All posts by Tony Martignetti

The Anointing of Sean Stannard-Stockton

Party Crown and Noisemaker

Yesterday, Sean Stannard-Stockton was anointed Prince of Philanthropy.  The auspicious event occurred in the Giving section of The New York Times, where crowning was presided over by the queen, Stephanie Strom.

To avoid confusion in the royal record, I make it clear that none of the family have ever claimed these titles. In fact, they might be embarrassed by the pomp.  I am bestowing them.  That gives me the rank of jester (lest you think I aggrandized myself into a more exalted station).

In a contribution to yesterday’s annual section, Pledge to Give Away Fortunes Stirs Debate“, the Queen of Philanthropy dubbed the prince by giving him a splendid second-paragraph quote in Title Case.  The honor is deserved.  Prince Sean has been blogging since 2006, when his first post welcomed us to “The Second Great Wave of Philanthropy.”  That is the phrase quoted in yesterday’s refulgent decree.  (There seems to be some confusion over proper use of title case.  The senior family member does not capitalize “the” while her junior does.  Royal style manuals may differ, and I am not one to quibble.  I leave that to the royalty watchers on the sidelines.)

The prince enters the court with family. He is married with two young children. Thankfully, the U.S. will be spared the spectacle the U.K. is now suffering over Prince William, leaving, over here, many chagrined royal family commentators.

I confess I have confused the prince’s name in my mind.  For a time, I thought his surname to be Stockard-Stanning.  I’ve always been a fan of the closely-named actress and her roles in “Grease” and “The West Wing.”  The jester is a sucker for royalty.

It is now the day after our propitious ceremony.  The philanthropy community will take this all in and the prince begins to settle into his august role.  As it is Friday, Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio is live at 1PM Eastern.  I proudly provide the anticlimax.

Do Professional Women Still Face Sexism?

I have a story. I believe my mere anecdote is representative of what professional women face. My belief may be wrong. Tell me what you think.

I rarely eat alone. I’m usually with someone related to business and we’re discussing how we can help each other. Recently, I had dinner with a woman who does travel destination and event work for nonprofit professional associations. There were no reservations available so we sat at the bar. I returned from a visit to the men’s room–a visit of unremarkable duration–to a party of three. Excusing my way past the two self-invited married men, I regained my seat.

They were talking to my colleague about her ring, eyes and hair. One, who it saddens me to disclose is an attorney, accused her of winking when she explained the two of us were having a business meeting. Ignoring my disagreement, he relented only after she corrected him repeatedly through his teasing. He and his friend were flirtatious and condescending, with no encouragement from the object of their derision. They guilted her into accepting business cards and departed as abruptly as they had arrived. A subjugation accomplished?

Their cards were a thick stock. (Are they compensating for inadequacy elsewhere?) She used them to scrape guacamole off the bar.

We were indignant. I was disturbed and she, somewhat resigned, but certainly not defeated. She had been insulted, and I told her I’m sorry it happened. We carried on with our meeting.

In another post I recommended not pissing off women. If these guys read that post, they mistook it for sarcasm.

Typical? Aberrant? The former, I fear.

Nonprofit Radio for Nov. 12, 2010: Gail Perry and Fired-Up Fundraising

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Compliance. Board relations. Fundraising. Technology. Volunteer management. Accounting. Finance. Marketing. Social media. Investments.

Every nonprofit faces these issues and big nonprofits have experts in each. Small and medium size nonprofits have Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. Trusted experts throughout the country join Tony to take on the tough issues facing your organization.

Episode 16 of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for November 12, 2010

Tony’s Guest:

Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE, best-selling author of Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action (Wiley 2007), and her Passion-Driven Fundraising approach, developed over the past 22 years as a non-profit philanthropy expert, has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions in gifts and support. You can learn more about Gail on her website.

Topic: Fire Up Your Board Fundraising: Gail Perry will reveal proven techniques to motivate your board to step-up to their fundraising responsibilities.

Here’s a link to Gail’s Free Fundraising Tools.

Here’s a guide: 12 Ways to Liven Up Your Board Meetings – and Your Board.

Here is the link to the podcast: 018: Fire Up Your Board Fundraising.


When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Friday, 1-2pm Eastern.

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News From Your Internal Revenue Service

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Building is seen in Washington on September 20, 2010. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Photo via Newscom

The IRS hosts free one-day seminars throughout the country for small and mid-size nonprofits to learn how to “keep their tax-exempt status and comply with tax obligations.”

The next one is in Phoenix on December 7 and 8, and it’s designed for “administrators or volunteers who are responsible for an organization’s tax compliance, as well as those interested in careers in the nonprofit sector.”

If you go, treat yourself to an overnight, a meal, or at least a drink, at the Arizona Biltmore. That’s my own endorsement. It’s not part of the IRS announcement. Wouldn’t it be a deductible business expense?

Would you like to see a draft of the 2010 Form 990? Here’s a copy from IRS. Spoiler alert >>>>>>>> Part VI, question 17, is still a Charity Registration disclosure.

I get this info from the Service’s Exempt Organization Update. You can get these emailed to you by subscribing.

Nonprofit Radio for November 5, 2010: Pass the Cup to Corporations & Fund Accounting Software Review

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Compliance. Board relations. Fundraising. Technology. Volunteer management. Accounting. Finance. Marketing. Social media. Investments.

Every nonprofit faces these issues and big nonprofits have experts in each. Small and medium size nonprofits have Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. Trusted experts throughout the country join Tony to take on the tough issues facing your organization.

Episode 16 of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for November 5, 2010

Tony’s Guests:

John W. Hicks, CFRE, President and C.E.O. of J.C. Geever, Inc. Mr. Hicks shares techniques to develop your corporate sponsorship strategy and build relationships so you can ask for corporate support with credibility and confidence

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Scott Koegler, editor, Nonprofit Technology News. Scott, our regular tech contributor, returns with product reviews for this back-office necessity. Those in the know recognize that proper accounting is critical to keeping your board, IRS and others looking over your shoulder, satisfied. He’ll review packages like FUND E-Z, AccuFund, Quickbooks and others.

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Here is the link to the podcast: 017: Pass The Cup To Corporations & Fund Accounting Software

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Friday, 1-2pm Eastern.

You can subscribe on iTunes and listen anytime, anyplace on the device of your choosing.

Sign-up for show alerts!

“Like” the show’s Facebook page.

Here is a link to the podcast: 043: Pass the Cup to Corporations and Fund Accounting Software Review.
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