Where our people share their thoughts and advice with your people.
It might sound a little old-fashioned – bringing to mind Depression-era great- grandparents stashing their spare dollar bills in cookie jars and under mattresses – but a cash reserve has never been more relevant. In this blog I lay out the case for setting aside contingency funds, along with the steps to get you started.
Volunteers bring fabulous skills to the table, but many do not have the time, desire or skillset (and you need all three!) to take on the operational/administrative tasks required to make your nonprofit run like a well-oiled machine. I want to share with you how Kids' Chance of North Carolina utilized one of our Nonprofit Virtual Assistants, freeing their volunteer board members to excel at what they each do best.
Read MoreThe biggest fundraising months of the year will be upon us soon. I’d like to share with you how the support of a Nonprofit Virtual Assistant (NPVA) helped Kids’ Chance of Massachusetts make their first virtual fundraising event an unqualified success. If you’re thinking of taking a fundraising event virtual this year, read on for some great tips.
Read MoreSaying thank you never goes out of style. It’s simply good manners in all walks of life; especially in fundraising. Donors want to know that their contributions, large and small, are appreciated and will be used for their intended purpose.
Read MoreSometimes people use the words “mentoring” and “coaching” interchangeably, but in reality, their intent is somewhat different. Both share the basic objective of helping a professional reach peak performance and organizational success, though the approach used in a coaching relationship varies from that of a mentoring relationship. A bit. Or do they, really?
Read MoreWe all struggle with out-of-control email boxes. Nonprofits are no exception, often receiving hundreds of emails a day. Reading and responding to every message in a timely manner is a drain on volunteer resources, yet we know that email has become a preferred method of communication for many key stakeholders. Email can be a highly productive and effective form of communication, but it must be managed in a time efficient manner.
Read MoreI can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from busy executives that they need an assistant to help them get caught up but are so swamped that they don’t have time to find one.
Read MoreVolunteers engage with a nonprofit because they want to support the mission. But whatever work they do for your organization is in addition to their full-time jobs.
Read MoreIn almost all cases, as a consultant I believe I was able to play an effective role in advancing these nonprofits by addressing their pain-points and challenges, finding solutions to obstacles, and helping their leadership to navigate a path toward growth and sustainability. Have you considered using a consultant to help create a pathway to success for your organization?
Read MoreIn a recent study by Nonprofit Hub, 90 percent of nonprofits reported they are collecting data, but a surprising 49 percent stated they didn’t know how data was being collected nor did they feel the data was being adequately maintained. The amount and type of data collected will vary from one organization to the next, but it will be a valuable asset when it is gathered and maintained properly, with its integrity kept intact.
Read MoreNo industry has avoided the pandemic, including the nonprofit sector, where the most direct impact has been financial. The demand for services has increased dramatically while most organizations do not have the funding in reserve to address these growing needs. This often results in prioritizing services, back-burner-ing nonessential programs and staff, and rethinking how funds can be raised in a new and sometimes unconventional manner – and quickly.
Read MoreHave you made a New Year’s resolution to get more done? Are you trying to be more productive and efficient? I don’t know anyone who couldn’t do with a little more time, and the more I find that I must do, the faster the time seems to go.
Read MoreMeetings are an essential part of the life of every nonprofit organization. They are how most organizations discuss their activities, make decisions, and put action steps in place to move forward.
Read MoreThe fourth quarter of the calendar year (Q4) is considered to be the best time of the year for nonprofits to raise funds. Are you prepared to take advantage of end-of-year giving opportunities?
Read MoreQ4 is considered the best time of the year to raise funds. Are you prepared to take advantage of end-of-year giving opportunities?
Read MorePursuing grant funding from foundations and other grantmakers can be a big job. Whether you hire a professional grantwriter or write grant proposals yourself, the actual writing is only part of the work. There are application dates to juggle, supplementary materials to compile, and forms to fill out. The process can be overwhelming, especially for small organizations.
Read MoreAs an NPVA for several nonprofits, I have found that the time from Labor Day to Thanksgiving seems to be the busiest for the nonprofit sector. We have supported virtual fundraisers, award presentations, national conferences, board meetings, social media campaigns, and more. It’s hard to catch your breath during the fall each year!
Read MoreWho is responsible for what? A critical question when developing a strong working relationship between the board president and the executive director. Of course, we know that operational activities typically fall with the executive director while broader, strategic decisions fall to the board. Does this need to be taken a step further?
Read MoreThe hiring process is the most important aspect to recruiting and selecting an excellent assistant. However, for many nonprofits without dedicated human resources departments, finding the right employee at exactly the right time can present an especially time-consuming and frustrating struggle. No matter how you slice it, there are certain things you must do to ensure a good result.
Read MoreLike it or not, we are now living in a world where we are working virtually. Positions once defined as onsite FTE’s are now being replaced with remote working subcontractors.
Read MoreNonprofits are resilient. We believe in the cause and that propels us to success no matter the obstacles. We can do this!
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