Tag Archives: philanthropy

Are You Listening To “Fundraising Fundamentals?”

I host a podcast for The Chronicle of Philanthropy called “Fundraising Fundamentals.”

It’s a monthly, 10-minute show devoted to fundraising, and I’ve been at it for over a year.

December’s episode is year-end fundraising tips. My guests are Casey Neese, social networking marketing manager for Heifer International, and John Murphy, CEO of Zuri Group.

You’ll find this month’s show, Creative Ideas for Year-End Fundraising Online, on The Chronicle site and on iTunes. You can subscribe from either of those pages.

Each month I have a charity rep and a consultant, and I pick their brains for my listeners.

In June through August there was a 3-month series on grant seeking:

Back in April professor Jen Shang shared her academic research that led to “5 Words To Boost Your Fundraising.” I also featured her on Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio last May 18th.

As you listen to “Fundraising Fundamentals,” please give me your feedback. I listen to listeners.

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.

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.

Nonprofit Radio for October 26, 2012: A Conversation With Jana Eggers & GPS: Global Positioning Scott

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Listen live or archive:

Tony’s Guests:

Jana Eggers and I at bbcon 2012
Jana Eggers: A Conversation With Jana Eggers

She’s the senior vice president of products and marketing for Blackbaud. At their bbcon conference earlier this month we talked about what’s coming in the nonprofit technology market; special considerations for purchasing technology; and leadership lessons she’s learned from being a triathlete.

 

 

Scott Koegler
Scott Koegler: GPS: Global Positioning Scott

Scott Koegler is the editor of Nonprofit Technology News and our technology contributor. This month we’re talking about location based services that use the GPS technology in your smart phone. Foursquare, Instagram, Yelp and Facebook Places are sites that you can learn from, or partner with, to get to know your donors and volunteers better.

 
 


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 link to the audio: 115: A Conversation with Jana Eggers and GPS Scott. You can also subscribe on iTunes to get the podcast automatically.
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Nonprofit Radio for October 12, 2012: End-Of-Year Campaign Coordination & Compensation Clarity

Big Nonprofit Ideas for the Other 95%

Listen live or archive:

Tony’s Guests:

Chris Coletta, John Murphy, Karen J. Collins and me at BBCon 2012
John Murphy, Karen J. Collins and Chris Coletta: End-Of-Year Campaign Coordination

John Murphy, CEO of Zuri Group, Karen J. Collins, Zuri’s technical strategy consultant and Chris Coletta, social media coordinator for Conservation International, were my guests at Blackbaud’s bbcon conference earlier this month. They have strategies to boost your end-of-year campaign with planning; branding; leadership; and creativity. Now’s the time!

 

 

Gene Takagi & Emily Chan
Gene Takagi & Emily Chan: Compensation Clarity

Our regular legal contributors, Gene Takagi and Emily Chan of the Nonprofit & Exempt Organizations Law Group (NEO) answer these questions. How do you determine what’s reasonable compensation for executives? What happens if comp is excessive? What’s the automatic penalty that kicks in if you don’t disclose benefits? Plus, we’ll do a board role play. Let’s see who chairs the meeting.

 


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 link to the audio podcast: 113: End-Of-Year Campaign Coordination & Compensation Clarity. You can also subscribe on iTunes to get it automatically.
View Full Transcript