending
that show important policy-making trends in labor and employment
law. Overall, the national employment law trends reflect
the political changes in Washington, including the increase in
legislative influence of labor unions.
This report outlines what the IRS permits in setting nonprofit
executive compensation, the consequences of failing to comply
with the regulations, how nonprofit board members can protect
themselves and the organizations they serve, the kind of data
compensation decisions should be based on, and the importance of
reporting compensation accurately in annual IRS filing.
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have charitable
solicitation statutes that generally require nonprofits
soliciting contributions and, in most cases, their for-profit
fundraising professionals to register prior to soliciting
contributions or providing fundraising counsel services.
With the President’s signing of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, all qualified small
employers – both nonprofits and for-profits – can claim a full or
partial tax credit when they pay for at least half of the health
insurance premiums for their employees.
A good social media policy will provide clear guidelines as to
what staff should and shouldn’t do when posting and interacting
with the community on a day-to-day basis.
The New Media Toolkit
is a curated collection of online tools, tutorials and resources
is designed to help nonprofits and ethnic and community news
organizations navigate the often intimidating and ever-evolving
new media landscape. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you will
find valuable information on the technologies and best practices
you need to tell a community’s stories in compelling ways; engage
new audiences; optimize your website; and measure online impact.
Watch GuideStar’s
video about the new and improved design of their nonprofit
reports. Based on what donors want to see it focuses on
impact and transparency to help people who research nonprofits
make better, more educated, and more confident decisions.
For an example of this new format, visit GuideStar’s own
nonprofit
report.
All
About Management Management refers to the activities involved
in these four general functions: planning, organizing, leading
and coordinating of resources.
Looking for data to plan or evaluation your programs? Or to
support your grant proposal? Need to better understand the
community you serve or would like to serve? There are many
excellent local, regional, statewide and national data resources
available to you.
Are you interested in using online tools for community-based
research?
Can research support your work in a specific neighborhood?
Are you interested in how to collect data from communities and
map it?
Toolkits on Community Research,
Participatory Asset Mapping and a Short
Guide to Community Based Participatory Action Research
are now available at Healthy City.
Weave is an interactive web-based software system that links
multiple visualizations (maps, charts, graphs, etc.) and
computational tools (statistics, data mining, modeling and
simulation). It was designed to provide easy access to existing
datasets or simple upload of local data, allowing anyone to
visualize any available data anywhere.
Can nonprofits take better advantage of available technologies to
improve the services they deliver and the ways in which they
deliver them?
MAP for Nonprofits, which provides management consulting and
services and board development aid to Minnesota nonprofits, hired
Idealware to conduct a detailed survey of Minnesota human service
organizations about how they were using technology and then
interview more than two dozen staff members from organizations
that were using it in effective or interesting ways.
The GuideStar donation button is a simple, inexpensive place to
start with online donations. But if your organization is
ready for a more sophisticated approach, this
article from Idealware is a great place to learn more about
what is available.
Energize Inc.
Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and
publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. Their
information rich website aims to connect leaders of volunteers
with resources, information and ideas generated from around the
world.
Tracking volunteer time: sounds like another chore? Actually
it can help you meet match requirements, improve your financial
statement presentations, and reduce liability. In this article
from Blue Avacado, CPA Dennis Walsh of North Carolina explains
why and how to include volunteer time in your budgets and
financials.
We express our gratitude to Wells Fargo for providing the funding
for our new website. The goal of this project has been to create
a highly accessible resource for all nonprofit organizations in
the region, providing information at the fingertips of executive
directors, staff and board members.
Wells Fargo has been a partner in the project from the beginning,
helping us to leverage the website grant into a regional resource
hub, and we appreciate their dedication.
Advocacy & Lobbying
Advocacy & Lobbying
Advance your cause and mission by educating government officials, organizing community support, and influencing public policy.
Fast Facts about Advocacy & Lobbying
Advocacy
Advocacy is a broad term covering a range of activities that seek to bring about systemic social change. Advocacy often seeks to address the root causes, as well as the symptoms, of social and economic problems. Advocacy by 501 (c)(3) organizations may include community organizing, public policy and lobbying, litigation, or nonpartisan voter engagement.
Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
Comprehensive information on nonprofit advocacy and lobbying.
The website includes a Training Resource Center with “one-pagers”and tutorials on lobbying strategy and laws as well as success stories about nonprofits lobbying for their causes
Alliance for Justice Nonprofit Advocacy Project / Foundation Advocacy Initiative
Alliance for Justice’s comprehensive program provides information and training on the legal parameters of nonprofit and foundation advocacy, plain-language legal guides to refer to as advocacy campaigns are planned, and real-time technical assistance to answer questions about advocacy projects as they are implemented.
California Local Lobbying
In addition to complying with federal tax law and California state law regarding lobbying activities, organizations must know that certain cities, counties and special districts have separatelaws regulating lobbying activities.
Boards
Boards
The board of directors oversees the activities of a nonprofit organization, and is accountable to its owners, the public.
What’s the Right Size for the Board?
from Board Cafe
Board Contracts
Help insure that your board members understand their responsibilities
Call it a contract or an agreement, it’s an excellent idea to have a written statement outlining your board members’ responsibilities and legal duties.
Board Meetings
Agendas, minutes, parlimentary procedures, and other issues
One of the most effective ways to accomplish productive meetings — and strong governance — is to carefully design an agenda and then closely facilitate to that agenda. At All About Boards you’ll find valuable information and samples of agendas, minutes, consent agendas, meeting management and parliamentary procedure.
Follow this link to an excellent article on board meeting minutes.
Fast Facts About Boards
Unlike private businesses, nonprofit organizations are not “owned” by anyone. Instead they are “owned” by the community: chartered by the government to serve a public purpose. The board of directors represents the community’s interests. The board, acting as governors or trustees, is charged with protecting the nonprofit organization’s public purpose. Nonprofit boards and boards of private corporations are similar in that both are responsible for the organization’s success.
Evaluation & Outcomes
Evaluation & Outcomes
Evaluation covers both program and organizational effectiveness.
PerformWell
Helping practitioners deliver more effective programs
PerformWell is a collaborative effort initiated by Urban Institute, Child Trends, and Social Solutions. PerformWell provides measurement tools and practical knowledge that human services professionals can use to manage their programs’ day-to-day performance.
Leap of Reason
Managing to outcomes in an era of scarcity
Leap of Reason, a collaboration between Venture Philanthropy Partners and its longtime strategic partner McKinsey & Company, presents a compelling case that we must rise to meet the difficult challenges of our times with management approaches that complement heart with head, passion with information.
The Center for What Works
Tools, training and resources for nonprofit evaluation
The Center for What Works and The Urban Institute recently completed the initial phase of a research project to provide the first sector-wide framework for nonprofit program outcomes and indicators for success.
The Logic Model
The Logic Model is a versatile tool for planning and evaluating your programs. Here are some resources you can use to develop your own Logic Model.
Financial Management
Financial Management
Skillful financial management is essential to a viable organization.
Internal Controls
Prevent fraud and assure accurate reporting
“Controls” is what accountants and others call policies and procedures that are designed to prevent fraud and assure accurate reporting on the affairs–mostly the financial affairs–of organizations.
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
National Council of Nonprofits Financial Management Basic background on financial management of nonprofit organizations
Not-For-Profit Accounting a wealth of information from an accountant passionate about accounting
Nonprofit Finance Fund A community development financial institution that offers loans, financing, consulting and education.
Financial Policies & Procedures Samples
The Nonprofit Assistance Fund offers a great selection of tools and templates to help you manage your organization’s finances.
10 Resources to Increase the Financial Literacy of Board and Staff
The National Council of Nonprofits offers these 10 resources to increase the financial literacy of your board and staff.
Human Resources
Human Resources
Resources and guidance for managing your employees
Hiring a Consultant
Nonprofit managers must be cautious when hiring consultants. The first step is to determine whether the organization needs help from an outside expert. Next are decisions around carrying out the search process, consultant selection and relationship negotiation. Any organization can do this but it is helpful to get some guidance about this process. On this page you will find links to several useful resources to help you with this process.
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
All About Human Resources and Talent Management
Nonprofit Compensation Associates
Bridgestar
HR to Go Legal Snapshot 2012
New labor and employment laws
The 2011 legislative sessions in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. have yielded significant developments for labor and employment law. Some of the new laws have created new duties for employers and may expose employers to liability for older claims. Additionally, there are bills still pending that show important policy-making trends in labor and employment law. Overall, the national employment law trends reflect the political changes in Washington, including the increase in legislative influence of labor unions.
What You Need to Know About Nonprofit Executive Compensation
This report outlines what the IRS permits in setting nonprofit executive compensation, the consequences of failing to comply with the regulations, how nonprofit board members can protect themselves and the organizations they serve, the kind of data compensation decisions should be based on, and the importance of reporting compensation accurately in annual IRS filing.
Legal & Regulatory
Legal & Regulatory
IMPORTANT: This information should not be deemed legal advice or be acted upon without prior consultation with appropriate professional advisors.
Understand your legal responsibilities and stay on top of new ones.
State Charitable Solicitation Statutes
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have charitable solicitation statutes that generally require nonprofits soliciting contributions and, in most cases, their for-profit fundraising professionals to register prior to soliciting contributions or providing fundraising counsel services.
New IRS Search Tool: Select Check
The IRS recently launched a new online search tool for information about charitable organizations.
Sales and Use Tax Requirements for California Nonprofits
Yes, nonprofits do have to occasionally pay taxes. Here are some links to help you understand when your organization must pay a California state tax.
Tax credit available for health insurance premiums
For nonprofits who meet these criteria
With the President’s signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, all qualified small employers – both nonprofits and for-profits – can claim a full or partial tax credit when they pay for at least half of the health insurance premiums for their employees.
Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications
Strong communication and marketing are essential for a healthy nonprofit organization.
The Nonprofit Social Media Policy Workbook
A good social media policy will provide clear guidelines as to what staff should and shouldn’t do when posting and interacting with the community on a day-to-day basis.
2012 Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report
Learn how nonprofits are succeeding with social networks
2012 Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report. 4th annual report on nonprofits & social networks.
Social Media Toolkit
The New Media Toolkit is a curated collection of online tools, tutorials and resources is designed to help nonprofits and ethnic and community news organizations navigate the often intimidating and ever-evolving new media landscape. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you will find valuable information on the technologies and best practices you need to tell a community’s stories in compelling ways; engage new audiences; optimize your website; and measure online impact.
Is Your GuideStar Report Up To Date?
Watch GuideStar’s video about the new and improved design of their nonprofit reports. Based on what donors want to see it focuses on impact and transparency to help people who research nonprofits make better, more educated, and more confident decisions. For an example of this new format, visit GuideStar’s own nonprofit report.
Organizational Management & Planning
Organizational Management & Planning
Nonprofit management supports continuous improvement of individuals and their organizations to better serve their communities.
Daring to Lead
A national study of nonprofit executive leadership
Daring to Lead 2011: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
All About Management Management refers to the activities involved in these four general functions: planning, organizing, leading and coordinating of resources.
Data Resources
Looking for data to plan or evaluation your programs? Or to support your grant proposal? Need to better understand the community you serve or would like to serve? There are many excellent local, regional, statewide and national data resources available to you.
The Community Research Lab Toolbox from Healthy City
Make data meaningful and relevant to your work and your community
Are you interested in using online tools for community-based research?
Can research support your work in a specific neighborhood?
Are you interested in how to collect data from communities and map it?
Toolkits on Community Research, Participatory Asset Mapping and a Short Guide to Community Based Participatory Action Research are now available at Healthy City.
Risk Management
Risk Management
Risk management helps identify, assess and control risks that may be present in operations, service delivery, staffing, and governance activities.
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Risk Management Tutorial for Nonprofit Managers
Nonprofits’ Risk Insurance Alliance of California
Nonprofit Risk Management eNews
Technology
Technology
Technology supports greater social impact by increasing organizational capacity, enhancing effectiveness, or reaching new audiences.
10 Free Tools To Make Infographics
MakeUseOf offers a list of tools and tips for creating infographics, a great way to share information with visuals.
Weave
Web-based Analysis and Visualization Environment
Weave is an interactive web-based software system that links multiple visualizations (maps, charts, graphs, etc.) and computational tools (statistics, data mining, modeling and simulation). It was designed to provide easy access to existing datasets or simple upload of local data, allowing anyone to visualize any available data anywhere.
Unleashing Innovation
Using everyday technology to improve nonprofit services
Can nonprofits take better advantage of available technologies to improve the services they deliver and the ways in which they deliver them?
MAP for Nonprofits, which provides management consulting and services and board development aid to Minnesota nonprofits, hired Idealware to conduct a detailed survey of Minnesota human service organizations about how they were using technology and then interview more than two dozen staff members from organizations that were using it in effective or interesting ways.
A Few (More) Good Online Donation Tools
The GuideStar donation button is a simple, inexpensive place to start with online donations. But if your organization is ready for a more sophisticated approach, this article from Idealware is a great place to learn more about what is available.
Volunteer Management
Volunteer Management
Volunteers are the heart of many nonprofits and are often vital to an organization’s success.
Websites, eNewsletters & Blogs
Energize Inc. Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. Their information rich website aims to connect leaders of volunteers with resources, information and ideas generated from around the world.
Tracking Volunteer Time to Boost Your Bottom Line
A Complete Accounting Guide
Tracking volunteer time: sounds like another chore? Actually it can help you meet match requirements, improve your financial statement presentations, and reduce liability. In this article from Blue Avacado, CPA Dennis Walsh of North Carolina explains why and how to include volunteer time in your budgets and financials.