Post-election I looked at several very large, long-standing nonprofits that had mission’s that aligned with my desire to get involved as a volunteer. I was shocked at the lack of capacity and infrastructure many of the national organizations that I wanted to get involved with had. Specifically, their inability to capture the groundswell of support, help and donations being offered.
I researched each; looking at their 990’s, websites, bylaws, etc.. The results were disheartening. Many had no financials posted, nor 990’s available through my development channels and no development strategy in place.
As a potential donor and volunteer, I had no way of finding out what their financial needs are, how they manage their money and how I can best help.
There is a high expectation of access to information, transparency, and ease in accessing both an organization’s volunteer and financial needs for donor and visitors.
Are your 990’s as easy to find as your donation button?
If not, you need to ask yourself: Are you speaking to your audience and their needs or highlighting information that doesn’t create and, in fact, maybe is stopping engagement?
One organization I’m passionate about helping has 20 immediate grants, emergency grants, available to them. I’ve been unable to contact them, through any channel; email, phone, Twitter, LinkedIn.
These lost opportunities for nonprofit’s lead to a general distrust in potential donors, funders anyone looking to help a well-established organization that’s mission speaks to them.
This issue was our Twitter theme all week and a large part of the Nonprofit Sustainability talk I conducted last week at the Fairfield Public Library, and that will be shown on TCTV through 2017.
Please see our 30Tips in 30Days Twitter Series or email us for help. There are many easy, low costs solutions we can help your organization with immediately. Appeal season is at hand; there's no time to waste; 40% of your unrestricted income will be coming through your, or another organization’s doors over the next six weeks…let’s ensure it goes to your organization.
ANNUAL APPEALS: It's That Time of Year Again
Published on LinkedIn on Dec 1, 2015: Updated November 25, 2016.
Last year a SVP I know mentioned how annoying and unnecessary annual appeals were for nonprofits; that nonprofits this time of year were vultures out for a money grab; that nonprofits in our state are, in fact, flush with money. Her annoyance and belief in these ‘facts’ were absolute. Any appeal that got to her door was sure to be remembered, and not for the positive impact the organization has made in their community.
This interaction was a perfect example of the challenge our state nonprofits face: many people are willing to donate their time but not their money. Or, attend a gala, company paid, but wouldn’t even consider giving the same $175 to the nonprofit to fund their programming. We all think someone else is giving: the rich ones, the big businesses, the foundations. When, in fact, it's those with the least means that stretch the furthest to give and are often the biggest and most consistent donors. Every dollar matters to both parties, therefore, it's valued when given and received.
Connecticut nonprofits struggle quite a bit in our state. We are a diverse state with pockets of vast wealth and pockets of deep poverty. In the middle, residents are deeply taxed and care for their neighbors and loved ones with the ‘discretionary’ income that used to be sent along annually to nonprofits.
What can you do? Research the nonprofits you are interested in: Ask where their funding goes? Where it comes from? Has their income risen or fallen over the last five years? And, what funding trends are they seeing?
An organization that seems off balance on staff compensation does not mean they are not serving their mission or wasting funds. In fact, their mission may be 100% dependent on the roles of staff. A better question is: How many jobs are your staff members doing now compared to five years ago? Is funding the main issue behind each employee doing more work? Have you had to lay off staff?
Then ask how you can help spread the word of the work they do. In today’s world, money is important and necessary- but so is reach. Through our networks, we can change lives without ever knowing via a simple click; offering a lifeline, a link to help, hope or support that someone in your network didn’t know was available. Each time you make that connection you are not only making a difference in someone’s life you are helping a nonprofit fulfill their mission, which make no mistake about it, they have a passion for doing!
So, you don’t have to give money, but know their needs are real. They need funding to serve their mission and community. Know the value of your network, the hope you can offer and the connections you can make. Consider making a small donation to a cause that speaks to you. Annual appeals are vital to nonprofits, supporting the ones you care about ensures their ability to continue serving your community.
This #GivingTuesday I hope that you'll reach out to organizations working in your community and either share their work with your network or make a small donation to them.
Kristen Tierney is a Small Business & Non-Profit Development Consultant in Fairfield, Connecticut.