Avoiding Nonprofit’s Risk With Documentation!
We explore the key topic of reducing risk within nonprofit organizations through effective documentation techniques and systems. Join us as we navigate the world of nonprofit finance, gaining insights into the staff roles within these organizations, the influence of leadership, the importance of compliance calendars, efficient task management, and the significance of clear policies and procedures. You’ll discover how transparency and accurate documentation play a pivotal role in building trust with donors and stakeholders. We’ll also touch upon the ever-evolving landscape of technology and how it’s transforming financial processes within nonprofits. This Power Week session is a comprehensive discussion led by Beth Farley, a seasoned CPA partner at Eide Bailly. She shares her expertise and illuminates the path to risk reduction through proper documentation in the nonprofit sector. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of nonprofit financial management and its critical role in safeguarding organizations.
What Is Critical Nonprofit Info To Document?
Policies and procedures that cover financial and non-financial aspects of nonprofit’s operations. Beth Farley, a CPA and partner at Eide Bailly, discusses the critical roles documentation plays in ensuring accuracy, compliance, and transparency within nonprofit organizations.
One key quote from Beth during the discussion is, “If it’s not documented, it did not happen.” She emphasizes the importance of documenting key information such as nonprofit client numbers, financial data, and procedures. Beth also discusses the three C’s of documentation: concise, correct, and current.
Beth and the hosts jump into topics like the timing of documentation updates, the involvement of various team members in the process, and how documentation can help mitigate fraud risks. They also touch upon the need for consistency and accessibility in documentation practices.
Beth suggests starting with the riskiest areas and gradually documenting processes, making it a priority even if resources are limited. The conversation concludes with the idea that documentation should also play a role in performance reviews to ensure accountability and clarity of roles within the organization.
Documenting Your Way To Success For Nonprofits!
The focus of the episode is on the importance of documentation and how it contributes to a nonprofit’s success. Part one of a five-part series dedicated to nonprofit documentation and accounting, with special guest Beth Farley, CPA from Eide Bailly.
Beth emphasizes the significance of clear documentation, professing how it helps prevent errors, misstatements, and even fraud. The discussion highlights that documentation isn’t just an accounting concern—it encompasses various aspects of nonprofit operations, from financials to compliance and IT security.
This first episode conversation touches on topics such as compliance calendars, the impact of changing funding sources, and the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of accounting processes. Beth stresses that nonprofits need to be proactive in documenting their financial processes, rather than waiting for an audit or a specific event.
Throughout each episode, Beth and the hosts will dive deeper into topics such as setting up documentation protocols, staff and board alignment, and effective monitoring. Nonprofit leaders and professionals are encouraged to watch them all for a wealth of practical advice and expert guidance.
Nonprofit’s Questions (board onboarding and recruitment)
Insights on nonprofit board treasurer selection, post-event practices for charities, board onboarding, and nonprofit board recruitment. Host Julia Patrick welcomes Muhi Khwaja, one of the trainers at the Fundraising Academy at National University and Co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF).
They begin by discussing the importance of finding the right treasurer for a nonprofit board. Muhi emphasizes the need to look for candidates with experience in nonprofit finance, compliance, and audit procedures. He suggests checking if potential treasurers have filed Form 990s, worked with nonprofits before, and have a CPA background.
Next, they address best practices for post-event activities, particularly after a gala. Muhi highlights the significance of stewardship in the donor cycle. He recommends sending personalized thank-you notes or emails to event attendees and donors, conducting surveys to gather feedback, and promptly following up with attendees and potential donors to build meaningful relationships.
Muhi also shares insights into onboarding new board members. He emphasizes the importance of a structured orientation process and discusses AMCF’s practice of having annual meetings and strategic planning sessions to reinforce board members’ roles and responsibilities.
Julia and Muhi then explore a unique question about whether the CEO or Executive Director of a nonprofit should have a vote on the board, agreeing that it’s generally not advisable for the CEO to have voting power on the board to maintain a clear separation of powers and avoid potential conflicts of interest.
The conversation shifts to AMCF’s current board recruitment efforts. Muhi explains that they are actively seeking board members with specific skill sets, such as marketing, philanthropy, and . . . . . . . . .
The Psychology Of Nonprofit Events
Understanding the psychology of nonprofit events and how to leverage technology to enhance gatherings so they engage attendees on a deep emotional and intellectual level with the president of Utopia Experience, Joey Goone . By focusing on content, connection, and community and using technology strategically, nonprofits can create events that leave a lasting impact and foster longer-term relationships with both established and new supporters.
For nonprofits, Joey focuses on the “Three C’s Model”: Content, Connection, and Community.
Content: Joey stresses that events should offer valuable and unique content that goes beyond what attendees can easily find elsewhere. This content should aim to educate and inspire participants, making the event more than just a social gathering.
Connection: To create meaningful connections among attendees, Joey shared a creative approach. At one event, they color-coded bid paddles and organized attendees into small groups. These groups were guided through different exhibit stations, where they watched videos and heard stories about the nonprofit’s impact. This strategy encouraged emotional connections among attendees, fostering a sense of community.
Community: Building a sense of community is a central theme throughout this discussion. Joey emphasizes that events should go beyond individual connections and focus on creating a larger sense of belonging and solidarity. This often involves connecting newcomers with long-time supporters and encouraging them to engage with each other.
Joey also took the time to highlight the importance of leveraging technology effectively during events. For instance, using QR codes to gather information from attendees in real-time, allowing for personalized follow-up communication based on attendees’ preferences and history with the nonprofit.
This is a truly insightful learning . . . . . . . . .
Fundraising Outside The Gala!
Insights, actionable tips, and a fresh perspective on modern-day fundraising! In a fun conversation, Kevin Spykerman from Charity Buzz and a seasoned professional in fundraising, reminisces about his rich 17-year journey. Emphasizing the importance of thinking beyond traditional gala fundraisers, Kevin unveils the concept of Charity Buzz’s “impact marketplace”. This platform, boasting a network of 250,000 active bidders, offers an innovative avenue for charities to raise funds throughout the year.
Digging deeper, the hosts discuss the untapped potential of networks and connections. A significant part of Kevin’s role involves analyzing the networks of board members, assisting organizations in leveraging these connections for fundraising. The post-event phase emerges as a crucial focus area, where nonprofits can work towards fostering relationships and converting one-time donors into long-term supporters. Kevin shares how social trends, such as popular concerts or sporting events, can be harnessed for timely fundraising opportunities, positioning Charity Buzz as an avenue to tap into them. The chat concludes with a reminder of the significance of mission statements and the need for every nonprofit team member to internalize and embody them.
Nonprofit Show 900th Episode Celebration!
In a jubilant celebration of their 900th episode, co-hosts Jarrett Ransom and Julia Patrick reflect on their journey through “The Nonprofit Show.” With gratitude to their partners and viewers, they reminisce about the show’s evolution from its early days and discuss important lessons learned along the way.
Jarrett and Julia emphasize the misconception that nonprofits aren’t nimble and cannot work remotely. They debunk this myth, highlighting the adaptability and success of organizations that have embraced remote work and technology.
They express their surprise at the emotional impact of guests’ stories, revealing that even seasoned nonprofit professionals like themselves can be deeply moved by the passion and dedication of those in the sector.
In looking forward, the dynamic duo co-hosts predict that in five years, the nonprofit sector will shed the overhead myth and become more collaborative, with funders easing restrictions on grant applications. They also foresee changes in donor-advised funds and acknowledge the importance of addressing these shifts.
Jarrett and Julia express their commitment to the nonprofit sector and its continued evolution. They are grateful for their partners and viewers, vowing to keep sharing knowledge and insights to support the sector’s growth.
Nonprofits Wanted To Know
Nonprofits asked about: CEO tenure lengths, professional development for fundraisers and programming, building donor relations outside your geography,From The Nonprofit Show, Julia Patrick addresses these questions. The first question pertains to the evolving trend of shorter CEO tenures in nonprofit leadership positions. Julia highlights that shorter tenures can indicate flexibility and adaptability, but it’s crucial to ask candidates about their reasons for such durations to make informed hiring decisions.
Next, Julia answers a question from a fundraiser who wonders whether to invest more in professional development for fundraising or programming. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the nonprofit‘s work and suggests a holistic approach, advocating for knowledge of both fundraising and programming to be a well-rounded fundraiser.
Julia also offers advice to someone trying to build relationships with potential donors outside their community. She encourages looking beyond geographic boundaries, considering the digital age, and tapping into the philanthropic passions of donors who may have moved away but still care about their community.
Year-End Fundraising Drill Down – Day Two!
The discussion begins with an emphasis on the importance of not abandoning the core principles of fundraising, even during year-end campaigns, highlighting the “Donor Cultivation Cycle” as a tool to strengthen donor relationships, focusing on understanding donor interests and connections to the mission.
In this second part of the Nonprofit Drill Down series, the hosts are joined by Muhi Khwaja, a seasoned trainer at Fundraising Academy and co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation. This fast-paced episode dives deeper into the strategies and tactics for powerful end-of-year fundraising.
The conversation then shifts to the importance of stewardship in year-end fundraising. Muhi explains the value of recognizing donors’ giving anniversaries as an opportunity to engage with them personally. He recommends using various communication channels, such as phone calls, emails, handwritten letters, and social media, to maintain regular contact and express gratitude. He advises tailoring the approach to suit donors’ preferences and using tools like Hootsuite to streamline social media posting.
The hosts and Muhi Khwaja also discuss how to effectively steward donors after fundraising events, including sending thank-you messages and providing updates on the impact of their contributions.
This valuable learning episode wraps-up with a fascinating discussion about recruiting a year-end campaign committee by engaging donors or board members to share testimonials and stories about their support for the organization. This personal touch not only strengthens donor relationships but can also lead to adding new prospects to the database.
Year-End Fundraising – Drill Down! Day One
First of a two-part series on nonprofit strategies on year-end fundraising and database analysis, providing valuable insights for nonprofits.
Muhi Khwaja, a trainer at Fundraising Academy and co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation, shares his expertise on donor retention, communication frequency, and leveraging data effectively. He emphasizes the importance of historical data to understand donor behavior, especially during and post-COVID times. The video highlights the significance of two essential reports: “SOME YEARS BUT NOT THIS YEAR” and “LAST YEAR BUT NOT THIS YEAR,” which should be pulled quarterly to inform donor engagement strategies.
Muhi goes on to urge that nonprofits focus on monthly communications as an effective strategy, balancing engagement without overwhelming donors. He recommends segmenting communications for specific events or announcements while maintaining a reasonable email frequency.
Day two of this series promises to delve deeper into stewardship outreach plans and campaign communications, offering nonprofits valuable guidance on building stronger, data-driven relationships with donors. Don’t miss that follow-up!
Top Five Nonprofit Job Interview Questions!
The 5 key questions to ask potential job candidates at nonprofits, with Dana Scurlock, the Director of Recruitment from Staffing Boutique. She describes the need to go beyond surface-level questions and dive into more meaningful inquiries, asking these questions in a way that reflects the organization’s culture and values, to find the right fit for your organization.
The first question discussed was about work-life balance. Dana highlights how this has become a critical topic in recent years, with candidates expecting employers to offer a balance between their personal and professional lives. She suggests organizations ask candidates how they define work-life balance and explore what it means to them personally, considering their unique circumstances and needs.
The second question centers on self-care and how candidates manage their own well-being. Dana emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for candidates to discuss their self-care needs and suggests that organizations should consider implementing self-care measures for their current employees.
The third question investigates the candidate’s tenure at previous positions. Dana notes that while long tenure at one organization used to be preferred, the current job market has led to shorter job durations. She advises NPO’s to ask candidates about their reasons for leaving previous positions and look for patterns on their resumes.
The fourth question focuses on the support candidates need to excel at their jobs. Dana stresses the importance of candidates feeling that the organization is committed to providing them with the necessary tools and support for success. She suggests organizations tailor this question to fit their specific needs and position requirements.
The final question is about candidates’ career . . . . . . . . .
Social Connections And Discourse In The Nonprofit Sector
A conversation on the power of social connections and discourse within the nonprofit sector. In this captivating interview, our co-hosts sit down with Jared Seide, the Executive Director of the Center for Council, a transformative organization dedicated to building communities through authentic communication and compassionate engagement.
Amidst the frenetic pace of the nonprofit world, Jared Seide shares his profound insights on the importance of finding common ground, fostering a sense of belonging, and addressing the pervasive epidemic of loneliness and isolation. He also offers a glimpse into the core of his organization’s mission, which involves teaching individuals, organizations, and communities to establish structures of connection through the practice of Council.
Jared’s perspective transcends borders, as he highlights how Center for Council’s impact spans from Los Angeles to Rwanda and Bosnia Herzegovina, connecting diverse communities across the globe. He emphasizes the pivotal role that vulnerability and shared experience play in creating trust, empathy, and collaboration, both within teams and across generational divides.
As we navigate the challenges of an increasingly polarized world, Jared Seide offers a profound message of unity, highlighting the ways in which Council fosters a safe space for authentic conversation and the discovery of shared values. By exploring the deep-rooted impact of loneliness on mental and physical health, he reveals the urgency of reclaiming genuine connections to enhance well-being.
Throughout this interview, Jared Seide’s insights resonate as a beacon of hope for nonprofit organizations seeking to transform their communities through meaningful dialogue, compassion, and the unifying force of shared purpose. Join us in this enlightening conversation that empowers nonprofit leaders and changemakers to embrace vulnerability, . . . . . . . . .