All nonprofits can benefit from smart and targeted outreach to donors and potential donors. This is especially true when donors are increasingly demanding more options when giving. Long gone are the days when nonprofits can simply ask donors to write a check. Rather, current and potential donors want a wide menu of choices when it comes to charitable giving—choices that give them flexibility in the type of gift, in the timing of the gift, in the tool or vehicle that maximizes their tax benefits, and in how to make their support meaningful both to themselves and to the nonprofit.
There are three methods I’ve found that work well for nonprofits to communicate the many ways donors and potential donors can maximize their charitable giving. The communication methods include (1) newsletters; (2) in-person seminars; and (3) website content. Sure, this may seem obvious, but all of these tactics should be well done for the greatest impact. I am happy to advise and assist nonprofits in developing and implementing off of these methods to create an effective and sustainable program for outreach, information, and advocacy.
Nonprofits interested in using newsletters to communicate with donors should start with an up-to-date email list. Next, divide the list into three groups: (1) donors/potential donors; (2) nonprofits and nonprofit personnel; and (3) professional advisors (accountants, financial advisors, insurance agents, and lawyers…anyone who may recommend or advise your nonprofit). Each group would receive its own newsletter tailored according to its connection to the nonprofit, its interests, and the relationship you want to build with it. Generally speaking, sending newsletters one a month is a good balance. More often than this and you become email clutter, less than this and you’re not keeping the nonprofit top of supporters’ minds.
Donors
The newsletter sent to current and potential donors could focus on a specific topic such as the types of and flexibility of gifts the nonprofit accepts; explanation and use of the Endow Iowa tax credit; and giving through estate planning.
Monthly seminars on charitable giving are a great way to familiarize current and potential donors about what the nonprofit does and to inform them about the many ways their support can be crafted to fit their financial situation, needs, and interests. Holding seminars at the nonprofit’s offices, rather than at a soulless hotel meeting room or corporate campus, has a number of benefits. Visitors can see where the hard work gets accomplished; they can meet staff and volunteers; and overall, they will develop a closer emotional connection to the organization.
Seminars would be customized to the nonprofit’s unique needs and its targeted audience. I have given many nonprofit-focused seminars over the years and am happy to work together to develop the perfect presentation. There are few topics in the area of nonprofits, estate planning, and charitable giving that I do not feel completely comfortable speaking on.
All presentations I give include an engaging visual presentation, handouts, and plenty of time for questions and discussion. I also send slides used in the session to attendees following the training.
In terms of promotion, it’s best to announce the seminar program well in advance, schedule seminars at the same time every month, and hold them at the same location (e.g., the third Thursday of every month, at 8 a.m., at the Nonprofit Offices).
There are three topics I recommend every nonprofit website have no matter its size or mission:
charitable giving through estate planning
tools and techniques for charitable gifting
professional advisors
These topics should each have their own webpages.
The “charitable gifting through estate planning” webpage should describe what an estate plan is; how charitable giving happens through an estate plan; the benefits of trusts; and ways to use the beneficiary designations. The page can provide the official and full name of the nonprofit; address; and federal tax ID number. Also, providing sample bequest language can be incredibly helpful to both donors and professional advisors in starting to organize and think through a bequest.
The page for professional advisors ideally has a two-fold purpose. First, it is to demonstrate the nonprofit wants to work with professional advisors; that the nonprofit should be seen as another “tool in the toolbox” for professional advisors. Specific examples of ways the nonprofit have previously worked with professional advisors should be provided. Second, it could provide a deep-dive into the charitable gifting tools and techniques discussed earlier: really provide the gritty details, so it’s a valuable resource for professional advisors, complete with case studies.
Before tackling these marketing ideas, nonprofits should put first things first, and be in optimal compliance with proper, well-drafted, and up-to-date policies and procedures. These should include the 10 major policies and procedures that support the best possible IRS Form 990 practices (such as public disclosure, gift acceptance, and whistleblowing). Nonprofits should also have documents in place covering the topics of employment, grantors and grantees, and endowment management. Further, nonprofits should provide regular training for boards of directors.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via email (gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com) or on my cell phone (515-371-6077). I’d be happy to discuss prospective nonprofit marketing strategies through newsletters, seminars, and website content, with you at your convenience.
Forming a new nonprofit can involve a lot of organization and decision making. There are some essentials you need to put in place, including two important documents—articles of incorporation and bylaws. I would be remiss if I didn’t delve into a couple of mistakes I often run across when reviewing nonprofits’ articles and bylaws.
DIY Internet-Sourced Documents
Some nonprofits pull their articles of incorporation and bylaws from the Internet. These may or may not have all the Iowa-specific info required. Also, there may be provisions that simply don’t apply. For example, if a “regular” nonprofit copies governing documents from a granting nonprofit, like a community foundation, there’s sure to be language that doesn’t fit.
Pulling articles of incorporation off the web may seem cheap and time-saving, upfront. But, if mistakes and oversights from the template render the document ineffective or lacking legal requirements, you’ll be way worse off than if you just enlisted a nonprofit attorney to draft your articles suited to your organization’s unique needs, goals, and mission.
This may go along with copying off the web. There are sometimes provisions in bylaws and articles that belong somewhere else—the governing documents aren’t the proper place for them. For example, I sometimes see employee rules in articles/bylaws. Generally speaking, employment provisions belong in an employee handbook or employment contract. The same goes for certain policies and procedures such as those on document retention and the whistleblower process. A nonprofit should definitely have these policies, but they don’t fit in the foundational documents.
So, How Do I Go About Avoiding Mistakes in my Formational Documents?
Each organization is unique and it’s wise to enlist someone (like an attorney well-versed in nonprofit law!) to draft a quality, comprehensive set of documents personalized for your particular situation.
On the one hand, Americans are incredibly generous, donating $427.71 billion to charity in 2018. On the other hand, more nonprofits mean more competition for those dollars and the duplication of services, both of which can limit a nonprofit’s effectiveness. When nonprofits can’t pursue their missions effectively, those who benefit from their services may suffer.
The issue of whether or not some nonprofits might be better off merging in order to be more efficient and successful in fulfilling their objectives and meeting their goals is a real one. But for the average donor, or those designating an organization in a will or trust, learning that a favorite nonprofit is merging with another nonprofit can raise questions about what this means immediately and in the long run.
Philanthropy can be incredibly personal. We are motivated to donate time and money to organizations that represent some of our most deeply felt attachments and interests, so when a beloved nonprofit announces it is merging with another one, it can feel like a kind of betrayal.
A merger is a kind of partnership in which two or more organizations become a separate entity. Mergers between and among nonprofits can be well-planned, strategic, and result in greater collective impact and growth. Or, they can be messy, fraught, and lead to confusion and a loss of support.
Nonprofit mergers are more common than you might think and even though they’re often seen as simply a survival tactic to stave off financial ruin, they can take place for many different reasons:
Expand the range or improve the quality of services each provides by pooling and leveraging resources
Diminish competition between organizations that vie for donors, board members, and funding
Compensate for the loss of a founder or key leader that leads the board to question its viability
Establish stronger strategic positioning with funders, competitors, and policymakers
Formalize an existing relationship or collaboration
Donors and nonprofit mergers
While a merger might be good for a nonprofit, what about donors or volunteers?
Nonprofits should send out a notice to stakeholders early in the merger process and be completely transparent. It’s a smart step to make supporters aware of the following:
If donors plan to give a donation during life or make a charitable bequest through an estate plan will they go to the new organization? Or the old organization? For donors, one way to make certain a donation is honored for the purpose it’s given by setting clearly articulated expectations. Merging nonprofits can honor this by offering options for donors to do this via a templated form.
Nonprofits are often reluctant to merge because they fear alienating loyal donors, but a merger can mean reducing costs. It can also mean cutting duplication of services and increasing reach and effectiveness for the charity. Nonprofits that effectively articulate these benefits to their loyal funders will be unlikely to lose supporters of the mission. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to invest in a strong set of policies and procedures, including a gift acceptance policy so that equal standards for all gifts are communicated to current and prospective donors.
Donors that happen to already support both nonprofits already, should consider contributing the total amount to the merged nonprofit. The old nonprofits will cease to exist upon the merger, but that shouldn’t be let that be a reason to end full support for the causes the donor cares about!
Is your Iowa nonprofit considering a merger? Please contact me via email (gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com) or on my cell phone (515-371-6077). I’d be happy to discuss best practices for your merger with you anytime. I offer a free, one-hour consultation for all!
Smart Marketing: Nonprofit Newsletters, Seminars & Website
NonprofitsAll nonprofits can benefit from smart and targeted outreach to donors and potential donors. This is especially true when donors are increasingly demanding more options when giving. Long gone are the days when nonprofits can simply ask donors to write a check. Rather, current and potential donors want a wide menu of choices when it comes to charitable giving—choices that give them flexibility in the type of gift, in the timing of the gift, in the tool or vehicle that maximizes their tax benefits, and in how to make their support meaningful both to themselves and to the nonprofit.
There are three methods I’ve found that work well for nonprofits to communicate the many ways donors and potential donors can maximize their charitable giving. The communication methods include (1) newsletters; (2) in-person seminars; and (3) website content. Sure, this may seem obvious, but all of these tactics should be well done for the greatest impact. I am happy to advise and assist nonprofits in developing and implementing off of these methods to create an effective and sustainable program for outreach, information, and advocacy.
Newsletters
Nonprofits interested in using newsletters to communicate with donors should start with an up-to-date email list. Next, divide the list into three groups: (1) donors/potential donors; (2) nonprofits and nonprofit personnel; and (3) professional advisors (accountants, financial advisors, insurance agents, and lawyers…anyone who may recommend or advise your nonprofit). Each group would receive its own newsletter tailored according to its connection to the nonprofit, its interests, and the relationship you want to build with it. Generally speaking, sending newsletters one a month is a good balance. More often than this and you become email clutter, less than this and you’re not keeping the nonprofit top of supporters’ minds.
Donors
The newsletter sent to current and potential donors could focus on a specific topic such as the types of and flexibility of gifts the nonprofit accepts; explanation and use of the Endow Iowa tax credit; and giving through estate planning.
Nonprofits
The newsletter sent to nonprofits and related personnel could focus on compliance controls and internal policies, such as:
Professional advisors
The newsletter sent to professional advisors could take deep dives into complex charitable gifting tools such as different charitable remainder trusts (CRATs, CRUTs, NIM-CRUTS, FLIP-CRUTS, etc.), donor-advised funds, and IRA charitable rollover. Illustrating these tools with real-life case studies (with details changed to preserve privacy) will help professional advisors learn how to recognize philanthropic opportunities when presented by their clients.
Seminars
Monthly seminars on charitable giving are a great way to familiarize current and potential donors about what the nonprofit does and to inform them about the many ways their support can be crafted to fit their financial situation, needs, and interests. Holding seminars at the nonprofit’s offices, rather than at a soulless hotel meeting room or corporate campus, has a number of benefits. Visitors can see where the hard work gets accomplished; they can meet staff and volunteers; and overall, they will develop a closer emotional connection to the organization.
Seminars would be customized to the nonprofit’s unique needs and its targeted audience. I have given many nonprofit-focused seminars over the years and am happy to work together to develop the perfect presentation. There are few topics in the area of nonprofits, estate planning, and charitable giving that I do not feel completely comfortable speaking on.
All presentations I give include an engaging visual presentation, handouts, and plenty of time for questions and discussion. I also send slides used in the session to attendees following the training.
In terms of promotion, it’s best to announce the seminar program well in advance, schedule seminars at the same time every month, and hold them at the same location (e.g., the third Thursday of every month, at 8 a.m., at the Nonprofit Offices).
Website Content
There are three topics I recommend every nonprofit website have no matter its size or mission:
These topics should each have their own webpages.
The “charitable gifting through estate planning” webpage should describe what an estate plan is; how charitable giving happens through an estate plan; the benefits of trusts; and ways to use the beneficiary designations. The page can provide the official and full name of the nonprofit; address; and federal tax ID number. Also, providing sample bequest language can be incredibly helpful to both donors and professional advisors in starting to organize and think through a bequest.
“Tools and techniques for charitable gifting” should describe options aside from checks and credit cards. Short, concise paragraphs should highlight gifting retirement benefit plans; real estate; gifts of grain; charitable remainder trusts; and charitable gift annuities, among others.
The page for professional advisors ideally has a two-fold purpose. First, it is to demonstrate the nonprofit wants to work with professional advisors; that the nonprofit should be seen as another “tool in the toolbox” for professional advisors. Specific examples of ways the nonprofit have previously worked with professional advisors should be provided. Second, it could provide a deep-dive into the charitable gifting tools and techniques discussed earlier: really provide the gritty details, so it’s a valuable resource for professional advisors, complete with case studies.
Cautionary Note: Policies & Procedures
Before tackling these marketing ideas, nonprofits should put first things first, and be in optimal compliance with proper, well-drafted, and up-to-date policies and procedures. These should include the 10 major policies and procedures that support the best possible IRS Form 990 practices (such as public disclosure, gift acceptance, and whistleblowing). Nonprofits should also have documents in place covering the topics of employment, grantors and grantees, and endowment management. Further, nonprofits should provide regular training for boards of directors.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via email (gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com) or on my cell phone (515-371-6077). I’d be happy to discuss prospective nonprofit marketing strategies through newsletters, seminars, and website content, with you at your convenience.
Nonprofit Document Drafting: 2 Common Problems to Avoid
NonprofitsForming a new nonprofit can involve a lot of organization and decision making. There are some essentials you need to put in place, including two important documents—articles of incorporation and bylaws. I would be remiss if I didn’t delve into a couple of mistakes I often run across when reviewing nonprofits’ articles and bylaws.
DIY Internet-Sourced Documents
Some nonprofits pull their articles of incorporation and bylaws from the Internet. These may or may not have all the Iowa-specific info required. Also, there may be provisions that simply don’t apply. For example, if a “regular” nonprofit copies governing documents from a granting nonprofit, like a community foundation, there’s sure to be language that doesn’t fit.
Pulling articles of incorporation off the web may seem cheap and time-saving, upfront. But, if mistakes and oversights from the template render the document ineffective or lacking legal requirements, you’ll be way worse off than if you just enlisted a nonprofit attorney to draft your articles suited to your organization’s unique needs, goals, and mission.
Misplaced Provisions
This may go along with copying off the web. There are sometimes provisions in bylaws and articles that belong somewhere else—the governing documents aren’t the proper place for them. For example, I sometimes see employee rules in articles/bylaws. Generally speaking, employment provisions belong in an employee handbook or employment contract. The same goes for certain policies and procedures such as those on document retention and the whistleblower process. A nonprofit should definitely have these policies, but they don’t fit in the foundational documents.
So, How Do I Go About Avoiding Mistakes in my Formational Documents?
Each organization is unique and it’s wise to enlist someone (like an attorney well-versed in nonprofit law!) to draft a quality, comprehensive set of documents personalized for your particular situation.
Questions? Want to learn more about turning your dream of an organization that makes a significant impact or positive change? Grab my complimentary Nonprofit Formation Guide and then contact GFLF for a free consult!
Avoiding Merger Missteps
NonprofitsYou’re not imaging things if it seems like nonprofit charitable organizations are popping up like sweet corn in the summer. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, more than 1.5 million nonprofits were registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2015—an increase of 10.4% from 2005.
Is this a good thing?
On the one hand, Americans are incredibly generous, donating $427.71 billion to charity in 2018. On the other hand, more nonprofits mean more competition for those dollars and the duplication of services, both of which can limit a nonprofit’s effectiveness. When nonprofits can’t pursue their missions effectively, those who benefit from their services may suffer.
The issue of whether or not some nonprofits might be better off merging in order to be more efficient and successful in fulfilling their objectives and meeting their goals is a real one. But for the average donor, or those designating an organization in a will or trust, learning that a favorite nonprofit is merging with another nonprofit can raise questions about what this means immediately and in the long run.
The urge to merge
Philanthropy can be incredibly personal. We are motivated to donate time and money to organizations that represent some of our most deeply felt attachments and interests, so when a beloved nonprofit announces it is merging with another one, it can feel like a kind of betrayal.
A merger is a kind of partnership in which two or more organizations become a separate entity. Mergers between and among nonprofits can be well-planned, strategic, and result in greater collective impact and growth. Or, they can be messy, fraught, and lead to confusion and a loss of support.
Nonprofit mergers are more common than you might think and even though they’re often seen as simply a survival tactic to stave off financial ruin, they can take place for many different reasons:
Donors and nonprofit mergers
While a merger might be good for a nonprofit, what about donors or volunteers?
Nonprofits should send out a notice to stakeholders early in the merger process and be completely transparent. It’s a smart step to make supporters aware of the following:
If donors plan to give a donation during life or make a charitable bequest through an estate plan will they go to the new organization? Or the old organization? For donors, one way to make certain a donation is honored for the purpose it’s given by setting clearly articulated expectations. Merging nonprofits can honor this by offering options for donors to do this via a templated form.
Nonprofits are often reluctant to merge because they fear alienating loyal donors, but a merger can mean reducing costs. It can also mean cutting duplication of services and increasing reach and effectiveness for the charity. Nonprofits that effectively articulate these benefits to their loyal funders will be unlikely to lose supporters of the mission. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to invest in a strong set of policies and procedures, including a gift acceptance policy so that equal standards for all gifts are communicated to current and prospective donors.
Donors that happen to already support both nonprofits already, should consider contributing the total amount to the merged nonprofit. The old nonprofits will cease to exist upon the merger, but that shouldn’t be let that be a reason to end full support for the causes the donor cares about!
Is your Iowa nonprofit considering a merger? Please contact me via email (gordon@gordonfischerlawfirm.com) or on my cell phone (515-371-6077). I’d be happy to discuss best practices for your merger with you anytime. I offer a free, one-hour consultation for all!