Tag Archives: charity

Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for October 1, 2010

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 12 of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for October 1, 2010

Tony’s Guests:

Maria Semple, The Prospect Finder.

“Go Beyond Google: Gourmet Prospect Research on a Goulash Budget

Tips on free prospect research resources to know your existing donors better and find new ones”

Cathleen Rittereiser, co-author, “Foundation and Endowment Investing”.

Everlasting Endowment: Techniques to keep your endowment safe and invested right; Your CFO and board should listen

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

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    Here is the link to the podcast: 012: Going Beyond Google & Everlasting Endowment
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Outstanding Planned Gift: Life Insurance

On September 15, The Wall Street Journal ran an advertising supplement to commemorate Life Insurance Awareness Month. September is a more holy month than I realized. I presume the 7-page supplement was paid for by the insurance companies with the ads.

I was gratified to see a small portion devoted to life insurance as a charitable gift, and I’d like to riff on that.

Life insurance is an outstanding planned gift: easy for your donors to execute; small dollars can be leveraged for a large ultimate gift (the death benefit, or a portion of it); one policy can provide for family and one or more nonprofits; you may see an increase to your net assets; and, your donors may enjoy an income tax charitable deduction.

Making your nonprofit a beneficiary of an existing policy is easiest. A donor merely asks the insurance company for a change of beneficiary form and includes you on it, noting your legal name and federal tax ID number. (You do publicize those widely, I hope.) When talking to a donor, it’s wise to acknowledge your awareness that family comes first, and also point out that one policy can leave money to loved ones and your organization. You can be named to receive 100% of the proceeds, or a family member can get, say, 70% and you get 30%.

As well, multiple nonprofits can be beneficiaries of the same policy. That comes in handy when your donor balks because they have other charities to support. You’d rather have 10 or 15 percent of something–and share with others–than 100% of nothing.

The beneficiary designation is a revocable gift: your donor can change their mind any time. For that reason, the IRS does not grant an income tax deduction.

For the donor willing to make their gift irrevocable, they can name you as policy owner. Because you’re the owner, you will get the premium notices. Along with the gift you should secure your donor’s pledge to keep making premium payments. When payment notices arrive in your office, you write a polite reminder to the donor, asking them to make payment to you and you turn around and pay the insurance company. When you send reminders, you have opportunities: thank your donor for their gift and show them the increased cash surrender value, as a reflection of the value of the gift to your organization.

Your CFO will like this: the owned policy is an addition to net assets. The ever-increasing (as long as premium payments are made) cash surrender value can be carried on your balance sheet. (Technically, it’s a restricted net asset; the restriction being the donor’s life.)

The premium payments your donor makes earn an income tax deduction because they are made on a policy owned by a charity. We’ve had clients credit and recognize those payments as an annual fund gift.

Your donor also earns an income tax deduction. If they give you an existing policy on which they are still making payments (i.e. not fully paid-up), their deduction is close to the policy’s cash surrender value. Precisely, it’s the interpolated terminal reserve, which is slightly higher than the cash surrender value. Talking to our clients’ donors, I always say they can expect their deduction to be roughly the cash surrender value, and they need to consult their tax advisor. Deduction limitations apply.

If the gift to you is a fully paid-up policy, meaning premium payments are no longer due, the deduction is the lesser of replacement value and cost basis. Replacement value is what it will cost to buy a comparable policy in the market and cost basis is the stream of payments the donor made over the policy’s life. Again, advise your donor to talk to their tax professional.

Life insurance makes a great planned gift. Go out and get some for your nonprofit.

Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for September 24, 2010

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 11 of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio for September 24, 2010

  • Guest 1: Chris McGurn, Portfolio Manager & Sr. V.P., PNC Institutional Investments.


Tips for choosing the right money manager and having a smooth relationship with your financial partner

Tune-up your Planned Giving program; how to hire the right financial partner and techniques to enjoy a great working relationship with your provider. Chris’s background includes work as a Director of Planned Giving, so he’s been on your side of the relationship.

  • Guest 2: Paula Marks, recruiter.

“I’m Looking, We’re Looking(recurring feature)

Guest Paula Marks shares her 30 years of recruiting and HR experience with Jenni Shi, who has a background in finance and is looking for a job in nonprofits. That’s a very popular transition today. Paula gives Jenni tips to distinguish herself in the job marketplace and broaden her networking–tips that can help your search!

TMNR wants to broaden this feature in future shows to include a nonprofit with an opening: “We’re Looking.” Email me if you’d like to participate.

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Here is the link to the podcast: 008: Planned Giving and Your Job Search
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Cracking the Books on Failure & Shortcomings

Businessman with face pressed against wall, profile, close-up

I recently have seen charities willing to disclose outcomes that are less than flattering, and I applaud them. I hope it’s the beginning of a trend. I wonder if it grows out of the pressure from regulators for mandatory transparency and increased accountability from the sector.

My awareness was first raised by Stephanie Strom’s coverage of FailureFaire, sponsored by The World Bank. Charity:water’s video “Live Drill: It Doesn’t Always Work,” about a failed project in Central African Republic came to me shortly after, as did the Case Foundation blog post “The Painful Acknowledgement of Coming Up Short.”

Ms. Strom and I discussed openness about failure on the August 27th broadcast of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. As she explained, it’s been almost unheard of among nonprofits, probably because they fear a donor backlash. Presumably, the conventional wisdom goes, no donor (or donor nation) wants their name and money associated with an unsuccessful outcome. But no less than The World Bank and Case have gone very public. The charity:water video was a celebration of its fourth anniversary.

Not all disclosures are willing and voluntary. The Seattle Foundation website now discloses its data and research on almost 700 local charities, in a user-friendly format. It’s open to any visitor to their Giving Center without registration.

I see simple honesty and I admire it. I hope we see more of it. I have faith in donors and I believe the vast majority will accept a straightforward outcomes assessment that is accompanied by a sensible plan for what to do next.

Broken Link in Chain

Charity:water has long been recognized for its culture of accountability, but its video nearly boasts about the trying failure–as CEO Harrison assures donors the quest for clean water in that village will continue. As the title hints, Jean Case’s post is a refreshingly heartfelt account of how, “Reality doesn’t always play out like the business plan calls for.”

I think a lot about regulatory oversight and there’s no question charities face a considerable amount brought on by federal and state authorities. We have the intense IRS Form 990; the Red Flags Rule from the Federal Trade Commission; state privacy protection laws; state charitable gift annuity regulations; and state Charity Registration requirements for solicitations, to name but a few.

Meanwhile, watchdog groups like Charity Navigator and Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance are revamping their analyses and a few, including GuideStar, may standardize their reporting format, as reported by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Many nonprofits adjust practices to achieve high ratings or “approved” status.

Might our culture of involuntary disclosure and forced accountability be stimulating charities to voluntarily trumpet shortcomings?

Nonprofit Radio for September 17, 2010: The Attention Factor & Fundraising Software Ideas

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

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

Tony’s Guests:

Alice Aspen March, author of The Attention Factor!® Discovery Book. She shares tips to give attention–and be present in all senses–when talking to your donors,co-workers, board and volunteers. How can you achieve full attention and non-distraction in your professional relationships?

Scott Koegler, Editor, Nonprofit Technology News. Scott and I will talk about what you need to know about fundraising software. Whether your budget and donor list are several hundred or many thousands, there is software suited to your size and bottom line.

Here is a link to the podcast: 007: Your Attention and Nonprofit Software

This Friday from 1-2pm this week and every week!


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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

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