|
|
|
Volume
8, Issue 5 - September 2006 |
|
 |
|
In
This Issue:
 Sign
Up for Future Newsletters!
If you find this newsletter helpful and interesting,
there’s only one way to keep receiving it - become a part of the email
subscription list.
If your email address changes or you want to add a
second address, just send me an email with the new or additional
information so you don’t miss out on a single issue.
IMPORTANT: Remember to include your email address
printed carefully and clearly!
THANKS!
Click here for the
electronic form
"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARC
Syracuse, New York |
|
|
Charity or Nonprofit Business? |
As you know, the funding marketplace for nonprofits is changing. Traditional funding sources, such as government grants, are shrinking or being redirected. Corporate funding is becoming more focused on marketing and business-related partnerships. Donors and funders are
increasingly looking for measurable outcomes.
What does this mean for your organization? It means that unless you are willing to change to address these funder changes, your organization might not be able to compete in the near future.
Here is my recommendation: Stop thinking of yourself as a charity!
Rather, think of yourself as what you truly
are - a business that is exempt from paying tax.
Successful businesses place themselves in a competitive environment and do not rely on one customer or one product. Rather, they test new products and new ideas, they research their current and future markets, and they understand their competition.
Successful nonprofits must do the same. They must change their vocabulary and be willing to step away from their traditional management and fundraising models.
Later this year, I will formally introduce the formation of
Social Enterprise Ventures, LLC, a new training and consulting business that I and a long-time colleague have established.
Our new program called Expedition
© is a year long hands-on experience that will guide your organization through the steps required to successfully make the transition from a traditional
charity to a nonprofit business.
Expedition © will help you
identify opportunities for earned income based on who you are now, what you do, what and who you know. Along the way to diversifying your income and becoming more self sustaining, you'll change much about how you think and how you operate. You
will constantly test your assumptions and force yourself to better understand your markets and your competition before you undertake anything new.
Here are just some of the new vocabulary words and new actions you'll incorporate into your nonprofit business:
Market Push vs. Market Pull. As you diversify your income or your services, are you basing decisions upon those you make around your conference table? What is really the demand for your current services? What new services could you provide?
Payer Markets. Who is paying for what you do now? Can you expand to a new or different payer market? Who might want to pay for that which you are currently giving away?
Features vs. Benefits. Look at your current agency brochure. I'll bet it is filled with
features not benefits. Benefits are defined by the customer! Features are all the things your services provide. Refocus your Case Statement and agency brochure today!
Competition. Defining your competition is seldom easy. A performing arts group might define its competition as other arts groups...in fact, its competition includes video stores, cable TV, movies, etc.
If your organization is ready to take a look at moving from the traditional charity to a more self-sustaining, independent nonprofit business, contact me!
If you are a funding organization and would like to bring this program to your grantees, contact me!
Back to Table of
Contents
Philanthropy and Business
- The Changing
Agenda, recently published by The Conference Board, shows that companies are aligning their philanthropy programs to meet overall business objectives and corporate reputation and branding needs.
According to the report, as part of their giving programs, more than two-thirds of the 77 multinational companies reported that volunteerism would grow in importance as a management policy. More than one-third of the respondents said the biggest challenge they will face in managing their
corporate giving programs is the measurement of results and
outcomes. You can read the full report (#1389-06-RR) at
www.conference-board.org.
The 2006 Deloitte/Points of Light IMPACT
Study shows that a vast majority of nonprofit organizations are not taking full advantage of the professional skills and knowledge possessed by their volunteers. Only 19% of volunteers reported that they primarily apply their workplace skills in
their volunteer assignments, and 29% believe their workplace skills are what nonprofit organizations need most from them. 40% of volunteers actively seek opportunities to use their workplace skills when they volunteer.
What do these trends mean for your organization? Certainly, a change in your approach to corporate funders. And certainly, a second look at how you involve volunteers and donors in your programs.
Back to Table of
Contents
Is your training budget tight this fall? Take advantage of these
Live Internet Training programs, beginning this month. Sign up for one or all. There is only one charge - bring as many participants as you want
- consider charging a minimal fee, hold the training in your conference room and
cover your costs!
Seminars will last one hour. All you need is a computer with speakers.
Special Introductory cost is $125 per site per
session for as many people as you can manage in your space.
Track I
Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune ©
Session 1: Fast Fundraising Facts Overview; Marketing principles applied to fundraising, getting to what donors and funders want.
Session 2: Jean's 10 Rules for Fundraising Success, Rules 1-5.
Session 3: Jean's 10 Rules for Fundraising Success, Rules 6-10.
Session 4: What Board Members Can Do to Fundraise.
Session 5: Fundraising Ideas that Cost Little and
Work Big.
Track II
The ABCs of Building Better Boards ©
Best Practices of Best Boards
Session 1: Recruitment Essentials
- the nominating committee that works; job descriptions, etc.
Session 2: Managing the Effective Board
- planning; administrative issues, committees, etc.
Session 3: The Board's Role in Fundraising.
Session 4: The Invisible Yellow Line
- Board and Staff Roles and Responsibilities.
Session 5: Governance Issues and Board Performance Evaluation
Click here
to see the full schedule and registration details.
Back to Table of
Contents
If you are wondering how your compensation stacks up against others nationally or in your region, you
should get a copy the Association of Fundraising Professionals
2006 Compensation and Benefits Study. The study
is available free to AFP members at
www.afpnet.org. Nonmembers can get a copy for $65 through the AFP Professional Advancement Department at
. In additional, members and nonmembers
may purchase individualized salary reports that allow comparison of your salary to that of individuals whose
positions/organizations are comparable to your current or desired position/organization.
To review the Points of Light study that shows nonprofits are underutilizing their volunteers, contact
Fred Whiting, or Lori Grey,
.
If you find useful Internet resources for other nonprofits, please forward them to me so I can share them
with the 3,750+ readers of this newsletter.
Back to Table of
Contents
Now you can add two great books to your agency library.
The ABCs of Building Better Boards is just what you need to
improve your Board’s potential. It includes ideas for recruitment, retention and
recognition and has some great forms for you to copy and use.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals says of this book:
“Here is a book that every senior fundraiser
responsible for board recruitment and development should read once and then
review annually...takes up where books full of theory fall short...give it a
chance and you will discover a gem to be treasured.”
Learn how to deal with unproductive Board members and how to better define the
roles of staff and Board. There is a chapter on financial and fiduciary facts,
one on simple parliamentary procedure and much much more.
Discover how Board Job Descriptions and annual Commitment Letters will
dramatically improve your Board’s effectiveness. See how a truly effective
Nominating Committee will lead to a better Board.
Get good ideas for more efficient Board management and administration, including
how to set up and manage effective committees.
It’s only $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Take advantage of a volume
discount of up to 20% and give this book to all new Board members as part of
their orientation.
The 3rd Edition of
Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune
is full of ideas to improve your fundraising, including how to ask effectively,
special events essentials and new ideas for fundraising.
Help volunteers get over the fear of asking for money and in-kind resources for
your organization. Learn how marketing principles will make fundraising easier.
Learn about Jean’s Ten Rules for Fundraising Success
and apply them to your organization immediately. This book puts the
FUN into
FUNDraising and gives good examples and ideas that really work, rather than
using hard to follow formulas and theories.
It’s only $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Take advantage of a volume
discount of up to 20% and give this book to all new Board members as part of
their orientation...
Or buy both books for only $45.00 plus shipping and handling. Order
your copies today!
Order Now So You Don't Forget
Go to the Order Form to order your copies of
The ABCs of Building Better Boards
and
Fast Fundraising Facts For Fame & Fortune ©
|
Back to Table of
Contents
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
TAKE THIS QUICKIE QUIZ
|
Please give me a call if you want to turn any NO into a YES. I can help
with:
- turning your Board into a dynamic group of volunteers,
- facilitating a strategic planning session,
- analyzing your current fundraising and suggesting some new ideas, and
- training volunteers and staff in becoming more effective fundraisers.
Back to Table of
Contents
Here is what people have said about my training and facilitation:
“You certainly shifted my paradigm. After hearing you last
Friday, it is the first time in 11 years as an ED that I was excited abut
fund development. And you got my Board members to that point as well.
Kay
Hopper
RDC for Children, Richardson, TX
“Your seminar in Dallas was the best I ever attended. You
are wise and hilarious.”
Mary Jo Dorn
Catholic Charities of Dallas
"Jean conducted an extremely well
organized and productive [Board] retreat, one that I can
say with confidence that our members count as the finest
ever conducted for us. Jean's follow-up report was
in-depth and meaty, and both Board and staff have
referred to it time and again. The knowledge of
boardsmanship the members took with them has made a
remarkable difference in their levels of commitment and
support."
Eileen Cook, Executive Directorr
Casa Esperanzaa
“Your training was invaluable to me. I dreaded doing this
because I couldn’t even sell someone a candy bar in the past but I was
inspired by your advice to try. I raised about $377,000!"
Joan Shepack
Keystone Botanical Garden, El Paso,
TXX
"I attended the Corporate Sponsorship Workshop - WOW! You
were amazing! What an OPPORTUNITY for me!!
Your presentation style was EXCELLENT. By far the best
workshop I've been to in a long time (content and style both!)."
Vicki
Kopplin
Epilepsy
Foundation of Minnesota
"As a senior-level development officer, I have a hard time
finding useful workshops. Jean's programs should be required for even us old
CFREs."
Trisha Dunbar
Visiting Nurse Association,
Dallas, TX
Jean Block
Consulting, Inc.
7915 Cliff Road NW
Albuquerque NM 87120
(505) 899-1520
Fax (505) 890-5285
Email:
Back to Table of
Contents
Return to
Electronic Newsletter Archive
If you wish to be notified
whenever a new issue of our newsletter is published, please
fill
out the simple form with your name and Email address and we will
add you to our electronic mailing list.
If your email address changes or you want to add
a second address, just fill out the form again and put a note in the
"Comments" section.
"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARCRC
Syracuse, New Yorkk |
Jean
Block Consulting Home Page | Search Our Site |
Free Newsletter |
Buy the Books! | Training and Workshops |
ABCs of Building Better Boards | Fast Fundraising Facts For Fame &
Fortune © |
Retreats and Planning |
Special Offers & Opportunities |
BLOCKbusters - Special Event Essentials |
Internet Resources
for Non-Profits | About Jean Block | Representative Client List
