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Aug 2012Apples or Oranges?
A post by James V. Toscano The news story states that Charity Navigator’s 2012 Metro Market Study “reveals the regional differences in the performance of the nation’s biggest charities.” The study compares the median process scores on Financial Health (FH) and on Accountability and Transparency (AT) of the largest nonprofits in each of the thirty largest metropolitan areas. The study covers 56% of the 5500 charities evaluated by Charity Navigator, accounting for 67% of both revenue and expenditure of the group. Using this process methodology, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Portland are highest rated, while Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg,…
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Aug 2012Razoo Guest Post
Dania T. Miwa was featured in Razoo‘s blog Inspiring Generosity. Here is a link her guest post 5 Myths About Using Social Media to Raise Funds.
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Aug 2012Two Themes – Part Two
A post by James V. Toscano Research shows that there is additional private funding for nonprofits available from donors interested in high-level impact investing. We also know another significant potential is the switching of existing donations to these very same high impact investments. Estimates of both reach approximately $50 billion, about one-sixth of current private donations. Now, the redoing of government funding and appropriations for social impact guarantees and/or for impact bonding funds is happening. Some of these new revenue arrangements need intermediaries, some get payback only if success is achieved, but all have one element in common: the achieving…
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Aug 2012Two Themes – Part One
A post by James V. Toscano Recently, Greater Twin Cities United Way, with MAP for Nonprofits and Wilder Foundation, sponsored a “New Structures for New Times” conference. Over 500 nonprofit and foundation representatives attended, hearing that our nonprofit sector needs to strengthen through collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, dissolutions, and “similar proactive steps. The familiar litany of reasons for these actions were all mentioned: government cuts, “new normal,” need for more businesslike management, increasing societal need. The overall theme in this work is that we are faced with a dilemma, given the number of nonprofits and the shrinking resources available to them.
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Jul 2012Why Your Nonprofit Should Try Out Social Media for Fundraising
A post by Ifdy Perez Many nonprofits are standing at the threshold, unsure of whether investing time and money in the “social media thing” is worth it. Nonprofits have important missions to accomplish, so adding something onto their already jam-packed schedules or finding room in an already stretched-out budget makes it less appealing. With this post, I wanted to help start a dialogue with nonprofits on the fence about social media. Here are 4 reasons why your nonprofit should consider jumping on the social media train. It’s Where the People Are Each year, the number of people who join social…
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Jul 2012Donor Stewardship Mnemonics
A post by James V. Toscano mne·mon·ics: the process or technique of improving or developing the memory. The Four R’s: Retention = Reporting, Rewarding, Renewing Donor retention is one of the most important tasks in the development responsibilities of a nonprofit organization. After substantial effort in terms of time and resources, translating suspects into prospects and prospects into donors is one of the great accomplishments in fund-raising. Cultivation and solicitation of new donors are among the great skills of the fund-raising community. To retain and upgrade the donor becomes the significant ongoing task, and many organizations fail in this essential activity….
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Jul 2012Advanced Fundraising Mnemonics
A post by James V. Toscano mne·mon·ics: the process or technique of improving or developing the memory. In this outing, we go from alliterative letters, e.g. WWW, PPPP, to catch phrases to capture more complex fundraising concepts. We often use catch phrases to provide the key to lists or formulations, e.g. “”My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas,” gives us the clues we need to list the planets in order from the sun, at least the old order of planets before Pluto got thrown out! The Roles of the Board Prince Paul Favors Fresh Oranges There is frequent…
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Jul 2012Board Selection Mnemonics
A post by James V. Toscano mne·mon·ics: the process or technique of improving or developing the memory Let’s trot out the old chestnuts, those alliterative mnemonics often quoted in training and articles about the type people who should be on a nonprofit organization’s board. Governance is always one of the leading topics of discussion and controversy in nonprofits, both in sector and academic circles. One sometimes hears three prescriptive letters summarizing desired qualities of prospective board members, sometimes not understood, sometimes dismissed, sometimes used cynically, and sometimes followed with insight. A variety of “schools” e.g. Carver, Benevan, cite specific roles…
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Jun 2012Useful Fundraising Mnemonics
A post by James V. Toscano mne·mon·ics: the process or technique of improving or developing the memory. While fundraising is a complex process, there are certain devices that jog the memory when working in specific situations. Over the years, I have developed a number of these memory-jogging simplicities to ensure sophisticated processes. Here are two: the 3A Rule and the 4P Rule. The Three A Rule: 1. Ask: It’s amazing how much planning, scenarios and time are spent in setting up cultivation of a prospect that never results in an ask. Until you ask. you are an empty shell, an…
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Jun 2012Thoughts on Twive & Receive
A post by Dania Toscano Miwa I had a great time representing the Animal Humane Society for Minneapolis and getting Minnesota even more recognition on the national philanthropy map. However, it truly had very little to do with me. The Animal Humane Society’s donors are the real hero’s of the day and I want to yet again publically extend my sincere thanks to them. THANK YOU!