Nonprofit Connection
| Your link to organizational excellence |
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The Nonprofit Connection is Houston's one-stop resource for nonprofit management services. Whether you need a computer class, a consultant, a board retreat, a new board member or a meeting room for your next board meeting – the Nonprofit Connection is the place to go.
2010 Wage & Benefit Survey – It's not too late!
It really doesn't take as long as you might think – the opening questions are multiple choice. The salary data does take a bit more time, but that is the data that is so important for your salary comparisons and benefits planning. We really need your participation to provide a sizeable sample for these comparisons.
We would like to include your organization's name in our list of participants but be assured that there is NO way to link to specific data.
All organizations that complete the survey by Thursday July 29, close of business, will be entered in a drawing for two free computer classes. ABI, our survey host, will pull two names at random and let you know how to collect your prize.
Start the survey now! |
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| Be Careful What You Cut
In tough economic times, cuts in your development budget are likely to have unintended consequences. Consider these realities:
* Staff members start job hunting or jump at a new opportunity when the recruiter calls.
* Staff cut back on donor interactions, leaving major donors feeling disconnected – and more likely to give to those organizations who maintain high contact levels.
* Fundraising costs actually increase in terms of cost per dollar raised as administrative activities take an increasing percentage of work time.
* You lost contact with donors at a time when they are especially in need of touchstones, success stories and meaningful work that embodies their personal values.
* Stewardship activities that help retain donors are the first cut – even though research proves that it is more cost-effective to retain current donors than to secure new ones.
* When the post-recession bounce hits (and this is a historically documented reality), you will not likely be in donors post-recession giving plans.
Excerpted from "Creative Cost Cutting?" by Kevin Johnson, CFRE, in Advancing Philanthropy, March-April 2009.
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| 2009 Giving USA Results Released | |
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| While giving topped $307 billion in 2008, this number marks only the second decline in philanthropic giving recorded since the GIVING USA survey began gathering data in 1956. Giving reached $314 in 2007.
Social service organizations experienced the largest decline, dropping 12.7% in giving. With demand for services growing, the decrease in available revenue has generated an array of belt-tightening measures including program cuts and staff reductions.
Despite the dip overall giving, the fact that donors contributed more than $207 billion in spite of the grim economic environment is a reminder of the remarkable generosity of Americans. |
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| Interpreting New Disclosure Requirements | |
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With all the extra work nonprofits have shouldered in this difficult economy, who has time for more paperwork? The fact is that everyone will have to make time in order to be in compliance with the new 990 requirements for public disclosure. The new 990 does ask nonprofits to specify how they make forms 990, 990-T and 1023 or 1024 (conflict of interest policy) governing documents and financial statements available for public inspection. Although the specific tax forms are required to be made available, the way it is done is optional.
Further, the only disclosure requirements are three years of the most current 990s and the Form 1023. There is no federal tax law requiring that governing documents, conflict of interest policies or financial statements be made available to the public. Tax forms can be made available on web sites like Guidestar.org; other requests for information beyond the 1023 can be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Excerpted from NonProfit Times Newsletter 7/28/2009 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
