All posts by Tony Martignetti

Charity Registration Matters

please comply
Complying with state laws that mandate registration before your charity solicits in a state is good business for a number of reasons.

First, failure to comply can embarrass you. New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s “Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund” is a generous, well-intentioned endeavor. The website says it’s a “charitable non-profit organization” but the fund is not registered with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charity Registration Section.

I have neither the time nor inclination to check registration status for specific charities, unless they’re my registration clients.

In this case, blogger Blue Jersey had the time and was so inclined. I think that’s embarrassing for the fund. Performer Mary J. Blige was embarrassed earlier this year when her charity was investigated by the New York attorney general.

Do you think only high profile charities are at risk? There was a small Connecticut police charity exposed by a freedom of information act complaint. The head of the organization was fined $22,500.

Second, your board members are at risk because they’re fiduciaries to your nonprofit. I explain the risk and share an example in this video from the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation.

Finally, the IRS wants to know if you’re complying. Form 990 (here), part VI, question 17 asks for the states in which you’re required to file the 990. That’s a part of registration in every state.

To help you get into compliance I wrote “Charity Registration: State-by-State Guidelines for Compliance.”

Come into the flock of compliant charities and register in each state where you solicit. It matters.

Nonprofit Radio for November 16, 2012: 34 Things To Know About People & Get Engaged II

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Listen live or archive:

Tony’s Guests:

Andrea Nierenberg
Andrea Nierenberg: 34 Things To Know About People

Andrea Nierenberg, president of Nierenberg Consulting Group, returns. She had so much simple and valuable relationship-building advice spilling out of her on October 5, I invited her back. This week she’s got 34 things to know and how to learn them, how to preserve them, and what to do with them.

 
 

Amy Sample Ward
Amy Sample Ward: Get Engaged II

Amy Sample Ward, our social media scientist, continues our series on real engagement and building trust through the social networks. Last month was setting the tone. This month it’s your call to action. Amy is director for Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) and blogs for Stanford Social Innovation Review.

 
 


Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

Here is the audio link to the show: 118: 34 Things To Know About People & Get Engaged II. You can also subscribe on iTunes to get the podcast automatically.
View Full Transcript

Uplifting Outpouring After Sandy

CSR courtesy of TSalon on Flickr
I saw several companies come forward to genuinely help their clients hurt by Hurricane Sandy, and I want to share examples.

How did your nonprofit react? (You’re not permitted to unless your by-laws allow it. That was part of the interview with Gene Takagi and Emily Chan on my November 2 show.)

There are many people still in need and I’ve got a list of ways you can help.

I’m not a Chase Bank customer, but they wanted me to know they were helping victims and they were the first company I heard from. Here’s what they said on October 28, the day before the storm hit New York City:

We are waiving the following Chase fees through Wednesday, October 31st for customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Please know that you’ll have until the end of business on Thursday to make a deposit or a payment to bring your account current and avoid the fees.

  • Overdraft Protection Transfer, Extended Overdraft, Returned Item and Insufficient Funds Fees for deposit accounts.
  • Late fees on credit cards, business and consumer loans, including mortgages, home-equity, auto and student loans.

On Tuesday the 30th, Chase extended the fee waivers an extra day, added more states and said, “We have empowered our employees to be very accommodating to your hurricane-related circumstances in waiving fees, including the early withdrawal fees on most CDs . . ..”

It’s so smart to think proactively, rather than make customers plead.

My voice mail was down for two weeks and AT&T makes me call if I want a rebate for those days. (I’m not comparing voice mail to the devastation many suffered, merely making a point about corporate thoughtfulness.) My ISP, on the other hand, promised to issue automatic credits for service outages. No groveling needed.

This former Bank of America customer got his first email from them on November 2. They were late to the game but scored points with lenient credit arrangements and lots of refunded fees, including non-BoA ATM fees. Chase didn’t mention those.


JetBlue awarded donors 6 TrueBlue points for every dollar donated to the Red Cross, and matched up to $50,000 in donations. This struck me as very thoughtful: “We are supporting the crewmembers who have lost everything through our own internal fund first, in order to keep the public funds dedicated to our communities at large.”

That sounds like a company with a heart.

Here’s one that helps victims exercise theirs. New York Sports Clubs opened to all New Yorkers. Just bring a towel and you may take a hot shower or work out at any club in the City. (For the hardest hit, towels are scarce. I bet the clubs are sympathetic.)


I got a good feeling when I saw corporate generosity follow crushing adversity. Bravi!

Nonprofit Radio for November 9, 2012: As You Help The Next Generation of Social Changers & Public Info On Private Companies

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Listen live or archive:

Tony’s Guests:

Jonathan Lewis
Jonathan Lewis: As You Help The Next Generation of Social Changers

Jonathan Lewis, founder of iOnPoverty, produces career advice video interviews with leaders in nonprofit social change. His videos are free, short and valuable as you lead and mentor 20-somethings who want to make a difference in the world. We’ll listen to clips from “Mentoring for Dummies” and “Shut the Hell Up.”

 

Maria Semple
Maria Semple: Public Info On Private Companies

Maria Semple, The Prospect Finder and our prospect research contributor is back, this time with free and low-fee ways to get information on your prospects’ privately held companies. The companies might be small, and relationships are as important as data.

 
 


Top Trends. Sound Advice. Lively Conversation.

You’re on the air and on target as I delve into the big issues facing your nonprofit—and your career.

If you have big dreams but an average budget, tune in to Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio.

I interview the best in the business on every topic from board relations, fundraising, social media and compliance, to technology, accounting, volunteer management, finance, marketing and beyond. Always with you in mind.

When and where: Talking Alternative Radio, Fridays, 1-2PM Eastern

Sign-up for show alerts!

Here is a link the audio recording of the show: 117: As You Help The Next Generation Of Social Changers & Public Info On Private Companies. You can also subscribe on iTunes to get the podcast automatically.
View Full Transcript

Hurricane Sandy: Ways To Help

Hurricane Sandy Flooding Avenue C 2012 courtesy of David Shankbone on Flickr
There are a lot of ways to help Hurricane Sandy victims. Here are a few that I announced on today’s Nonprofit Radio:

  • Nationally, there’s American Red Cross; donate at redcross.org; or, text RedCross to 90999 to give $10 to disaster relief; you can also volunteer to help
  • Feeding America has thousands of pounds of emergency food, water and supplies throughout the disaster zone. To donate, go to feedingamerica.org
  • Save the Children is also working to provide relief to families and their children. Visit savethechildren.org to donate
  • Two-time guest Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and CraigConnects is matching donations up to $25,000 for Sandy victims. crowdrise.com/sandyrelief
  • In NY, hundreds of blood drives were cancelled because of the hurricane. Now we need blood. If you want to donate blood go to www.nybloodcenter.org
  • For tekkies in NY, NY Tech Meetup and New WORK City are organizing volunteers with technology skills to help with relief efforts and help New York-area businesses and organizations get their technology back up and running. Go to bit.ly/hurricanetechvolunteers

I know Craig has already passed $25,000. People can still donate.

Update: Nov. 4 at 5:30pm

The NYCC Downtown Brooklyn office will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and is in urgent need of donated supplies, which can be dropped off at their conveniently-located office. They’re also accepting volunteers—especially those with vehicles who can help deliver aid. Have questions? Email Info at nycommunities dot org or call (347) 410-6919 extension 286. Their address is 2-4 Nevins St, 2nd Fl Brooklyn, NY 11217.

Here is a list of supplies needed:

  • Non-perishable food
  • Bottled water
  • Baby food
  • Baby blankets
  • Diapers
  • Batteries of all sizes, but especially D and AA

Make the Road — If you can make it to Staten Island, Make the Road needs supplies to distribute there, especially non-perishable food and warm clothes and blankets. Their Staten Island office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 479 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 10302. For more information, email Daniel.Coates at maketheroadny dot org or call (718) 727-1222 extension 3445.

Update: Nov. 11, at 2:50am

You can text a $10 donation to the following charities:

  • American Red Cross: Text REDCROSS to 90999
  • United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund: Text RECOVERY to 52000
  • Food Bank for New York: Text FBNYC to 50555
  • New Jersey Community Good Bank: Text FEEDNJ to 80888
  • New York Cares: Text iCARE to 8594

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We’ll add more resources as we learn of them. Also, please feel free to leave links to resources in the comment section below.