Nonprofit Spark - Renee McGivern

Nonprofit Spark – Nominating committee: The unsung hero of non-profit sustainability – 05/21/12

billschiffler — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:41:05 +0000

The unsung hero of nonprofit boards is the nominating committee. I don’t know why, but its work is undervalued by many, many non-profits. The finance committee is a big deal. The fundraising or event committee is a big deal. And then there’s the lowly nominating committee, which is pulled together for a few months with the task of finding new board members – and you better be quick about it!

My guest this week and I have figured out over the years, that the nominating committee IS the one charged with the responsibility of building the organization’s future. The committee members are looking out this year, over three years, over six years and discussing, “Here is where this organization is headed, so here is who must be on our board to secure that future.” The nominating committee cannot be an after thought if you are serious about a sustainable future for your organization.

This week’s guest is Trisha Lester, vice president of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, a statewide association serving 501(c)(3) organizations. It provides information about best practices and also advocates for the nonprofit sector at the state legislature. On this show, Trisha provides context and advice for your nominating committee, and draws from the experience of her own committee. This is a perfect show to share with your board president, vice president and of course, your nominating committee.

Nonprofit Spark – Thriving in this economy: Fundraising tips from Kim Klein 051412

billschiffler — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:22:37 +0000

The economy is limping along and so is income for a large number of nonprofits, many whom were just making it before the recession. When you’ve cut as deep as you can, and foregone salary increases for several years, what should you do? That’s right. Give more time and attention to your individual donors and fundraising.

On this week’s show, I have a delightful conversation with Kim Klein, a passionate fundraising consultant and blogger who will get you thinking about new actions to take to build your non-profit’s individual donor base. It’s no longer prudent for any non-profit to treat individual fundraising like an afterthought – and we’re talking about you if you hastily assemble spring and year-end campaigns that look the same as the past few years. Your lack of imagination is recognized by donors.

During our discussion, Kim also describes what sustainability is, and encourages nonprofit leaders to be more thoughtful and vocal about the role of public funding. Kim is the author of several books, including Fundraising for Social Change, now in its 6th edition, and also, Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times.

This is a fun, thought-provoking show, and we hope you laugh as much as we did during the interview!

Nonprofit Spark – Writing a grant proposal: The funder’s point of view – 05/07/12

billschiffler — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:01:19 +0000

This week’s show focuses on writing non-profit grant proposals but it comes from the funders point of view. You can find all kinds of information on the web or in your library about how to write a grant proposal, but actually very little about how it feels to be the one who has to read it and even, reject it. New nonprofit leaders, in particular, will find this show helpful because you’ll get honest comments from the director of a small but very typical grant-making organization.

What does a funder look for in a proposal? What is it like to sift through dozens more proposals from non-profits than you can possibly fund? What annoys a funder so much that your project will be tossed in the trash?

My guest this week is Kristen Smith, the Executive Director of Planet Dog Foundation. It’s the nonprofit arm of the company, Planet Dog, which contributes 2% of every sale of any Planet Dog product to fund the foundation’s grant-making activities.

Before leading the Planet Dog Foundation, Kristin worked in a variety of nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad, doing development and fundraising, legislative activism, grassroots mobilization and education, communications and public relations. In other words, she’s been in your shoes!

Nonprofit Spark – Using dashboards for nonprofit evaluation – 04/30/12

billschiffler — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:01:52 +0000

This week’s episode is a “show and tell show,” which means that my guest and I want you to look at sample dashboards as we talk about them. Please download the worksheet with Sample dashboards here before you listen to the show.

A dashboard gives nonprofit leaders an at-a-glance view of what’s happening in the organization. It measures progress at a higher level, much like your car dashboard indicates what’s happening under the hood of your car. New nonprofits who quickly succeed use evaluation to discover what part of what they’re doing is effective, and to get better and better at it. They discover what’s not working, too, and get it out of the way. Learning and evaluation go hand in hand, and donors can’t resist supporting organizations that can say with confidence, “This is what we do, this is what we know works, this is what we’ve learned, and won’t you learn with us?”

My guest this week is Myia Welsh, an independent evaluation consultant who provides ethical and practical solutions to the evaluation challenges of nonprofits. Her passion for helping nonprofits improve programs and meet their missions is backed by more than 12 years of experience in the sector. Organizations that Myia has worked with include The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Myia holds an MSW specializing in Social Policy and Program Evaluation from the University of Michigan.

Myia has been kind enough to create dashboards for a fictitious organization, Happy Paws Animal Rescue, and we talk about each one on the show. Now, it’s easy to dismiss these dashboards as being too simple to be useful, but don’t be too hasty. Evaluation experts like Myia know how effective dashboards are in supporting decision-making and board governance.

Nonprofit Spark – Delegating and letting someone go – 04/23/12

billschiffler — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:01:14 +0000

This week’s show is a replay of a great episode about non-profit management that aired the week of December 12, 2012. Specifically, we discuss delegating and letting someone go. What are the elements of effective delegation? How do you balance handing over a project and making sure it stays on track? What should you do when you realize you’ve got a staff person who isn’t a fit for the work she’s been hired to do? My guests this week, Jerry Hauser and Monique Ayotee-Holtzel of the Management Center, describe a delegation cycle they use to assign and review work. They talk about their own experience and mistakes in managing people and also, a progressive discipline process to address performance problems. Hauser is the CEO of the Management Center, based in Washington, D.C. It’s mission is to instill the management practices that make it easier for nonprofit leaders to produce outstanding results. Ayotee-Holtzel, at the time of the original interview, was executive vice president of alumni affairs at Teach for America, which is based in New York, NY. She is now on staff at the Management Center. If you’ve ever worried about or been accused of being a micromanager, this show is for you!

Nonprofit Spark – A nonprofit reinvents itself: LiveWorkPlay takes on social change – 04/16/12

billschiffler — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:01:34 +0000

It’s National Volunteer Week in Canada and so I speak this week with the leader of an organization that has transformed the way it thinks about and manages volunteers. The show isn’t just about volunteers, though. You’ll hear how about an honest-to-goodness transformation in how this agency serves its members, and how the board and staff function.

This conversation ties in beautifully to the Interview with Paul Schmitz of Public Allies a few weeks ago. Paul is the author of a new book, Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up. In our conversation the week of March 5, 2012, he shared passionately that nonprofits need to give up a programmatic model of operation to focus instead on causing lasting social change. It requires seeking out and nurturing leaders in their communities. Paul is a thought-provoking change agent, and he manages a dozen offices throughout the country. So after the interview I wondered, well, where can I find a smaller, local nonprofit that is actually shifting from a programmatic model of service to focusing on causing social change?

Lo and behold, I discovered Keenan Wellar an Executive Staff Co-Leader of LiveWorkPlay, an Ottawa, Canada nonprofit that supports people with intellectual disabilities to have a good life. Keenan is co-founder of the organization with his wife, Julie Kingstone. He has a background in teaching and special education, he is a master at social media, and he is learning to be a marketing genius. Keenan describes how LiveWorkPlay used to serve its members, tap into volunteers, and operate day to day. And he then contrasts that with what is happening now because of their renewed commitment to the original intention of the organization: Changing how the community views people with intellectual disabilities. Here’s a real, on-the-ground example of organizational reinvention that’s beginning to cause lasting social change in Ottawa. I hope you enjoy it.

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofit Best Practices in Volunteer Communication – 04/09/12

billschiffler — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:01:39 +0000

April is National Volunteers Month so I want to revisit the topic of volunteer management. Earlier this year, I had Susan Ellis of Energize, Inc, on the show, and she made an excellent Case for strategic volunteerism in nonprofits. That interview aired the week of January 23, 2012. Now here’s a new twist: Have you ever heard of an NFL team that manages some 6,000 volunteers for local nonprofits? That’s what the Miami Dolphins organization does for nonprofits in South Florida. Last April, I had them on the show to talk about the one-year anniversary of what they call the Miami Dolphins Special Teams by Chevy program.

The Dolphins organization initiated the volunteer management program in 2010 after they heard the news that South Florida ranked last in the nation in percentage of volunteers, and volunteer hours per capita. They developed an online system that lists volunteer opportunities in the area, and makes it easy for residents to sign up for them. And then the staff sends out the confirmations and instructions, and afterward, thank yous. They also track volunteer hours and offer incentives for philanthropic volunteering.

On this week’s show, I speak with Leslie Nixon, manager of volunteers for the Miami Dolphins, who predicts a two-year total of 100,000 hours of donated time by the end of this month. Leslie describes in detail how the Special Teams staff communicates with nonprofits and volunteers so they keep coming back and spreading the word about their good experiences. She and her staff have volunteer management down to a science. I love this program.

Nonprofit Spark – Embracing change in the non-profit sector – 04/02/12

billschiffler — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:01:04 +0000

This week, we get an eagle’s-eye view of the nonprofit sector from Bob Ottenhoff, CEO of Guidestar, an online service where you can find detailed information about your favorite nonprofits. We discuss what’s happening in the non-profit sector, what his concerns are for it, and what opportunities he sees for nonprofits, particularly in light of continuing uncertainty about government funding. He urges nonprofit leaders to see this as a great period of liberation and to embrace change. You’ll be inspired!

Bob is leaving his job later this year after 10 years in that role. During his tenure, he and his staff have made Guidestar a national model for nonprofit sustainability, generating sufficient earned revenues to cover operating costs while still providing most services for free.

Nonprofit Spark – Technical assistance from Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations – 03/26/12

billschiffler — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:02:09 +0000

Many nonprofits run on a tight budget and will love to hear that there’s an organization of very bright undergraduate students who are eager to provide pro bono consultation to local non-profits. Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations has a growing number of chapters on college and university campuses. SCNO members apply their personal skills and coursework knowledge toward complex issues facing nearby non-profits. Not all students can join the chapters, only the ones who are very bright and demonstrate the ability to work with a team and devote the time to consulting. I speak with two guests this week. One is Michael Gallagher, who serves on the national volunteer board of SCNO and has the primary duty of expanding the number of campus chapters. He is a 2008 graduate of Michigan State University where he participated in the SCNO chapter and consulted with nonprofits. The other guest is Julie Ufford, an environmental engineering major at Johns Hopkins University who founded an SCNO chapter on campus this year where three projects with nonprofits have just kicked off. Their enthusiasm for making a difference is infectious and the nonprofits who’ve worked with SCNO student have been thrilled.

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofit crisis management best practices: Dealing with fraud – 03/19/12

billschiffler — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:02:26 +0000

Every month, I see at least one story in an American newspaper about an employee of a nonprofit who has stolen money from the organization. Theft happens across a spectrum of large and small, national and local, efficient and inefficient nonprofits. In every story, the leaders say they were completely shocked that a person they trusted, worked beside, shared lunch with, and thought they knew was stealing from their non-profit.

So what is it like to discover fraud and how would you handle it? Recently, there was a story in the newspaper about Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit that delivers meals to the chronically ill. The organization’s leaders had just discovered that a trusted employee had set up arrangements with several agencies to deliver meals to their constituents. Unbeknownst to the agencies, their payments for the meal deliveries were being pocketed by the employee. The incident is still under investigation but early on, it looked as though the theft involved more than $100,000 in less than a year.

When I read the newspaper article, it was clear to me that the organization, Open Arms of Minnesota, was doing everything right in how they were handling the situation. I am so pleased to have on the show this week, Jennifer Van Wyk, deputy director of Open ARMS of Minnesota, who generously shares how they have been dealing with this crisis and in particular, communicating about it. I suggest you read the letter they sent their constituents to get context for the show: View Letter to constituents on their website.

Nonprofit Spark – Primer on managing your non-profit’s cash flow – 03/12/12

billschiffler — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:01:35 +0000

Most leaders of active non-profits produce a monthly balance sheet and income statement. However, many don’t produce a cash flow projection which tells executives and board members if they’ll have enough cash in the bank to cover the bills every month. On this week’s show, my guest and I discuss why managing cash flow and using a projection is so helpful. For instance, you won’t panic when you see a deficit on your next income statement. You’ll anticipate when you’ll need to borrow cash and you’ll know how much your line of credit needs to be at the bank. And you won’t operate under the illusion that you’re rich when most of the money in your bank account is not for general operating expenses.

Jon Hoffmeister is a CPA and partner with CliftonLarsonAllen, our Nonprofit Spark sponsor. He has more than 20 years experience assisting nonprofits, colleges and universities, and closely-held businesses. Jon has been serving on the board of a community youth service agency for more than 10 years, and has been treasurer and finance committee chair much of that time. His financial leadership of the agency earned him statewide recognition for outstanding dedication in helping youth and for his appreciation for the challenges facing non-profit managers.

On this show, Jon uses his practical experience with this agency to highlight his key points about managing cash flow. Even the most financially-phobic non-profit leaders will understand this show!

Two great companion Nonprofit Spark episodes are Understanding a Balance Sheet and Nonprofit Budgets and Financial Outsourcing.

Nonprofit Spark – Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up – 03/05/12

billschiffler — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:00:35 +0000

The non-profit sector excels at meeting community needs and is becoming masterful with non-profit best management practices. But are these enough? To solve the problems of our day, my guest this week asserts that the job of nonprofits is not to provide services but to develop leaders. he even redefines the concept of leadership: that it’s an action for the many, not a position held by a few.

Paul Schmitz is the CEO of Public Allies, which works in 21 communities in the U.S. with a mission to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, non-profits and civic participation. The organization identifies diverse young Americans who have a passion to make a difference and helps them turn that passion into careers working for community and social change.

Paul also is the author of a new book, Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up. He often writes and speaks on topics about national service, civic engagement, community building, diversity, nonprofit workforce development, and social entrepreneurship. In December 2010, he was named to the White House Council for Community Solutions. He also serves as Chair of the Nonprofit Workforce Coalition and is a blogger for The Washington Post. He’s a thought-provoking change agent and he’ll inspire you to view your nonprofit efforts through the new lens of finding and developing leaders.

Nonprofit Spark – Non-profit website redesign, part 2 – 02/27/12

billschiffler — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:01:09 +0000

On this week’s show, Christine Durand of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and I focus again on her website redesign project. Christine is the communications and marketing director for that organization. Non profit leaders may be wondering why I’d do a show about websites when those projects often have little to do with my target audience of executive directors and boards.

Here’s why: You almost always underestimate the time that’s required to create a useful website that supports your goals, and helps you raise more money. And then you think when the project’s over, the work is over. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will want to keep adding fresh content to your non-profit website to reflect how you’re growing and changing.

The other thing is that you have to know enough about website redesigns to ask great questions to determine which website designer is best for you, and if their fees are reasonable. Finally, you need to know enough to hold your staff accountable.

On our January 30 show, Christine and I talked about her RFP process, how to involve staff and volunteers, and the early stages of working with a web design company. On this show, we discuss branding, working with a site map and wire frames, organizing pages and content, and alpha and beta testing. Also, after the interview, I realized I had forgotten to ask about the project costs, so I followed up later with her to find out. I share information about that at the end of the show, after the final commercial break.

Our conversation here is as nuts and bolts as it can be and I warn you, you’re listening to two communication geeks who love talking about this stuff! You’ll want to take notes on the key ideas.

Nonprofit Spark – Elements of a non-profit fund development plan – 02/20/12

billschiffler — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:01:48 +0000

There’s nothing that makes newer non-profit leaders more nervous than asking for money, especially from individuals. Their hearts clench. Their eyes glaze over. Their bodies freeze like deer looking into headlights. I’m not sure what all that’s about but perhaps you’ll feel better when I tell you that the experience is universal and automatic. You’re not alone.

I can also tell you that thousands of leaders have made a conscious choice to overcome that first reaction and fear by learning about fundraising, writing and using a fundraising plan, and then meeting with donors again and again. The more you do this, the more natural it feels.

On this week’s show, my guest and I talk about four elements of a fund development plan and help you think like a professional about donors and raising money. There’s no magic bullet here, just common sense ideas.

Simone Joyaux is a top-ranked speaker and trainer, and fundraising, planning and governance consultant. She is recognized internationally as one of the most thoughtful, inspiring, and provocative leaders in the non-profit / NGO sector.

Simone is a faculty member for the Masters Program in Philanthropy and Development at Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota. She also is the author of the book Strategic Fund Development, 3rd edition, and co-author of the book Keep Your Donors. Finally, she writes a column for Nonprofit Quarterly about fund development.

Nonprofit Spark – What’s happening with the business of doing good? Social enterprise models – 02/13/12

billschiffler — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:01:43 +0000

Almost every day, we read about passionate people who want to solve a big problem and they do so in myriad ways. We hear about social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and for-profits and non-profits, all working toward social change. Clearly, we are long past the days when non-profits are the only do-gooders in the world.

In 2008, a student at Stanford University designed a machine that punches holes in plastic tubing. His idea has turned into the company Driptech, which makes affordable drip irrigation systems for small farms. Three partners in a New York design firm founded Hello Rewind, a company that makes custom sleeves for laptops out of old t-shirts. Its mission is to help sex trafficking victims prepare for jobs and the partners work closely with a non-profit to hire workers. Then there’s the example of the Pennsylvania environmental non-profit which spun off a for-profit, BlackGold Biofuels. That company knows how to chemically turn sewer grease into biofuel.

What are we talking about? Why does one person start a for-profit and another a non-profit? What models are being used to solve world problems? For that matter, why the heck are for-profits operating in what has been traditionally the non-profit do-good domain?

On this week’s show, I speak with Jon Carson, a social entrepreneur and CEO of BiddingforGood who describes why some people start companies while others start non-profits. He also gives examples of the types of organizations that are being created. Any way you look at it, according to Jon, they are being founded by social entrepreneurs with the intention of doing good.

A great companion to this show is my interview with Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable. He talks about the constraints we place on non-profits that prevent them from “growing to scale” and therefore, from solving world problems. That interview took place the week of September 5, 2011.

Nonprofit Spark – Traveling Guitar Foundation’s start-up success story, and a presentation contest for non-profits – 02/06/12

billschiffler — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:01:37 +0000

The Traveling Guitar Foundation is a rising nonprofit star. It was founded in the New York tri-state area less than three years ago by Damon Marks, a guitarist and songwriter. Damon has performed and recorded with notable musicians including Bret Michaels, Beyonce, Melanie Fiona, and Marco Mendoza and was a touring guitarist on Alicia Keys’ Freedom Tour. The Foundation travels to schools whose music programs are in jeopardy and gives music education clinics and concerts, and donates guitars, amplifiers and cables to the schools from major music industry sponsors.

The Foundation has already impacted some 40 schools in California, Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania reaching an estimated 20,000 students and giving away $50,000 in musical equipment. The Traveling Guitar Foundation is a true grassroots organization: musicians, sponsors and parents are spreading the word and even lining up more schools on behalf of the Foundation. Damon is quick to give credit to the team he’s assembled who make it all work. He also is not shy about using traditional and social media every chance he gets. It’s an inspiring nonprofit start-up story.

Also on the show is Heidi Jackman, chief marketing officer for SlideRocket, an online presentation platform. Heidi describes a fun presentation contest that’s going on right now for nonprofits that’s designed to inspire your creativity using their elegant, online presentation software. The top four winners will get $5,000 each so you’ll want to stay tuned to learn more later in the show.

Nonprofit Spark – Non-profit website redesign, part 1 – 01/30/12

billschiffler — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:01:02 +0000

One of the most daunting projects every non-profit has to face at some point is a website redesign. It is time consuming, has great potential for complications and cost overruns, and requires both big picture thinking and attention to the smallest details. The redesign requires lengthy conversations and lots of work by many people, all happening on top of their day to day work.

On this week’s show, I speak with Christine Durand, communications and marketing director for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN). She recently led a massive website redesign project for her organization. In fact, her team and the website design company were working on three sites at the same time, if you can imagine that. This is the first of a two-part case study and it focuses on the early stages of the redesign process including planning, assessments, and the Request for Proposal (RFP). In a few weeks, we’ll delve into content development, branding and costs.

MCN worked with Browser Media, a website design company based in Bethesda, Maryland with extensive experience working with associations.

I follow up the interview about the website redesign project with a conversation focused on finding resources about nonprofit websites. My second guest is Laura Quinn, executive director of Idealware, a non-profit that tests and researches non-profit software. She talks about training, articles and reports about websites that are available for free on her website.

This is a fun show, packed with ideas, and you’ll want to take notes.

Nonprofit Spark – The case for strategic volunteerism in your non-profit – 01/23/12

billschiffler — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:02:37 +0000

Why is it that volunteer involvement and management is rarely given the same amount of attention that non-profit leaders give to fundraising and programs? Let’s be honest. What most leaders do is give a kindly pat-on-the-head to volunteers and the staff who manage them. But what if we considered volunteers as the brains of the organization who are fully capable of supporting all managers and fulfilling the mission of the organization? My guests this week make a compelling case for being as strategic about volunteerism as you are about other management issues.

My first guest is Susan J. Ellis, the president of Energize, Inc., which is a training, consulting, and publishing firm that specializes in volunteerism. She founded the Philadelphia-based company in 1977 and since that time, has assisted clients throughout the world. Susan is the author of 12 books, including From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement.

My second guest is Nikki Russell, volunteer initiatives manager at the United Way of King County, which serves the Seattle, Washington area. She has developed workshops and trainings for local nonprofits and in particular, Nikki inspired and influenced the development of her agency’s Volunteer Impact Program (VIP). It’s a free program that is designed to strengthen local non-profits’ ability to deliver services through effective volunteer involvement. You’ll be amazed by the increases the nonprofits have experienced in volunteerism after going through the VIP in-depth assessment and planning process. The assessment, by the way, was created by my first guest, Susan Ellis.

Nonprofit Spark – Quit complaining: best practices for non-profit board learning – 01/16/12

billschiffler — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:01:18 +0000

You know how you’re having a problem with your board? Consider that at the root of it is weak and possibly, worthless board orientation. All those complaints you have about how board members meddle or misbehave or don’t “get” the organization could disappear with thoughtful, ongoing board learning about what good governance is, how big picture the board needs to be, and how the board can best support the staff.

On the show this week, Dr. Debra Beck and I describe best practices in board development, drawing upon our adult education backgrounds. We turn the typical board orientation process upside down and describe the 70-20-10 adult learning process that makes direct experience a priority, allows for observation and mentoring, and last of all, focuses on formal training.

Debra is a non-profit blogger and consultant, and an adult educator. She has more than 25 years experience serving on boards. This experience has given her a strong understanding of the special challenges and rewards of board governance. She also is an award-winning distance educator with more than 10 years experience teaching online courses about non-profit management for universities in Wyoming and Pennsylvania.

You know how you’re passionate about the work you do for non-profits? Well, designing effective learning is our passion and we could have talked about it all day.

Nonprofit Spark – What accountants wish non-profit leaders knew about non-profit finances – 01/09/12

billschiffler — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:01:04 +0000

On this week’s show, I speak with John P. Langan CPA, managing partner of CliftonLarsonAllen, a top 20 national accounting firm with 225 professionals serving more than 5,000 not-for-profit organizations in 18 states. John has served the non-profit sector for more than 25 years and worked with all sizes and types of non-profits and trade associations. John talks about the things that concern him about non-profit finances. CliftonLarsonAllen is the primary sponsor of Nonprofit Spark.

Joining the conversation is Lori Derkay, the chief operating officer of University Professional & Continuing Education Association. She was hired in February 2011 to help create a new infrastructure and modernize the operations and governance of the association. She has years of hands-on non-profit financial management experience and she generously shares from that on the show.
We cover a lot of topics here: The IRS 990, cloud computing for non-profits, outsourcing, non-profit reserves, and non-profit retirement plans. I’m certain you’ll hear a few things that you’ll want to improve upon in 2012.

Nonprofit Spark – Common sense non-profit board policies – 01/02/12

billschiffler — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:01:59 +0000

A primary responsibility of a non-profit board is to create policies that support the use of best practices in the organization. What are basic policies every non-profit board should approve? How are these different from policies that staff create? My guest this week is Paula J. MacLean, author of the Canadian best-seller, Great Boards Plain and Simple. We hone in on conflict of interest, committee and financial oversight policies, and even a “what kind of board are we?” policy. We also discuss an approach to getting all the policies written so other board work is not impeded.

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofit Budgets and Financial Outsourcing – 12/26/11

billschiffler — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:01:09 +0000

On this show, I speak with Nancy Engelken, executive director of Housing Colorado! who describes how she considers the strategic plan and fundraising plan in the budgeting process. I also speak with Jason Spessard of LarsonAllen accounting form who describes the benefits of outsourcing non-profit bookkeeping and non-profit accounting functions. There’s something here for large and small non-profit leaders who want a fresh point of view about non-profit financial management.

Nonprofit Spark – Non-profit advocacy made simple – 12/19/11

billschiffler — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:01:30 +0000

Many non-profits are great about consistently educating constituents about why their organization’s work matters. They often fall short on their advocacy work, however. Meeting with legislators and testifying about a bill is often done at the last minute. Little time is taken in the months prior to speak with and get in the world of legislators to find common ground. On this show, I speak with Jeff Mikulina, executive director of Blue Planet Foundation, which is based in Honolulu, Hawaii, about his success as an environmental advocate. Blue Planet Foundation is committed to ending the use of fossil fuels on Earth. Jeff describes essential elements of advocacy and how it’s integrated into all facets of his organization. He also clears up the confusion lots of people have about whether non-profits can lobby. This show pairs well with the April 18, 2011 Nonprofit Spark podcast about media advocacy.

Nonprofit Spark – Delegating and letting someone go – 12/12/11

billschiffler — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:32 +0000

This week’s show is about non-profit management. Specifically, my guests and I explore delegation and letting someone go. What are the elements of effective delegation? How do you balance handing over a project and making sure it stays on track? What should you do when you realize you’ve got a staffer who isn’t a fit for the work she’s been hired to do? My guests this week, Jerry Hauser of The Management Center, and Monique Ayotee-Holtzel of Teach for America, describe a delegation cycle they use to assign and review work. They talk about their own experiences and mistakes in managing people and also, a progressive discipline process to address performance problems. Hauser is the CEO of The Management Center, based in Washington, D.C. It’s mission is to instill the management practices that make it easier for nonprofit leaders to produce outstanding results. Ayotee-Holtzel is executive vice president of alumni affairs at Teach for America which is based in New York, NY. Its work is focused on growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education. If you’ve ever worried about or been accused of being a micromanager, this show is for you!

Nonprofit Spark – Non-profit website content governance and user testing – 12/05/11

billschiffler — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:01:58 +0000

It’s easy to get into legal hot water as inexperienced and overburdened staff people add copyrighted text, images and graphics from other sources to your organization’s website. The people who created that content in the first place call it theft. On this show, I speak with Clinton Forry, a nationally-recognized content strategist in the financial services industry, about how important it is to govern your website’s content, much like your board governs your organization. We talk about ways we get into trouble, and a method for staying out of it. We don’t describe the specifics of copyright law, licensing and the like. Rather, we offer a way of thinking about your website so it’s a manageable, useful communications tool that makes potential donors, volunteers and advocates feel good about connecting with you.

I also speak with Darrell Benatar of UserTesting.com which is a very affordable, quick and helpful useability testing service that has ordinary people visit your site and offer honest, recorded feedback about it. It can be quite a shock to learn that your site isn’t as easy or useful as you think! Also, user tests can be a great way to make your case that less is more when it comes to content!

Nonprofit Spark – Free non-profit help on Google Grants, SEO and social media advice – 11/28/11

billschiffler — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:30:04 +0000

Non-profit marketing and communications goes well beyond writing web content and sending e-newsletters. You also need to explore online marketing tools like Facebook, Twitter, blogs and more: non-profit social media. And don’t forget search engine optimization (SEO) to help potential non-profit volunteers, donors and advocates find you on the Web. How about turning to a free non-profit resource for help? On this show, I interview Eric Facas of Media Cause, a new non-profit that has enlisted more than 600 volunteers to offer non-profit advice about $10,000 Google Grants, SEO, and social media. Media Cause’s non-profit assistance is quick and free. It’s easy to post a project challenge on the Media Cause website. You can even ask a Media Cause consultant to explain what all of this is about so you can talk intelligently to your boss or non-proft board about it. Media Cause provides terrific non-profit help.

Nonprofit Spark – Overcoming Nonprofit Board Dysfunction – 11/21/11

billschiffler — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:01:52 +0000

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, that unique American holiday, so Host Renee McGivern is replaying an episode from August 1, 2011. It’s packed with ideas and solutions that get more practical as the show progresses. Volunteering on a dysfunctional non-profit board drives you crazy and makes you wonder, “Why do I put myself through this?” This week’s show addresses dysfunctional board meetings and non-profit governance. Susan Mogenson of Brown Dog Consulting is an expert on non-profit governance. There’s no dysfunction that she hasn’t seen and helped boards solve. She provides practical advice and a context for thinking about the role of the board; a lack of clarity about this role often is a source of the dysfunctional behavior. Allan Teichman is the volunteer board president of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. He gets into the nitty gritty of practices his board uses so it’s effective and fulfilled. Both guests use the Policy Governance model of John Carver. Allan discusses how the model helped turn his board away from drama and conflict. We’ll play an original song, The Boardroom Blues, for you as well! This show is full of great advice from beginning to end.

Nonprofit Spark – Helpful hints on working with a printer 111411

billschiffler — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:01:06 +0000

Because nonprofits can create materials using desktop publishing software, we assume that printing that material is a breeze. But ask printers and they’ll say many non-profits have no idea what they’re doing. My guest this week is Dee Conklin, the owner of Palliser Printing in Invermere, British Columbia. She describes common problems that printing customers make and how to avoid them. She also talks about how important a relationship with a local printer can be, particularly if you’re going to ask for donated services. Dee also happens to be the mayor of nearby Radium Hot Springs and so she talks a a bit about local non-profits and seeking grants. Finally, she and her husband own CasaVino, a cozy wine bar located on the main floor of their home. I recently vacationed in Radium Hot Springs and while there, met Dee and sipped a lovely glass of wine with her as we chatted about local politics and publishing.

Nonprofit Spark – Tips for Clear Nonprofit Communication – 11/07/11

billschiffler — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:01:58 +0000

The most effective non-profit leaders and fundraisers are masters of communication. They use words that all types of people understand; they save jargon for conversations with experts in their field. On this show, I interview Tony Proscio, a communications consultant and contributor to the useful online tool, The Jargon Finder. We discuss how you’ll know if you’ve fallen into the jargon trap, and tricks professional communicators use to make sure their words create a connection with donors and volunteers. By the end of this show, you’ll be able to look at your own writing and websites and see where you fail to be clear. You can then rework your content so your audience hears and responds to the great work your non-profit does.

Nonprofit Spark – Exploring a moneymaking venture, or social enterprise, for your organization – 10/31/11

billschiffler — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:01:55 +0000

Contributions from foundations, individuals and government sources can ebb and flow with the economy. It makes considerable sense, then, to create a social enterprise in your nonprofit that helps sustain the organization in good times and bad. According to Rolfe Larson of Rolfe Larson Associates, the strongest non-profits in the 21st century will have a solid moneymakng strategy in addition to a traditional fundraising strategy. What are the characteristics of non-profits with successful social enterprises? What kind of board members do you need? Do you have to have a business degree to make it work? On this show, Rolfe Larson provides a very helpful overview of what it takes to initiate a social enterprise in your organization. Rolfe not only consults with non-profits about this but has written a book on the subject: Venture Forth! The Essential Guide to Starting A Moneymaking Business in Your Non-profit Organization.

Nonprofit Spark – Handheld bidding devices for nonprofit auctions – 10/24/11

billschiffler — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:01:12 +0000

Handheld bidding devices add a cool factor to silent and live auctions but are they worth the expense? How do you make sure they help you net more money than last year’s event? On this show, I speak with Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions, an auctioneer and certified meeting planner who discusses when it makes sense to use these handheld devices and when it doesn’t. She also describes an effective way to incorporate them into the live “ask” at your event so donors are seen and recognized despite people’s attention on the devices. It’s a lively conversation!

Nonprofit Spark – Succession planning and risk management 101 – 10/17/11

billschiffler — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:01:10 +0000

As many as 75% of non-profit executive directors will be retiring in the next five years. Are you ready for a search process? On this week’s show, I speak with Phyllis Hockett, board president of the Utah Nonprofit Association, about the search process that board has undertaken to replace the retired executive director. The process includes members and staff but is being developed on-the-fly; there was no succession plan to work from but you’ll get ideas here for your own plan. Hockett also is the co-founder of Pathway Associates, a consulting firm that primarily serves non-profits in Utah and the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. My second guest is Michael Gurtler of Safe-Wise Consulting. He provides a basic overview of non-profit risk management and some ideas of how to manage risks within the context of your organization’s day to day operations.

Nonprofit Spark – Earning Media Coverage for Your Organization – 10/10/11

billschiffler — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:01:44 +0000

It’s a common complaint: Why doesn’t the media feature my nonprofit or cover the issues we care about? On this week’s show, we explore how you should connect to reporters, share your stories and engage the community in caring about your issues. My guests and I take the mystery out of working with the media and provide some very concrete advice and a great example of effective media relations.

My first guest is Cynthia Wallace of Media Storytelling Consulting. She is a media relations consultant from Austin, Texas who has been a reporter, editor and producer for major news outlets in the U.S. She describes well how journalists think and what they need from you to tell great stories. My second guest is Thom Clark, president of Community Media Workshop, a Chicago-based nonprofit that works to diversify the voices in news and public debates. He talks about his organization, provides tips for working with reporters, and an describes an upcoming Become a Spokesperson Rockstar webinar that you’ll want to register for.

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofit Innovation and Community Engagement – 10/03/11

billschiffler — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:01:28 +0000

On this week’s show, I focus on two Minnesota-based organizations to explore examples of nonprofit innovation and community engagement. They demonstrate nonprofits’ amazing ability to be nimble and creative in response to the constituents they serve. They’re passionate, common sense leaders and you’ll get some great ideas from them.

My first guest, Angie Miller of Community Action Duluth, piqued my interest because in an economically depressed community, she has managed to identify and ramp up two major initiatives in the organization in the past couple of years. They’ve created new revenue streams that were unimaginable just five years ago. My second guest is Jill Kilibarda, the education and civic engagement program manager for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. She’s kicking off a bookclub this week to engage advocacy volunteers in reading about and discussing books about homelessness and substandard housing.

Nonprofit Spark – The Conservation Foundation: A Stakeholder-Driven Nonprofit – 09/26/11

billschiffler — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:01:11 +0000

On this show, I speak with the Brook McDonald, the president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation, a highly effective nonprofit that is a superb example of what it means to be “stakeholder-driven.” The dictionary defines stakeholder as a type of organization in which all the members or participants are seen as having an interest in its success. As I speak with Brook McDonald, you’ll hear how being stakeholder-driven permeates internal and external facets of the Foundation’s work. Involving lots of stakeholders takes the Foundation longer to accomplish conservation projects, but the relationships patiently developed across communities over time result in more contributions, continual growth and most importantly, a greater impact on the world.

Nonprofit Spark – Planned gifts and endowment primer 09/19/11

billschiffler — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:01:22 +0000

This week, I focus on planned giving and endowments. While the area of planned giving can get complicated fairly quickly, we hone in on the types of planned gifts that just about every nonprofit should encourage, especially once you have a stable annual giving program. My first guest is Phil Schumacher of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation who has more than 25 years of fundraising experience. In addition to discussing planned gifts, we look at endowments, too, to help you think through whether encouraging such tightly restricted gifts is a good idea. Finally, I discovered Benchmark Email which provides free e-newsletter services to PTAs and nonprofits that serve children and teens. I speak with Denise Keller, COO, about the We Care About Kids program and also, why e-newsletters are a great way to build relationships with your donors.

Nonprofit Spark – Creating successful teams with trust – 09/12/11

billschiffler — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:01:36 +0000

Want to create a powerful team? Or are you experiencing breakdowns with your team or board? Look to trust or the lack of it as the primary predictor of your team’s outcomes. On this week’s show, I speak with Dan Collins, an expert on team building and co-author of the book, Trust Unwrapped. You’ll gain a newfound appreciation of what it means to trust and be trusted. It’s quite a profound conversation about a precious commodity required for successful teams and indeed, all relationships. I also speak with Lara Kilpatrick, director for advancement for Mount Madonna School in northern California, who describes her experience working with a master coach, free of charge, through The Coach Initiative.

Nonprofit Spark – In depth with Nonprofit Sector Innovator Dan Pallotta – 09/05/11

billschiffler — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:01:03 +0000

On this week’s show, I speak with nonprofit sector innovator and author Dan Pallotta who is challenging Americans’ long-held beliefs about charities that he says constrain nonprofits from solving the problems of the world.

Pallotta invented the multi-day AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days Walks, fundraisers that have gone on for so long now that we forget there was a time they didn’t exist. In the nine years his for-profit company ran these events, $581 million was raised, netting $305 million for those causes. Then critics began yelling about his company’s 40% administrative costs and participating charities reacted; they stopped working with his company and he had to close it down.

The negative reaction to the administrative expenses despite the wild success of the fundraising events shocked Pallotta: What is it that would make nonprofit leaders, their boards and the public attack the success of raising $305 million over nine years to fight AIDS and breast cancer? His search for an answer formed the basis of his paradigm-busting book, Uncharitable: How Restraints On Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential.

Pallotta is now Founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Advertising for Humanity, and he’s the founder and president of the Charity Defense Council. He also blogs for the Harvard Business Review.

Don’t miss this candid, thought-provoking interview.

Nonprofit Spark – Five Stages of Nonprofits and Capacity-Building Internships – 08/29/11

billschiffler — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:01:09 +0000

What’s happening when everything feels like a struggle? Consider your organization could be naturally progressing from one stage of development to another. On this week’s show, I speak to Judy Sharken Simon of MAP for Nonprofits about her book, The Five Life Stages of Nonprofit Organizations: Where You Are, Where You’re Going, and What to Expect When You Get There. She wrote this oldie but goodie to help staff and boards understand how they fit into the natural cycle of nonprofit life and also, to help them prepare for the next stage. My second guest is Dr. Robert Manzer, the chief operating office of the Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO). He describes a major capacity-building initiative focused on win-win internships for his members. He also describes what you need to do to ensure that interns do, indeed, build capacity in your organization.

Nonprofit Spark – Leadership coaching to boost executive director happiness – 08/22/11

billschiffler — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:01:10 +0000

What should an executive director or her board do when she’s highly stressed, can’t delegate, is burned out or lacks confidence? Hire a coach to help her devise solutions and put new behaviors into action. An executive who isn’t happy can’t be creative, supportive or fully productive and this impacts the nonprofit’s overall performance. On this week’s show, I talk to two highly skilled coaches who have helped leaders solve practical problems often in a very short time. Jill Sheldon of Open Road Coaching & Consulting, gives examples of how a coaching relationship works. Sandy Vilas, the volunteer board president of The Coach Initiative, talks about the free 90-day coaching services for nonprofit leaders and teams that’s available through The Coach Initiative. Vilas also is president of Coach University, the world’s largest training organization for personal and business coaches. Jill and Sandy make a convincing case for executive director coaching.

Nonprofit Spark – Powerful photographic storytelling – 08/15/11

billschiffler — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:01:18 +0000

This show is designed to inspire you and it will involve both your ears and eyes as my second guest and I review an phenomenal photographic story about an orphanage in Transylvania. My two guests work for PhotoPhilanthropy, a two-year old nonprofit that brings together professional photographers and nonprofits with the intention of causing social change through photographic storytelling. The organization believes in people’s interest in knowing more, in understanding better, in seeing the story, which can lead to action and involvement. My first guest is Nancy Cole, the executive director. She provides great information about this nonprofit start-up. Then I speak with Kathleen Hennessy, the director of the Activist Awards for PhotoPhilanthropy. We discuss the orphanage photos and what makes them so powerful. You’ll be moved and inspired to create something similar for your nonprofit.

Nonprofit Spark – Five Questions for an Executive Director Performance Review – 08/08/11

billschiffler — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:01:38 +0000

A recent study showed that only 45 percent of executive directors had a performance review in the past year and of those, 2/3 said it was of little or no use to them. This show describes a great process boards can use and five questions they can ask to ensure the evaluation empowers both the board and staff. My guest is Paula J. MacLean of MacLean Management Consulting which operates Silver Creek Press. She is the author of six human resource books, including The Supervisor’s Big Book of Answers and also, Great Boards Plain and Simple. Get ready for lots of practical advice!

Nonprofit Spark – Developing individual donors and your fundraising skills – 07/25/11

billschiffler — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:01:49 +0000

Reluctant nonprofit leaders and board members can learn to overcome their fear of fundraising. Two extraordinary guests on this week’s show provide coaching about identifying and calling on people who may be interested in supporting your nonprofit. Rita Galowich of Fund Inc. describes what she has her clients do to build their individual donor base and you’ll see how do-able it is. Andrew Watt of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) shares methods that he knows are effective; he’s been a volunteer fundraiser and worked with hundreds of fundraising professionals over the years. In addition, Rita quickly reviews the recently-released Giving USA 2011 report and what it means to you. Andrew explains what AFP has to offer you even if you’re not a member.

Nonprofit Spark – Minnesota Government Shutdown, and Community Foundations – 07/18/11

billschiffler — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:01:13 +0000

Although Minnesota’s governor and top legislative leaders have agreed to end the government shutdown, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty. Nonprofits and businesses are laying off hundreds of people every day. Listen to Angie Miller, executive director of Community Action Duluth, describe how her organization, staff and clients are being affected. The bright spot in the crisis is that her strong relationships with local community funders is helping her manage her cash flow crisis at the moment. To learn more about community foundations and their unique philanthropic role, listen to Tony Banegas, philanthropic advisor at the Arizona Community Foundation, talk about how he works with nonprofits. You’ll never fear contacting a program officer again.

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofit Careers and Young Professionals – 07/11/11

billschiffler — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:01:37 +0000

This week’s show focuses on how to get started in a nonprofit career and also, understanding young professionals. I speak with Nathan Hand, author of the blog Nonprofit Nate and vice president of development for Indy Schools on Wheels. He discusses his career, fundraising and how to increase individual giving. He also provides great advice about the best ways to support young nonprofit professionals. My second guest is Rosetta Thurman, also a blogger as well as a nonprofit consultant, leadership coach and co-author of the book, How to Become a Nonprofit Rock Star: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career. She offers concrete tips in the book and on the show for getting ahead in the nonprofit sector. This is a delightful, insightful and hopeful show so sit back, relax and enjoy.

Nonprofit Spark – Understanding a Nonprofit Balance Sheet (replay of 02/21/11 show)

billschiffler — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:01:59 +0000

It’s a holiday week for Host Renee McGivern so we’re replaying the very helpful show, Understanding a Balance Sheet. The nonprofit balance sheet is a complete mystery to thousands of leaders in nonprofit management and also to board members. The balance sheet tells a unique story about the organization’s financial health that shouldn’t be overlooked; your other financial statements do not replace this valuable point of view. In this show, Host Renee McGivern and Terry Fraser of LarsonAllen review a balance sheet in a conversational way so it makes sense for even the most novice of listeners. Download the sample balance sheet they’re talking about so you can follow along!

Nonprofit Spark – Nonprofits and the IRS: Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) and more – 06/27/11

billschiffler — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:01:52 +0000

On this show, I speak with Jeffrey Tenenbaum, an expert on nonprofit law, about unrelated business income taxes. If you receive income from corporate sponsorships, advertising, licensing agreements or endorsements, or cause-related marketing, then you and the staff people involved must know when that income is taxable and when it’s not. If you don’t receive this type of income, listen to this show anyway; one of your board members may ask, “How can we generate more revenue? How about getting in on the cause-related marketing craze?”

We cover two other IRS-related topics on the show as well. Tenenbaum describes how 275,000 nonprofits recently lost their tax exempt status (see the list) and also discusses the IRS’ latest plans for conducting nonprofit employment tax compliance audits. Employers must know and honor the difference between independent contractors and employees and also, which employees should be classified as exempt versus non-exempt.

The show moves along very quickly and provides a solid base of knowledge so you spot tax-related red flags in your organization.

Nonprofit Spark – Cultural Sensitivity in Guatemala and a Nifty Service for Choosing Nonprofit Software – 07/20/11

billschiffler — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:01:49 +0000

My first guest on this week’s show illustrates how to be a stranger in a strange land providing service with sensitivity and respect. Gary Teale of Avivara tells the story of how he and his wife started a nonprofit in Guatemala and what they’ve been learning about supporting teachers there. My second guest is Laura S. Quinn who founded Idealware, a nonprofit that helps nonprofits make good software decisions. Think of Idealware as a kind of “consumer reports.”

Nonprofit Spark – Charting Impact, a Powerful Online Nonprofit Tool – 07/13/11

billschiffler — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:01:36 +0000

Charting Impact is a new online tool and its five, deceptively simple questions will sharpen your thinking about your nonprofit, clearly define your strategies, and help track your progress. Bob Ottenhoff, CEO of Guidestar, will talk about why the tool was developed in partnership with The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and Independent Sector. M.J. Ebenhack, President and CEO of Ahead Energy, did a great job answering the Charting Impact questions and we’ll talk about it. Along the way, you’ll hear an extraordinary story about a tenacious nonprofit that is helping African schools and medical facilities gain access to energy. Follow along with the interview by downloading the Ahead Energy report from the Charting Impact website.

Nonprofit Spark – Clarity and openness, key qualities of start-up leaders – 06/06/11

billschiffler — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:01:16 +0000

On this week’s show, you’ll hear two guests who are very clear about their organizations’ missions and yet very open to new ideas for manifesting them. They instill confidence in volunteers, donors, and customers. My first guest is Gary S. Fagin, the founder, musical director and conductor of The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. In three short years and despite a difficult economy, he and his board are staying true to their mission, fundraising, and making this orchestra THE community orchestra of lower Manhattan. My second guest is Steli Efti, a co-founder of SwipeGood. The online fundraising tool encourages donors to sign up their credit cards, have their purchases rounded up to the next dollar, and then donate the difference to a favorite charity. The service started in November 2010 and is already serving over 600 nonprofits.