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Recognizing a Broken Nonprofit

There is an old saying that “if it aint broke, don’t fix it.” But in the reality of nonprofit corporations, this attitude can hide weaknesses that can ultimately destroy your organization. Thomas McLaughlin writes a piece in Nonprofit Times that encourages nonprofit leaders to take an honest look at their organization. Recognizing the warning signs allow leadership to makes small changes that create large benefits and adds longevity to your nonprofit.

Cash Flow Loss One of the first signs of distress in a nonprofit is the loss of cash flow. This loss can take several forms from loss of grant money, reduced donations or increased cost for services or supplies. Every nonprofit should run lean. The basic model should be such that every dollar is used efficiently. But the reality is; no company can last long when it pays more than it takes in. Cutting back may help the nonprofit survive for a time. But ultimately, cutting back on staff and supplies will affect services for the target population. By the time a nonprofit runs into cash flow issues, it is often tine to take a good look at the overall business model and make changes necessary to save the nonprofit.

Chronic Deficits Sometimes the entire nonprofit is fully funded, but portions of the organizations services run in a deficit in some way. Perhaps this is a program that attracts few participants or it uses high priced supplies or equipment. A strong nonprofit can survive these programs for a time. But in the long run, these programs will drain any company. Take a good look at these programs. Make sure that they are fulfilling a need for your target population. Look at ways to fund that portion of the program, cut the program or end the program completely.

Focused Programs Sometimes programs develop because they seemed like a good idea at the time. But as the years pass, these programs are simply carried forward, splitting away from the core values of the organization a little more every year. It is important to look at every program and process offered by your nonprofit and ask how each relates to the core values and goals of the corporation.

Looking at your company objectively can stop problems and potential problems and add years of healthy life to your nonprofit organization.

'Appy New Year

We all make New Year’s resolutions. We set goals to lose weight and be more productive. While most of these plans fall by the wayside by the end of January, there are ways to speed up your work and keep you on track.

If you are one of the 108 million people who got an iPhone in 2011, or the 28 million who got an iPad, you know about apps. There are a wide range of apps available to help you work more efficiently and balance your work with your home.

Evernote

This free app keeps track of your notes, digital documents, web pages and clips from video and power point presentations. You can organize your notes into files and folders for specific projects. Share your notes with other users or other platforms. Evernote has options for Mac, PC and apple and droid apps. Because the programs are free, it’s easy to download versions to all your devices and everyone on your team.

Dropbox

Dropbox gives you flexibility and security across a wide range of platforms. This cloud-based program holds your files on the dropbox server. The free app allows you access to all your dropbox files from your iPad or iPhone. But unlike other note or file programs, dropbox holds your files. This means that if your phone is damaged or lost, your files remain safe. It also allows other team members or co-workers to access your files from their own computers, make changes and send the new file back to you with a single click. The basic package with 2 gigabytes of memory is free. Packages with more memory are also available.

UCLA Meeting Space Calculator

Have you ever tried to estimate how many people you can fit into a meeting venue? UCLA has the free app for you. Their free Meeting space calculator helps you divide the square footage of any room into the appropriate space for your program. You simple enter the dimensions of the room and specify the type of seating: theater, round table, classroom, square or U-Shaped layout. The calculator tells you how many people fit in your chosen space.

Nonprofits Can Grow During Slow Economic Times

According to Goldman Sachs, the economic outlook for 2012 is stark, but not bleak. Slow economic growth will continue throughout the year. But the lack of large economic gains affects nonprofits and how they gather and utilize their finances. There are several ways that nonprofits can continue to function and even grow during these slow economic times.

According to Donor Times, one of the best ways to retain funding is to keep your donors. It costs ten times as much to create a new donor as it does to retain a current one. This season is the perfect time of year to touch base with your donors and let them know that they are vital to your cause. This can be as simple as sending them a holiday thank you card with some sort of premium. These needn’t be expensive. Some premiums that keep your organization visible are key chains, refrigerator magnets or small calendars.

Show your donor’s how their gift has helped. If your company works with a specific population such as children, animals or the homeless, include a simple case study to give your company a human face. Include a breakdown of the efficient use of your donor’s funds.

While you are looking at your donor list, note the different roles each donor plays. Do some volunteer in addition to donating money? Are there local businesses that give goods or services instead of cash? Make note of these special donors and honor their gift of time or goods accordingly.

Ultimately, giving your current donors and volunteers the respect and honor they deserve will help you retain funding and give them the chance to spread the word about your vital work.

Women Making More of an Impact in Nonprofits

According to the 2011 Study of High Net Worth Women’s Philanthropy in Non-Profit Times, the impact of women on non-profit organizations is gaining prominence. The study shows that more women are making philanthropic decisions for the family. Among married couples, ten percent report that husband and wife make separate decisions when giving while almost half of the women surveyed admitted they were the sole decision maker for the couple’s donation dollars. In addition, Women’s Giving networks are growing across the country. The United Way and the Red Cross both have programs aimed at donations from women and women’s organizations.

The study also found that men and women look for slightly different factors when choosing to donate. While both genders look for an efficient organization, women cite efficiency as a factor more than men. In addition, women are more likely to choose organizations that give back to their community than men are. But one of the most striking differences is shown in repeat giving. Men tend to give to the same organization every year, while women tend to look at the organization’s yearly performance and will shift funds to a new group if the group seems to slip in anyway.

Nonprofits benefit by using this trend to seek funding. Gender specific capital campaigns can bring in more donations and create a buzz. When approaching female donors, it is vital to highlight your organization’s impact on the local community. Another major factor is keeping in touch with your donors throughout the year. Showing women how their donation is used wisely helps to retain annual donors and creates lifelong relationships with these philanthropists.