New York Gives Day

New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. and the United Way of New York State to Launch First-Ever Statewide Day of Giving, New York Gives Day

Albany, New York - May 4, 2016 - (Newswire.com)

The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) and the United Way of New York State are proud to announce a partnership to launch New York’s first-ever statewide day of giving, New York Gives Day.

New York Gives Day will be held on #GivingTuesday (November 29th, 2016) and will involve thousands of nonprofits across the state working together to raise awareness, collect donations, and build a stronger sense of philanthropy and community. #GivingTuesday is a movement to add a national day of giving on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. November 29th, 2016 marks the 5th Anniversary of #GivingTuesday. This year, nonprofits throughout New York state will come together to create a movement for their local communities, raising awareness and funds for the much-needed services right here in our state.

“We know the spirit of generosity of the people of New York, and we know that we take care of each other,” said Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership and Marketing at NYCON. “We are so excited about this project because it’s going to put a spotlight on - and generate resources for - the amazing services nonprofit organizations provide in every community across the state… and it’s going to showcase that giving spirit of New Yorkers.”

“Nonprofits provide critical services in every community in New York. United Way helps to connect donors and nonprofits year-round. A dedicated day of giving brings focus on how communities help themselves and neighbors help neighbors,” said Reg Foster, President and CEO of United Way of New York State.

New York Gives Day will be joining forces with the #GivingTuesday movement to help bring a sense of camaraderie and heightened participation amongst our nonprofit community. Nonprofits who wish to participate will be able to do so at no cost. GiveGab, the platform provider for New York Gives Day, will be waiving their 5% platform fee for all nonprofit participants on November 29, 2016.  

In preparation for the day, GiveGab will provide nonprofits with free resources, webinars, tutorials, and complete access to GiveGab's suite of fundraising and volunteer management tools.

“As a company that is based in New York state, we are especially proud to be part of this giving day.  We’re pleased to be working with our friends at NYCON, the United Way, and our Advisory Committee members to provide this fantastic opportunity for nonprofits to fundraise and promote all the great work they do,” said Charlie Mulligan, GiveGab’s CEO & Co-Founder. “We are proud of our company’s commitment to help nonprofits do great work. We know that New York Gives Day has the potential to have a real, lasting impact on communities all across our state.”

Beyond New York Gives Day, participating nonprofits have the benefit of utilizing GiveGab's fundraising and supporter engagement tools year-round. Free resources and webinars will be announced soon on the NYCON and UWNYS websites.

Press Contacts:

Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing, NYCON; 1 (800) 515-5012 ext. 121; vvenezia@nycon.org

Reg Foster, President & CEO, United Way of New York State; (518) 608-6456;  fosterr@uwnys.org

Charlie Mulligan, CEO & Co-Founder, GiveGab; (570) 313-6724; charlie@givegab.com

About the New York Council of Nonprofits:  NYCON, the Soapbox and Toolbox for New York’s nonprofits, works to develop and promote an effective, vibrant charitable community in New York State. With close to 3,000 nonprofit members, NYCON strengthens the business and organizational capacity of nonprofits, acts as an advocate and unifying voice, helps to inform philanthropic giving,  and conducts research to demonstrate the relevance and impact of nonprofits.  Visit www.nycon.org to learn more.   

About The United Way of New York State:  The United Way of New York State’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of United Ways to be leaders in achieving results that improve the lives of all New Yorkers. United Way brings donors, organizations and experts together to advance initiatives that tackle problems at their root. Visitwww.uwnys.org to learn more.

About GiveGab:  GiveGab’s mission is to help nonprofit leaders feel like the champions they are. GiveGab is an online fundraising and supporter engagement tool designed exclusively for nonprofit leaders. GiveGab aims to help nonprofit administrators, feel successful on the job by providing a simple, easy-to-use platform for nonprofit leaders to better engage their supporters and raise funds online. Visit www.givegab.com to learn more.

Foundation Center Launches Free Search Tool

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Cheryl Loe Communications Project Manager The Foundation Center (888) 356-0354 ext. 701 communications@foundationcenter.org
Foundation Center Launches Free Search Tool Nonprofits Gain a Powerful New Fundraising Research Tool New York, NY — September 16, 2013. The Foundation Center, the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide, has launched Foundation Directory Online (FDO)Free, an online tool that dramatically expands public access to the Center's authoritative collection of foundation information. At no cost, users can search the basic profiles and IRS Forms 990-PF of nearly 90,000 grantmakers, less than 7 percent of which have web sites of their own. This resource benefits the entire social sector by putting critical data at anyone's fingertips. FDO Free is the newest member of the Center's premier Foundation Directory Online suite of fundraising research tools, which provide even deeper access to a wealth of detailed, structured grantmaking information that successful grantseekers have relied upon for decades. With FDO Free, users can search for grantmaking foundations and find their contact information, fields of interest, financial data, and program priorities. The Center has also released an FDO Free search "widget" that can be embedded on any web site to further widen access. Unique to this new tool is how it enables users to search by keyword across the entire text of the IRS Forms 990-PF for all independent grantmaking foundations. "While the IRS may someday make foundations' 990 returns available in machine-readable open format," said Bradford K. Smith, the Foundation Center's president, "‘someday’ isn’t soon enough for the millions of nonprofit organizations who are tackling the world’s most pressing problems. FDO Free makes it possible to search the raw data on the IRS forms today, alongside additional information that has been cleaned and organized by the Center's professional staff.” Together, these produce a powerful fundraising tool that helps nonprofits find the grants they need and is completely accessible to social entrepreneurs, researchers, or anyone else who wants to know about how America's foundations contribute to the public good. Initiatives to expand the amount of free data and information the Foundation Center makes available are in keeping with its mission to strengthen the social sector by advancing knowledge about philanthropy in the U.S. and around the world. FDO Free also contributes to the goal of connecting nonprofits to the resources they need to thrive, part of the Foundation Center 2020 strategic plan. FDO Free is available at http://fdo.foundationcenter.org. About the Foundation Center Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230. View Press Releases The Foundation Center • 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003 • (212) 620-4230

Court Ruling about Donor Restrictions Should Be Lesson To All Nonprofits

All nonprofits should learn from this recent court case.  Donors can restrict gifts, and they can take the money back if we aren't accountable.

The NonProfit Times - August 12, 2013
Read full article here.       
It’s a simple concept: If a donor gives an organization a restricted gift, the organization must use that gift for the purpose determined. Some see it differently and that’s how it ends up in court.
The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, ruled that charities that do not follow donor intent must return the gifts. A three-judge panel ruled that a Mercer County animal shelter must disgorge a $50,000 gift originally slated for specialized construction.
Judge Jose Fuentes wrote in the opinion, “we hold that a charity that accepts a gift from a donor, knowing that the donor’s expressed purpose for making the gift was the fund a particular aspect of the charity’s eleemosynary mission, is bound to return the gift when the charity unilaterally decides not to honor the donor’s originally expressed purpose.”
The case turned on a gift given by a Princeton couple, Bernard and Jeanne Adler, to animal shelter SAVE (now SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals). The gift was to finance the building of an area for larger dogs and older cats, whose adoption prospects are limited, as part of a new facility in Princeton.
Before construction could begin, SAVE merged with another animal welfare nonprofit, Friends of Homeless Animals. The new plan was to build a new shelter in nearby Montgomery Township roughly half the size of what the new Princeton facility would have been; construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2013. Though SAVE trustee John Sayer testified that the new shelter would “absolutely” have rooms for large dogs and older cats, according to court documents, the court said that evidence suggested otherwise.
“Based on Mr. Sayer’s testimony and the letter announcing the merger between SAVE and Friends of Homeless Animals, we are satisfied that the 15,000 square foot shelter to be constructed in Montgomery Township does not include two rooms specifically designated for the long-term care of large dogs and older cats,” wrote Fuentes.
The Adlers filed suit in Mercer County in 2007, and a judge ruled in their favor in 2010. SAVE appealed, saying the first judge erred when he determined the Adlers’ gift was restricted. SAVE also argued that even if it was restricted, its purpose would have been fulfilled and, barring that, the lower court should have reworked the gift so SAVE could spend it on a project as near as possible to the original intent.
The appellate court disagreed, saying SAVE had courted the Adlers, who had been long-time supporters but who had never made a significant gift prior, with a campaign that specifically included the two rooms and a naming opportunity. “To be clear, the record shows that SAVE: (1) decided to construct a substantially smaller facility; (2) outside the Princeton area; (3) without any specifically designated rooms for large dogs and older cats; and (4) without any mention of plaintiffs’ names,” Fuentes wrote.
The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision on August 5. “By opting to disregard plaintiffs’ conditions, SAVE breached its fiduciary duty to plaintiff,” wrote Fuentes. “Under these circumstances, requiring SAVE to return the gift appears not only eminently suitable, but a mild sanction.”
Read more here.

Camp Finance to Welcome Dan Pallotta, October 10

Camp Finance to Welcome Dan Pallotta Keynote Address - October 10th "Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential" NYCON is pleased to welcome Dan Pallotta as this year's Camp Finance Keynote Speaker. Camp Finance will be held at the Mohonk Mountain House on October 10th & 11th. You may know of Dan Pallotta as the TED Talk Phenomenon (over 1.6 million views to date) or as the author of Uncharitable and Charity Case or as the inventor the multi-day charitable event industry with the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Days, or as a regular blogger for theHarvard Business Review or maybe as the founder and President of the Charity Defense Council, a new national leadership movement dedicated to transforming the way the donating public thinks about charity and change... But no matter how you heard of Dan, we're sure you are going to want to be there to hear what he has to say at this year's CAMP FINANCE Conference. Register Today   Keynote Address: Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential The way we've been taught to think about charity and change is upside down. If we changed the way we think about charity, charity could change the world. Our Camp Finance Keynote, based on Dan's book, Uncharitable, the best selling title in the history of Tufts University Press, will challenge you to change the way you think about charity.  The Stanford Social Innovation Review has said Uncharitable "deserves to become the nonprofit sector's new manifesto."  Find out for yourself! About Camp Finance 2013 Given the financial challenges of the past few years, your participation at CAMP FINANCE 2013 offers a welcome opportunity for New York's nonprofits to convene, access experts and connect with peers as we look to the future. Celebrating our 12th year, Camp Finance provides the very best in knowledge, skill and strategy sessions for your staff and volunteer leaders. This year´s workshops are responsive to your professional development and organizational needs with the latest information and tools to empower you to continue to build an effective, compliant, vibrant and sustainable nonprofit organization. From basic concepts to best practices, CAMP FINANCE 2013 has something for everyone. Workshop Tracks Include: Basic Nonprofit Accounting        Accountability and Compliance Issues     Marketing, Fundraising and Communications      Nonprofit Governance Camp Finance Sponsors & Exhibitors Thank you to this year's event sponsors and exhibitors (as of May 14th, 2013)   Sponsors:    Exhibitors: JMT Consulting, Central Business Solutions, The Network Place, Inc.  Camp Finance Pricing  Information Member Full Conference Pricing(Including all meals, activities & classes on 10/10 and 10/11) is $469 per person for a double room and $569 for a single room. Non-member Full Conference Pricing is $669 per person for a double room and $769 for a single room. Day Rates are Available: Members $210 Non-Members $310 REGISTER TODAY Testimonials & Reviews for Dan Pallotta "...we've received high marks for your keynote speech along with comments such as: 'Dan Pallotta was AMAZING - I wish everyone who works for a non-profit could see him speak!!', 'Dan Pallotta was the best keynote speaker since I have been attending ACM Interactivity.'" -Janet Rice Elman, Executive Director, Association of Children's Museums  "The nonprofit world needs innovation, and Dan Pallotta is helping us see how new ideas can help make our world more successful. In these tough times, we need his out-of-the-box ideas!"  -Bobby Shriver, cofounder, Product (RED) More Testimonials for Dan Pallotta

Fundraising Software Discount for NYCON Members

SPRING into Fundraising with GiftWorks Software Special 20% Discount Offered to NYCON Members through April 30th.

This special spring discount offer from GiftWorks can help you spruce up your donor or member database and get a fresh start on fundraising!  Take advantage of this deeper discount on one of our most popular "Members Only" group purchasing partnerships! Act now and receive an exclusive 20% discount on GiftWorks products, only for NYCON members. (Not a member? Join NYCON now and save!)    With GiftWorks you can easily manage your donors, donations, gifts and pledges. Integration with QuickBooks, Constant Contact, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn & MapQuest and even track volunteers, events and online donations with ease, all backed by a GiftWorks customer care team that's second to none.   See Giftworks in Action  Join NYCON and GiftWorks on April 16th at 2 pm ET for a special NYCON only showcase of GiftWorks. See all the powerful features in action as well as participate in our Q&A session immediately following the presentation. Click here to register to attend! Try it Out First, For Free NYCON Members get a FREE 30 day trial first, to see if GiftWorks fits your nonprofit needs. Ready to Purchase Giftworks? Members can use the coupon code GWNYCON2013 when buying from the GiftWorks online store. Or you can or call theGiftWorks Sales Team at (888) 323-8766 and press option 2.   ___________________________________________  GiftWorks. Helping NYCON Do Good. Better. (Not to be combined with any other discounts or coupons, discount is not available on a SmartPlan. Discount on GiftWorks Anywhere setup fee only, with purchase or upgrade). Questions? Contact our Membership Team, Valerie Venezia or Amber Vanderwarker or call us at (800) 515-5012 ext. 121 or 126.

The Non-Profit Times Weekly News Letter

The Non-Profit Times Weekly News Letter

NPT Weekly E-News Letter

SPEA Connect Online MPA and Cartificate Programs Make a difference in your organization and with your constituents by earning the #2 ranked MPA degree from Indiana University.  When you enroll in one ofSPEA's online graduate programs you will learn from some of the world's leading nonprofit management and public affairs experts.  SPEA's #1 ranked nonprofit curriculum allows working professional to develop expertise in fund development, grant administration, financial management, human resources, management and program evaluation.

The NonProfit Times has started some arguments over on LinkedIn. Join us now to take part in all the fun.

AG Might Hamper Advocacy Work

Regulations proposed on nonprofit advocacy groups by the New York attorney general could hamper efforts by organizations doing legitimate advocacy on public policy, according to one watchdog group. Read more...

Be a Better Fundraiser in One Day Fundraising Day In New York 2013 America's premier one day conference. Register at www.frdny.org June 7, 2013 at the Marrriot Marquis New York For greatest savings, register by March 31st!

Finance... 4 vital elements to due diligence

Many people think of “due diligence” as a by-the-numbers adherence to some set of printed (before the Ice Age, maybe?) guidelines that will keep certain rear ends covered. Read more...

Nonprofit Organizations Salary and Benefit Reports Purchase and download your copy of the nation's most comprehensive reports on 252 nonprofit positions from entry level to the executive office including base salary, bonus practices, total cash compensation, salary increases, employee turnover, and more. All this and more is available in the new 2012 Salary and Benefits Report from The NonProfit Times and Bluewater Nonprofit Solutions.

Advocacy... 5 ways to influence change

One of the most discussed, yet least understood, aspects of leadership is change. Everyone talks about it but it's an entirely different matter when it comes time to implement it. Add to that the fact that people generally don't like change, it's no wonder that implementing it is easier said than done. Read more...

Job Special Featured Employer Special $595 Contact Mary Ford with any questions, or for placement @ 973-401-0202 Ext 206 or email at mary@nptimes.com  What's included: * Online 30 day posting at www.nonprofitjobseeker.com * Also posted at indeed.com * Listed in feature job section of main page of nonprofitjobseeker * Banner ad to run for 30 days that ad is running, SITE WIDE * Job tweeted to @nptjobs & The NonProfit Times Twitter list 3 x each * All ads are automatically posted to our Facebook career center page * Two hundred-word listing in the print and digital editions of our magazine * Blog post of your listing on http://nptjobs.blogspot.com * JOBS Banner on NPTJOBS enewsletter (299,910 circulation) * BONUS: Ad will be posted in the Job of The Week section in our weekly eNewsletter

Boards... A dozen reasons to “retreat”

Retreats for board members usually sound great to everybody but the board members who have to go on retreat. They often retreat from them as fast as they can. Read more... To see the article online click here.

News from NYCON

Dollars through the Door: Who Does What in Nonprofit Fundraising? [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Wednesday, March 13, 2013 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT)  Online - Call And Login Information Will Be Sent To You 24-48 Hours In Advance Of This Workshop Register Today Limited Spots Available This session provides an introduction to the diverse strategies nonprofits can use to generate revenue for their organizations with an emphasis on planning, sustainability and the role of Executive Staff and Board Members in fundraising efforts. We will be covering four key topics that typically arise when discussions of "fundraising" occur.  These are the importance of integrating fund development planning at the board and staff level. how to build and effective board/staff partnership including the role of each in creating and implementing a plan. overcoming the fear of the "ask" with consistent, impactful messaging and considering new and innovative entrepreneurial approaches. Register Today Limited Spots Available

New Year, Great Time to Explore New Employee Benefits that You Can Afford! We know that the Employe Benefits "Market" can be complicated.  Our job is to help make that world more simple, and affordable for nonprofits. To help you understand each type of benefit, it's coverage features and it's costs we are rolling out a series of short 30-minute webinar spotlights on our administered programs: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts and our Vision Program - which is new for 2013! 3/21/2013  [Benefit Spotlight Webinar] Vision Insurance    4/11/2013  [Benefit Spotlight Webinar] Dental Insurance Plans & Administration through NYCON  Stay tuned for our Flexible Spending Account & Life Insurance Webinars in the Spring....

Nonprofit Audits in a Nutshell   [Free Members Only Webinar] March 28th, 2013    3:30pm to 4:30pm  Register Today!   Like yours, many nonprofit organizations often find themselves   wondering... Do we need to have an independent audit? (And what does that entail anyway?) Are there special rules for us because we receive government grants? How can we prepare so that the process goes smoothly?    What's the board's role? To answer these questions and more, the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is excited to bring you Nonprofit Audits in a Nutshell, a free webinar on March 28th at 3:30pm Eastern, hosted by our national network, the National Council of Nonprofits. This webinar features practical tips from nonprofits about their audit practices, as well as experts from BoardSource and Raffa and is designed to give you background on everything you need to know about the independent audit process (from legal requirements to practical advice).     Thanks to the support of First Nonprofit Foundation, this exclusive webinar is available, free of charge, to all members of NYCON Don't miss this opportunity - Register Today! Free and Open to Current NYCON Members Only (click here to renew your membership for 2013 before registering)

Upcoming NYCON Membership Orientation  (for all new and returning members!

3/22/2013 [Please note the date change] Membership Benefits Orientation [Webinar]  In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE.      We will be talking about these benefits. Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more. Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software. The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere.

182 Nonprofits Partake in Buffalo’s 24-Hour Online Giving Event

WRITTEN BY AINE CREEDON

From Alabama to Minnesota and Austin, Texas to Seattle, Wash., many states and cities are experimenting with time-condensed online giving events. One of the latest entrants in this field comes in the Buffalo, N.Y. area, where the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County (with support from the United Way of Greater Niagara) organized a “Spring It On” online giving event to raise awareness of—and contributions for—Western New York nonprofits. On March 1st, the 24-hour give-a-thon raised $72,549 for the 182 nonprofits that participated throughout Erie and Niagara Counties. A total of 1,307 donors took part in the give-a-thon during this first stab at the Spring It On event.

You can view the statistics of total donations raised here. Although only nine nonprofits attained their fundraising goal during the event, several organizations raised thousands of dollars, including the International Institute of Buffalo ($4,830), the Elmwood Village Charter School ($2,535), the BISON Scholarship Fund ($2,260), Harvest House of South Buffalo ($2,235), Lockport CARES Homeless Shelter ($2,220), Jewish Family Service of Buffalo & Erie County ($2,197) and others.

Beyond fundraising, the event also focused on bringing a large base of nonprofit supporters from throughout the area together and generating some buzz for the work these nonprofits are doing. The event also encouraged nonprofits that may not normally use social networking to tap into social media to reach potential online donors. As United Way of Buffalo & Erie County CEO Michael Weiner put it, “In addition to financial support, we believe Spring It On helped to educate local citizens about the tremendous contributions made by the nonprofit community every day.” The local United Way saw enough promise in the inaugural event that it plans to make it an annual occurrence.

Is there such a time-condensed online giving initiative in your community? If so, we’d love to hear how it went. If not, should there be? –Aine Creedon

To see the online article click here.

Nonprofit Knowledge Matters | Fundraising Flu

Diagnosis: Serious Illness.

Rx: Manage Expectations and Change the Culture

A new report on fundraising has uncovered a serious issue regarding the health of charitable nonprofits. Like the flu, it’s contagious, spread by mismatched expectations. But, unlike the flu, no immunization shot is available. Instead, staff leaders and board members who are anxious to avoid this debilitating condition can take some basic precautionary measures to recognize the symptoms and commit to re-thinking the organization’s culture.

Like influenza, the diagnosis and consequences can be quite serious: Let’s call it, “the Fundraising Flu.” When it hits, nonprofits are so weakened and fatigued that they lack the basic elements necessary to successfully raise money. We’ve all seen it happen. It starts with the germ of mismatched expectations, which leads to disappointment and frustration that weaken relationships and prevent a positive culture surrounding fundraising at the nonprofit.

Symptoms of the Fundraising Flu include:

• Board members who expect executive directors to raise all the money.
• Executive directors often don’t have a background in fundraising and view it as geting in their way of doing the “real work” of the organization, and therefore expect their boards and development directors to raise all the money.
• Development directors who feel unsupported by executive directors and boards who are not engaged with fundraising activities.

Fortunately, we can now view the recent insightful report by CompassPoint, Underdeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising, as a physician's desk reference on the health of nonprofits. The report's prognosis is that charitable nonprofits large and small can suffer from this affliction. While examining the reasons why there is such high turnover and so many vacancies in the development director position throughout the charitable nonprofit community, the report recognizes that it’s more than just the germ of mismatched expectations that leads to Fundraising Flu. It’s also the absence of technology or strategic thinking. Indeed, almost a third of smaller nonprofits who responded to the survey – those with budgets of less than $1 million – reported that they did not have sufficient tools in place, such as either a database to track donor information – or a fundraising plan. In their weakened conditions, without technology or key staff, fundraising, delivery of mission, and eventually sustainability, all suffer.

How can we all keep the Fundraising Flu at bay?

The Rx: Recalibrate expectations and change the culture. The report explores the causes of high vacancies that exist for the position of development director: survey data show that a significant number of development directors are being asked to leave because they are not raising enough money or are judged as not well suited for the job. These findings point to mismatched expectations that we see over and over again. Do these scenarios sound familiar to you? Executive directors wish that board members would be more active in raising money; the board expects the executive director to pull millions out of a hat. Meanwhile, the development director is pulling out his/her hair trying to get the executive director to pick up the phone to call a donor, while the board is skeptical whether the development director’s high salary is a worthwhile investment. Obviously there is a disastrous mismatch of expectations going on (everyone thinking that it is everyone else’s fault that the nonprofit is not bringing in more contributions). It’s unfair to expect a development director to succeed at fundraising without the support of the board or executive director (21% of the development directors surveyed characterized their relationship with the executive director as “weak or nonexistent,” and three out of four executive directors characterized their board’s engagement as “insufficient”). It’s also unfair to hire someone who is not experienced or skilled at fundraising and expect money to flow in the door (one in four executive directors reported that their development directors were “novices” in various basic fundraising activities). Executive directors who don’t like to pick up the phone to speak with a donor should not expect their board members or development directors to pick up their slack. And board members who think the reason why the development director was hired is to pick up their slack should step off the board! What jumps out from the report is that development directors are not sticking around when they don’t have the resources to succeed, and those resources includeengaged leadership. The report points out that fundamentally, in order to avoid Fundraising Flu, charitable nonprofits need inspired and engaged leadership around financial sustainability.

The report’s experienced authors note that we need a “’fundamental shift in thinking and action across the nonprofit sector” in order to embrace a culture that supports fundraising and is more donor centered. We think that what’s also needed is a dose of better managed expectations. With fundraising, the devil is in the details: not the details of a grant proposal, but the details that keep a nonprofit on track with follow-up, thank you notes, deadlines, and putting all those business cards that are stacked up on your desk into a database. These administrative details are not necessarily most efficiently accomplished by a high level development director. Before hiring a development director, consider whether a development assistant is more appropriate. As played out in this Blue Avocado article, the lack of a development director may not be fatal if what really is needed is a detail-oriented staff member who can keep the fundraising activities on track. But success will only be achieved when there is an overall strategy in place that supports fund development, championed by an executive director and board both willing to provide leadership for the organization’s fund development activities.

At its essence the report’s cry for charitable nonprofits to embrace a “culture of philanthropy” (we prefer “culture of sustainability”) is the recognition that charitable nonprofits can’t be successful in fundraising –even if they are fortunate enough to hire a dynamite development director – unless there is fundraising leadership in place (a triad of engagement between the executive director/development director/board of directors) as well as a supportive culture for fundraising. To read more about how to combat the Fundraising Flu, we refer you to CompassPoint's full report, especially the Call to Action that identifies 10 steps for charitable nonprofits to take to immunize themselves from what the authors characterize as the “passive, apologetic, and siloed” nature of fundraising today.

And, for training and peer learning about leadership and fund development, don’t forget to check the calendar of events of your state association of nonprofits. Engagement in fund development is too important not to make it one of the highest priorities for the leadership of your organization.

New Webinars, New Benefits for our Members

Tomorrow! [Corporate Member Spotlight]   Learn More about RER Energy & How Your Nonprofit Can Save Money on Energy Cost A Webinar Presented by Christopher Flynn of RER Energy Group   January 24th, 2012 10:00am to 10:30am  Register Now  RER Energy Group, a new NYCON Corporate Member, is pleased to offer this introducttion to their services and solar photovoltaic energy (PV) for NYCON's members. Legislation enacted in New York State is providing funding through NYSERDA to help the state reach a goal of doubling renewable energy generation by 2015. Who Should Attend: This workshop will benefit executive directors, finance and accounting staff and anyone responsible for managing electrical energy costs and systems. Members of RER's Staff can work with you to answer questions about solar photovoltaic technology, other renewable energy and currently available incentives.   Register Now

Pros and Cons of  Restructuring a Nonprofit: What it Means for your Staff and Board  A Webinar Presented by Doug Sauer CEO of NYCON February 13th, 2013              10:00am to 12:00pm RegisterThis thought provoking, insightful event will provide you with knowledge gleaned from decades of Doug's work with hundreds of nonprofits in various stages of formal restructuring, shared service models and, certainly, merger. Doug, perhaps more than anyone on the national nonprofit "scene," knows first-hand that merger (or any type of structural "re-engineering" of your organization) is a serious solution to the very complex issues facing today's nonprofits.   Register

Dollars through the Door: Who Does What in Nonprofit Fundraising & Revenue Generation  A Webinar Presented by NYCON March 13th, 2013     10:00am to 12:00pm Register  This session provides an introduction to the diverse strategies nonprofits can use to generate revenue for their organizations with an emphasis on planning, sustainability and the role of Executive Staff and Board Members in fundraising efforts. We will be covering four key topics that typically arise when discussions of "fundraising" occur.  Register For the Full Page Click Here