Nonprofit News from ONEplace
News, comments, resources, and more for nonprofits.
Is your nonprofit using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to draw attention to your organization, mission, programs, and services? To reach out to your target audiences: clients, donors, volunteers, potential employees? Do you advocate for your cause using social media tools?
Or, are you still wondering what the return on investment may really be? How much staff time it will consume? If it’s the best use of your limited resources? And, what would you ‘say,’ anyway?
Case Foundation has scheduled online ‘chats with experts’ that may help. You can write in your specific questions as well as learn from questions others submit. The Ask the Guru sessions are part of their Gear up for Giving series (the schedule is located on their website).
Do you use social media in your nonprofit? If so, what and how do you put it to work for you? How do you communicate? How much time does it take to keep it active and interactive? These questions came up in a recent ONEplace Roundtable of PR and Marketing. Write back and share your experiences.
Book
Gear Up For Giving
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http://www.casefoundation.org/projects/gear-giving
Several people (Executive Directors and Board members) have contacted ONEplace recently asking how to increase consistent attendance and follow though with their nonprofit’s Board members.
On many (maybe ‘most’) boards, a core of people participate in every board meeting/action, every assigned committee, and contribute time, talents, and money to additional activities that support the organization. Many (most) boards also have members who, while ‘supportive,’ are sporadic in both their attendance and follow-through, leaving the active core to carry out the governance responsibilities on behalf of the entire board and the constituents of the nonprofit.
Why People Don’t Build the Attendance Commitment Into Their Schedule
Board members may be less than 100% committed to attending meetings for a number of reasons. Let’s look at a few.
They don’t know it’s expected.
- Are there board attendance policies? Bylaws specifying attendance? If so, were they clearly outlined during recruitment and orientations?
- Is it their ‘experience’ that attendance isn’t taken seriously by other board members, especially the chair?
- Is there a provision for ‘unexcused’ versus ‘excused’ (the member is still missing) absences?
- Are there any consequences for missing meetings? Have they ever been enforced?
They are ‘too busy’ to make every meeting.
- Everyone is busy, over-busy. Sometimes balancing work, volunteer activities, and family responsibilities is difficult (they may think, ‘impossible’) for everyone.
- The time of meetings doesn’t work in their schedule well. Has the board defined a mutually agreeable time for everyone and planned for a year at a time?
- They are ‘volunteering’ and this organization/board is not as high a priority as ‘conflicting’ events.
They don’t find the meetings motivating.
- Meetings are ‘boring’ or ‘rubber stamp’ sessions for committee and staff reports.
- Meetings are dominated by a few members and their input isn’t sought or valued.
- The connection between their role and the organization’s mission and outcomes for constituents isn’t clear, emotionally or intellectually.
What To Do
BoardSource recently sent an announcement on a new book (which is on order for ONEplace) with the lead-in: Board Meeting Attendance Is Not Optional, So Meet Smarter.
The book, titled Meeting and Exceeding Expectations, A Guide to Successful Nonprofit Board Meetings, encourages meetings that are “inspiring, productive, and efficient”:
- Establish a ‘consensus agenda’ board meeting format in which reports are sent out ahead of meetings and approved as a bundle, and meetings are only focused on in-depth mission-driven policy or issue discussions and action items.
- Elect a ‘devil’s advocate of the day’ to take a contrary stance on the issues under discussion in order to keep thinking fresh and discussions productive.
- Elect a ‘devil’s inquisitor of the day’ to ask difficult questions; to keep all arguments on the table and non-personal. Better governance emerges from open, challenging discussions.
- Clarify legal and ethical responsibilities each board member committed to when s/he agreed to serve.
In addition, invite board members who miss even a couple meetings (for any reason) to evaluate their ability to keep the commitment to actively serve on the board, and let them know it is ‘okay’ to resign. Lives change, schedules change, interests change: it's okay to give up your board seat for your own good, and the good of the organization.
Board members who aren’t in attendance aren’t available to provide input from their unique perspectives and expertise; aren’t available to vote on issues; aren’t available to learn from the other board members and staff. They are missing and missed.
Here are some additional resources and ideas to help strengthen attendance at board meetings and, therefore, governance of nonprofits, even in a world of busy board members.
Resource in ONEplace:
On the web:
Book
Meeting, and Exceeding Expectations: A Guide to Successful Nonprofit Board Meetings, Second Edition by Outi Flynn
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http://www.boardsource.org/Bookstore.asp?Item=1095
ONEplace recently hosted a webinar on evaluating your fund development plan. The speaker, Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, encouraged participants to measure the philanthropic culture and practices of their organizations on a regular basis and to conduct a formal development audit before starting any new or significantly different funding strategy.
Our economic environment has changed considerably and, many predict, permanently. This calls for “new or significantly different funding strategies” for every nonprofit going forward. Before trying new ideas or stopping current activities, take a close look at your overall development plan through an audit. Don't think you have a development plan? Whether written, or not, what you are doing to bring money into your NP, is your current “plan.”
What is involved in a development audit?
- A comprehensive examination of past and current fund raising activities: annual fund to capital campaigns, special events, personal solicitations, planned giving programs, newsletter asks, memorials... everything.
- An assessment of their value to the organization in terms of amount of money raised, and “human resources” (staff, board, volunteers) and technology (software, hardware, training), needed to raise the money-the return on investment
- A review of policies and procedures related to fund raising
- A review of external factors affecting your fund raising abilities
- Recommendations for increasing effectiveness in all of these areas
What a development audit is not.
- A “blame game,” rather it is a tool for improving your development program and strategically meet your fund raising goals through the best use of human assets and technologies
Who conducts a development audit?
Start with internal assessment using some of the tools available at Capital Venture or Society for Nonprofit Organizations or Association for Fundraising Professionals. Lysakowski the recommends utilizing an independent, third party who can talk with all of your audiences (internally and externally) in a neutral, confidential manner, summarize their candid input, and make recommendations for improvement.
Whether starting a new fiscal year with fresh hopes, gearing up for “regular” fall fund raising activities, or facing a financial crisis, investing some time, and perhaps money, in a development audit will pay off.
Taking an impartial look at what you've been doing, and the outcomes being realized, will help your organization plan and execute fundraising initiatives more strategically.
Workshops and Webinars
Workshops and webinars focusing on concepts and skills for building fund development capacities are being offered by ONEplace, the Nonprofit Alliance in Battle Creek, and the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in Grand Rapids. Check Workshops and Event schedules regularly for current and new offerings.
Book
Workshops, Webinars, Peer-Learning
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http://www.kpl.gov/ONEplace/events.aspx
On June 22, President Obama launched United We Serve, calling on all Americans to help in our nation's recovery by volunteering in our communities this summer. The initiative runs for 81 days, until the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11 and is being coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
“This summer, I’m calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of the nation,” said President Obama. “And when I say ‘all,’ I mean everyone—young and old, from every background, all across the country. We need individuals, community organizations, corporations, foundations, and our government to be part of this effort.
“The challenges we face are unprecedented in their size and scope, and we cannot rely on quick fixes or easy answers to put us on the road to recovery,” said President Obama. “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it's going to take all of us, working together.”
By visiting www.serve.gov and entering your zip code you can find local opportunities, post organizational projects, and get ideas for creating projects.
Kalamazoo has always had a high level of volunteerism. This initiative in these critical time urges each of us to reach out wider and deeper. Are you involved in new or bigger volunteer projects this summer?
Let us know by submitting a comment. And, thanks for volunteering.
Book
President Barack Obama signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
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http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/photos_press_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1306
For small nonprofit organizations, efficiencies are an ongoing necessity. In these especially challenging financial times, taking a look at every new possibility to stretch limited resources is even more critical.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently held an online ‘live discussion’ on this issue with several consultants who work with small nonprofits. They shared these strategies:
- Always remember, it’s about the people served, not the organization, its staff, or board members. The mission has to be at the center of your strategies.
- Nothing is ‘off the table.’
- Think outside the grants/foundation box!
- Leadership (ED and board) and staff need to work together to seek and initiate practical, new approaches in all areas of the organization. Leadership at all levels is key…embrace it from everyone.
- Find creative new streams of revenue: low/no cost events; collaborate with other NPs on an event to bring in funds and extend your friends circles; barter services; combine ‘back room’ functions; seek corporate sponsors.
- Keep morale up through lean times and job cuts. Remind everyone that ‘this too will pass’; give people a little more autonomy to do creative projects; help them stay connected with your mission and passion about the work and people served.
- Keep perspective: Recognize there will always be more needs than you can fulfill.
- Continue or join membership in state and regional associations.
- Reach new and younger audiences with social media IF you have great news that people will want to ‘talk’ about you to their ‘friends.’
What strategies are working for you, personally, and for your organization? Please share them so we can all benefit from a wealth of creative ideas.
You can read the entire conversation at http://philanthropy.com/live/2009/05/small_charities/
Book
ONEplace Resources
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http://www.kpl.gov/ONEplace/resources.aspx
During the Michigan Nonprofit Association SuperConference (May 4-6), major speakers and workshop leaders focused on the challenges and opportunities inherent in our current economic environment.
Every one of the people I listened to – from Juan Williams and Bill Strickland to Patricia Martin and Barry Demp – talked about the need to “critically assess current realities” and “seize the moment” to act with bold ideas and actions.
They talked about assessing social, educational, employment, and political trends, now, compared to the trends when the last major economic downturns occurred…and ask, “How far have we come—or not come” in making the world a better place for every person. And, “How can we NOT lose this opportunity” to make significant improvements our organizations and help people become more self-sufficient at the same time?
Juan Williams told a long story based on [the ghost of] Martin Luther King, Jr. stopping by the conference, today,—40+ years after his death—and viewing current media, topics of conversation, race relations, employment, etc. “He” was stunned: from rap language and hip-hop dress to what is seen on TV sitcoms, to the lack of progress on poverty and illiteracy rates. It was a very powerful scenario that continues to resonate.
They also challenged us to seize the opportunity to take new, bold approaches; collaborate, merge, and develop new organizational models that are more efficient and cost effective while maintaining mission-based work. Consider how many more people could be served if one building housed and administered several nonprofits as a collaborative; where people good at programs and service delivery didn’t have to worry about administration and people good at the business-side of nonprofit organizations could do what they do best. Building on strengths and specialties.
Change is often hard. Change can also be exhilarating. Nonprofits are often “not so good” at change that demands creative restructuring: realizing the people needed for today and tomorrow aren’t the ones currently onboard; or, realizing others are doing the same things we are…and better; or, listening to new voices from outside whose ideas could improve a program or the entire organization because, “we’ve always done it this way and by ourselves.”
The MNA SuperConference is over for this year. I hope the messages shared here resonate with you as you work through whatever challenges your nonprofit is facing, today. What bold, new thinking can you bring to the table and act upon that will make your mission-driven work stronger for the days and years ahead. Don’t be afraid to be great!
“Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.” ~ Fernando Flores
Book
Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference
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http://www.mnaonline.org/Conf2009/index.asp
Two ‘must attend’ events for staff and board members responsible for nonprofit financial management and fund development will be offered during the next couple of weeks at ONEplace: Step-By-Step: Through The New 990 on Thursday, April 16, from 1 to 4 pm; and, Creating Sustainable Funding for Your Mission on Wednesday, April 22, from 2 to 4 pm. Both will be in the Van Deusen Room at KPL Central and both require preregistration.
The new 990 requires additional information aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in your financial management, relationships, and mission-focused activities and outcomes…items that will make the form more time-consuming to prepare and more helpful to donors and other funders. Come and learn what is expected with this year’s filings.
Sustainable Funding for Your Mission focuses on building a stable funding base through an individual-donor focused plan. A balance of funding sources is critical to NP stability. Too much emphasis is generally given to grants. Learn how to change that balance to individual donors for greater security over the long-term.
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ONEplace Workshops & Events
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http://www.kpl.gov/ONEplace/events.aspx
Is social networking a part of your organizational strategy? For what? For whom? ONEplace is a members of nTen, the nonprofit technology network which offers resources, webinars, and access to other technology-oriented services to nonprofits.
They would like your feedback about social networking and your organization through this anonymous survey. It will only take five minutes and will advise future training and support for social media use to advance your nonprofit organization.
Book
Nonprofit Social Networking Survey
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http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zvINIzvb7rHQs0csqsEhOg_3d_3dThe word ONE—besides being easy to remember—stands for Opportunities for Nonprofit Excellence, which is why the center exists—to foster excellence and increase mission-driven capacities in our local nonprofit organizations and across the sector.
ONEplace @ kpl is a real place—a physical center located within Kalamazoo Public Library, Central. It’s a dynamic center specifically designed to serve nonprofits, with access to computer terminals for research, a conference area for small group meetings, and staff specialized in nonprofit management and leadership. ONEplace @ kpl houses a current, expanding collection of circulating and reference materials covering subjects essential to nonprofit success.