Nonprofit Literature Blog

New Location for the Nonprofit Literature Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:50:00 +0000

The Nonprofit Literature Blog now has a new location, please update your bookmarks and RSS readers:

New blog URL:
http://literature.foundationcenter.org

New RSS Feed for blog:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/nonprofitliterature

Hope you like our new site!

Prospect Research Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:29:00 +0000

If you plan to visit the Foundation Center library/learning center to use our prospect research resources mentioned in an earlier blog post, note that we have just acquired the latest edition of Prospect Research Fundamentals. While not as detailed as Cecilia Hogan’s Prospect Research: A Primer for Growing Nonprofits, visitors who are pressed for time may find that the 48-page booklet contains enough guidance to get started. Several experts contribute tips on:

-hiring prospect researchers
-using call reports
-developing a cultivation plan
-keeping track of prospect data
-researching individuals, foundations, and corporations
-rating prospects
-using technology

You will find several sample forms and documents as well.

Prospect Research Fundamentals, 3rd was edited by Michel Hudson and published by Stevenson, Inc.

Grantmaker Site Visits

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Before making grant decisions, some foundations may schedule site visits to develop a better understanding of the organizations that submitted the proposal. To help foundations with few or no staff on planning and conducting site visits, the Association of Small Foundations (ASF) has released a brief guide on the topic, With Your Own Eyes: Using Site Visits to Make Better Grants and Fulfill Your Mission. Written by Elaine Gast and Andy Carroll, the paper will help foundations:

-Understand the different purposes of site visits
-Develop a strategy (Who will make the visit? Which organizations should be visited?)
-Get ready for the site visit (What will be on the agenda?)
-Analyze the information collected.

Turn to the appendices for a sample site visit checklist that can help with recording data.

For more information about other papers from the Primer Series, visit the Association of Small Foundations web site.

Cultivating and Retaining Donors

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:13:00 +0000

When browsing the fundraising section of our Foundation Center libraries, you may come across Simone Joyaux and Tom Ahern’s new handbook, Keep Your Donors: The Guide to Better Communications and Stronger Relationships. Look through the volume for the practical advice you have been searching for:

-Learn about the “deadly sins” of solicitation, such as asking prematurely
-Understand how storytelling can support your fundraising efforts
-Determine your “social style” to improve your interpersonal communication
-Become familiar with the three types of case statements
-Recognized the common flaws found in newsletters

For other articles or books on donor relations, click here to search our Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.

Establishing and Operating a Nonprofit Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:34:00 +0000

If you need help on setting up a charity and managing it effectively, ask our librarians to see the guide, Starting and Building a Nonprofit by Peri H. Pakroo. The handbook from Nolo Press provides practical information on a number of topics, ranging from incorporating and selecting a name, to budgeting, fundraising, and accounting practices.

Another basic reference book you can explore is the Nonprofit Handbook by Gary Grobman. The new fifth edition released this year contains a new chapter on program evaluation. In addition, the book contains chapters that briefly discuss bylaws, risk management, e-commerce, online fundraising, and other key areas.

If you are interested in online information, try these web resources below:

The Foundation Center's Establishing a Nonprofit Organization online tutorial

The Foundation Center's Webinar Series for Nonprofit Startup Organizations

Idealist.org's FAQs for start-up nonprofits

Nonprofit Marketing: A Benchmarking Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:26:00 +0000

The American Marketing Association and communications firm Lipman Hearne conducted a survey earlier this year to provide charities with benchmarking data on marketing at nonprofit organizations. Here are selected findings, based on responses from more than 1,012 participants.

Priorities: Nonprofits currently rate building awareness and revenue generation as top priorities. In five years, however, organizations expect revenue generation to be a greater challenge.

Budgets: The data indicates that marketing budgets are generally 2% to 3% of the operating budget (excluding salaries and benefits). Larger organizations spend a smaller percentage on marketing budgets.

Evaluation: Many participants indicate that their organizations are not measuring web activity effectively (28% do not track web statistics).

For full results of the survey, download the report, The State of Nonprofit Marketing: A Report on Priorities, Spending, Measurement and the Challenges Ahead from the Lipman Hearne web site (registration required).

Funding for Overhead Expenses

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:49:00 +0000

A common challenge for nonprofit organizations is obtaining funding to cover administrative costs, especially when foundations limit how much overhead they are willing to cover in their grants.

What’s the typical limit for overhead costs as part of a program grant? Results from a recent survey conducted by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University indicated that the median percentage permitted by foundations was 15% of direct program costs. Foundations often allow nonprofits to allocate these funds for salaries, supplies, and other costs.

Some organizations may submit proposals specifically for overhead expenses. In those instances, foundations are more likely to fund strategic planning initiatives and staff training than employee salaries.

For additional survey results, download the Paying for Overhead Study at the Center on Philanthropy's web site.

Understanding the Executive Search Process

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:52:00 +0000

One of the most important responsibilities for nonprofit boards is determining who will be the next executive director for the organization. The search process can be complex and generally requires careful planning. Consultant Barbara J. Gilvar shares her expertise in the book, The Art of Hiring Leaders: A Guide for Nonprofit Organizations. Some of the key topics covered in the volume include:

-early actions steps for board members
-forming a search committee
-legal considerations
-communication issues
-recruiting candidates
-choosing finalists

Appendices contain material on hiring interim executives and using consultants.

The book contains a chapter on transition planning. If you require additional information on executive transitions, visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation web site for a special monograph series on this topic.

Foundations: The European Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:51:00 +0000

If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of civil society and would like to look beyond the strategies used by American foundations, there is a new book from the Alliance Publishing Trust that may suit your needs. Philanthropy in Europe: A Rich Past, A Promising Future contains 13 in-depth foundation profiles to help you understand the history and programs of each grantmaker. In addition, six essays by leading experts explore issues facing European foundations. The volume concludes with an analysis of why the European Union needs foundation laws that facilitate international activities.

Philanthropy in Europe was edited by Norine MacDonald, president of the Gabriel Foundation, and Luc Tayart de Borms, managing director of the King Baudouin Foundation.

Successful Grant Proposals

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:28:00 +0000

The next time you visit our library/learning centers, be sure to ask to see the new Foundation Center publication, The Grantseeker’s Guide to Winning Proposals. Those of you who are familiar with our popular Guide to Winning Proposal series will find 35 new sample proposals that have approved by foundations. Each proposal is accompanied by a critique from the decision-maker who awarded the grant.

The Guide provides several access points to help you can target the type of proposal you need:

-Browse the table of contents to find examples for single or multiyear special projects, general operating support, staffing/salaries, start-up funds, and more.

-Note the special chapters on the letter proposal, letter of inquiry, cover letter, and budget.

-Don’t forget to check the index to help you explore proposals on a number of subjects, such as advocacy, community development, education, health, and social justice. In addition, the proposals are indexed by population groups served, and by special features as well (such as timelines and evaluation plans).

Need more help on proposal writing? Visit the Get Started area of our web site to learn about our training, audiobook, and other guides.

A New Guide on Founder’s Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:58:00 +0000

Effective nonprofits often need to adapt to new conditions and may expand operations to provide additional services. What if the founder of the organization sees things differently from board members or key leaders at the nonprofit? The new BoardSource guide, Moving Beyond Founder’s Syndrome to Nonprofit Success, explores strategies that founders and board members can use to address these types of issues. Eight case studies are included to help you cope with different scenarios. Here are some highlights from the volume:

-Suggests tips for board members and founders during the initial phases of a nonprofit’s life cycle when the founder is indistinguishable from the organization’s work.

-Recommends what can be done when a founder avoids growth opportunities, or seeks to expand at any cost.

-Explores the difficulties that may arise for a new chief executive when the founder remains as a staff member.

-Discusses succession planning and provides advice for dealing with a founder’s sudden resignation.

Moving Beyond Founder’s Syndrome to Nonprofit Success was written by Addie Nelson Backlund, executive director at the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, and Thomas A. McLaughlin, a senior manager of Grant Thorton LLP and a contributing editor for the NonProfit Times.

A Comprehensive Textbook on Nonprofit Organizations

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:24:00 +0000

If you are looking for a book to help you explore key management and governance issues facing charities, look for Nonprofit Organizations: Principles and Practices in our new books section. The introductory textbook is especially useful for nonprofit management courses, but is also a valuable resource for professionals. The volume covers a broad range of topics:

-Learn about the growth of the nonprofit sector
-Understand how ethical frameworks are used in nonprofit organizations
-Find out how to start a nonprofit and comply with government regulations
-Learn about leadership issues and organizational culture
-Explore human resource topics, such as personnel policies and diversity issues
-Find out about fundraising best practices
-Learn about “founder’s syndrome” and crisis management
-Understand strategic planning and program evaluation

Published by Columbia University Press, the textbook was written by Thomas P. Holland, founding director of the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations at the University of Georgia and Roger A. Ritvo, University Distinguished Research Professor of Management at Auburn University Montgomery.

New Handbook for Nonprofit Jobseekers

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:10:00 +0000

Jobseekers who are visiting the Foundation Center library/learning centers will now have access to the Fieldstone Alliance’s new book, The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job That Makes A Difference. If you are new to the world of nonprofits, the guide will provide you with a basic understanding of the sector and highlight specific fields such as human services and international affairs, as well.

The guide contains several profiles of nonprofit managers and professionals, and includes a brief Q & A with each person. Sections and sidebars briefly discuss key areas you may have an interest in, such as graduate school, nonprofit salaries, and consulting in nonprofits. Author Shelly Cryer is the founder of the Initiative for Nonprofit Sector Careers.

Related resources:

Idealist guide to Nonprofit Careers (free download).

Foundation Center FAQ, “Where can I find out about job openings in the nonprofit sector?”

Starting a Corporate Giving Program

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Businesses that are interested in corporate philanthropy can ask our librarians for the guide, Corporate Giving: Options and Strategies. Published by the Council on Foundations, the booklet explores several key topics including legal issues, the planning process, administration, grantmaking, and communications.

--You might know about the options for corporate philanthropy, such as company-sponsored foundations and direct-giving programs, but the guide also notes that some businesses may establish donor-advised funds at community foundations. Chapter 1 contains a chart to help you compare the options.

--What would your personal role be in the new corporate giving program? Turn to page 51 for a chart that outlines the different roles chief executives, chief operating officers, senior executives, and other managers may have at the planning, establishment, and implementation phases.

--How do you increase the visibility of your work? Get some quick ideas on page 91 with the sidebar “Tips for Getting Media Interested in Corporate Contributions.”

Note: The guide is an update to Sylvia Clark and Kate Dewey's publication, Organizing Corporate Contributions, and has been revised by Ricky A. Weiss.

The Financial Health of Youth-Serving Organizations

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:29:00 +0000

The latest issue of Nonprofit Quarterly explores a number of financial issues including budgeting and investing. In one of the articles, Clara Miller, president and CEO of the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), highlights the results of a new study conducted by the organization. A research team examined tax filings of 1,085 youth-serving groups and evaluated three areas:

Diversified Revenue Sources – The results indicate that few of the organizations have more than two funding sources since a third may generate more costs than benefits.

Government Funding – Organizations that are dependent on government funding may be challenged by low cash reserves.

Real Estate Ownership – Nonprofits should think carefully about facility ownership since the increased costs could reduce liquidity and limit resources for programs.

Learn more about the study on youth-serving organizations in “Truth or Consequences: The Implications of Financial Decisions.”

This Nonprofit Quarterly issue is available at the Foundation Center libraries.

The full text of the article is also available on the Nonprofit Finance Fund web site.

Nonprofit Boards and Fundraising

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:50:00 +0000

As a trustee of a nonprofit organization, you have been asked to support the group’s fundraising efforts. If you are unsure of your role, ask our librarians for Fearless Fundraising for Nonprofit Boards, 2nd ed. (BoardSource 2008). The guide by Dave Sternberg offers practical advice with a focus on obtaining gifts from individual donors. Turn to the appendix for a checklist that lists the ways you can assist. For example, will you help...

-write the case statement?
-suggest names for major gift prospects?
-thank your organization’s donors?
-organize special events?
-make visits for gift solicitations?

For more citations to readings about fundraising and other responsibilities of nonprofit board members, browse our Topical Resource List.

Recent "Off the Shelf" Book Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:52:00 +0000

Here are quick highlights from Philanthropy News Digest's Off the Shelf book reviews. Click on the links below for the full reviews:

Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker. Fred Setterberg and Bill Somerville (Heyday Books, 2008)

"...something between a primer for new, unspoiled foundation staff and a challenge to old-hand practitioners of the status quo. Fred Setterberg has shaped Somerville's passion into an easy, cheerily provocative read..." More

The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It. Paul Collier (Oxford University Press, 2007)

"...[Collier] and his team of international researchers examine the traps — lack of natural resources, corruption and bad governance, proximity to bad neighbors — that ensnare poor countries in destructive cycles of conflict and violence..." More

Mobilizing Generation 2.0: A Practical Guide to Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Recruit, Organize, and Engage Youth (Jossey-Bass, 2008)

"...It doesn't matter whether your understanding of Web 2.0 technologies is beginner-level or advanced; Mobilizing Generation 2.0 is full of great information about how to recruit, organize, and engage not just Millennials but Gen-Xers and baby boomers who are curious about these new technologies or have already incorporated them into their daily work routines..." More

Click here for a full list of archived Off the Shelf reviews.

Tracy W. McGregor: Philanthropic Leadership in a Tumultuous Era

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:30:00 +0000

A new biography chronicles the life and charitable activities of Tracy W. McGregor (1869-1936), who established the McGregor Fund, one of Michigan's first major foundations. The volume chronicles McGregor's civic leadership in Detroit, describes his efforts to support the homeless, and explores his interest in books and libraries. McGregor's activities spanned periods of industrial growth in Detroit, as well as economic decline, as workers began to experience the effects of the Great Depression.

Professor of history Philip P. Mason examined the archives at Wayne State University and other institutions for this detailed biography. Click here for a brief profile of McGregor and a listing of the materials that can be found in the archives.

Humanitarian, Philanthropist, and Detroit Civic Leader and other biographical works in our collection can be found by searching the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.

Online Communications: How does your nonprofit organization measure up?

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Is your nonprofit’s online communications strategy meeting expectations? Perhaps you might want to compare your results with data from other groups by examining the 2008 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study: An Analysis of Online Messaging, Fundraising and Advocacy Metrics for Nonprofit Organizations. Findings are based on an assessment of 21 national organizations by NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network and M+R Strategic Services. You will learn from the report that the average open rate for e-newsletter messages in 2007 was about 17.6% percent. The percentage of people who then clicked on a link within a newsletter was 3.6%. The average online gift amount was $87.

The full report is available at the eNonprofit Benchmarks Study web site.

The Nonprofit Sector in the U.S.: A Brief History

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Some of you may know that the Internal Revenue Service provides aggregate tax data through it Statistics of Income (SOI) program. To celebrate SOI’s 90th anniversary, the program began to publish a series of retrospective articles on a number of tax-related subjects.

In particular, you might be interested in “A History of the Tax-Exempt Sector: An SOI Perspective.” As expected from SOI, you will find statistical data on public charities and foundations from tax years 1985 to 2004. What's surprising is the section of the article that covers the legislative history of tax-exemption in the United States. If you are giving a presentation this topic, Figure A or Appendix B can be used as handouts since they concisely describe major legislation from the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894 to the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

The full article is available at the SOI web site.

The Fundraising Landscape for International NGOs

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:35:00 +0000

If you are interested in learning about the fundraising environment outside the U.S., ask our staff for the May 2008 issue of FundRaising Success magazine. The issue contains a special report, “Fundraising Around the World,” that describes some of the challenges faced by nongovernmental organizations and elaborates on the techniques they have developed. You will find several brief articles, including:

“The Dynamic Growth in Continental Europe” by Daryl Upsall
(Describes fundraising in Italy and Spain)

“Fundraising in Emerging Markets: Challenges and Opportunities” by Simon Collings
(Covers Latin America and Asia)

You can also read these articles by browsing the past issues at the Fundraising Success web site.

Search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature to find additional readings on fundraising outside the U.S.

The Size and Scope of the Nonprofit Sector

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Researchers who are studying the growth of the nonprofit sector in the United States will want to ask our staff for the Nonprofit Almanac 2008. Published by the Urban Institute Press, the highly anticipated volume provides statistical data and analysis on all types of organizations.

Here are examples of some of the facts you will find in the new edition:

In 2005, nonprofits employees accounted for nearly 10 percent of the nation’s non-farm workforce (p. 21).

While nonprofit revenues have been increasing, savings has been declining since the late 1990s (p. 125).

In 2005, among the 1.4 million nonprofit organizations registered in the United States, 876,164 were 501(c)(3) public charities. There were 323,530 reporting public charities with more than $25,000 in revenues that filed Form 990s (p. 212).

If you are searching for additional information, have a look at our FAQ, “Where can I find statistical data on U.S. charities?”

Corporate Giving Statistics

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:35:00 +0000

If you looking for statistics on corporate philanthropy, there are several resources that may provide the information you need:

Ask our librarians for Giving USA, an annual report written by researchers at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Go directly to the chapter “Giving by Corporations” to get a broad overview of data collected from various sources, including the Conference Board and the Foundation Center.

If you find that you need more specific statistics, such as contributions as a percentage of corporate income or sales, you might need to ask for the Conference Board’s Corporate Contributions Report. The findings are based on an annual survey of nearly 200 major companies.

How about statistics on matching gift programs? Try the Giving in Numbers report from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. The full report is available online.

For estimates of giving in 2007, as well as forecasts for 2008, download the Foundation Center publication, Key Facts on Corporate Foundations.

Need more information? Search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature for other statistics related to corporate philanthropy.

Recent "Off the Shelf" Book Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Here are quick highlights from Philanthropy News Digest's Off the Shelf book reviews by Foundation Center staff. Click on the links below for the full reviews:

Crucibles of Leadership: How to Learn from Experience to Become a Great Leader. Robert J. Thomas (Harvard Business School Press, 2008)

“…the book reinforces perhaps the most important lesson for any leader, regardless of field or sector: Effective leadership is a process of continuous personal development driven by one's embrace of lifelong learning and a desire to lead...” More...

ROI for Nonprofits: The New Key to Sustainability. Tom Ralser (John Wiley & Sons, 2007)

“…nonprofits that make the effort to follow Ralser's guidelines are likely to find themselves with a development strategy that puts them on the road to sustainability..." More...

Message Matters: Succeeding at the Crossroads of Mission and Market. Rebecca K. Leet (Fieldstone Alliance, 2007)

“...by following Leet's five simple steps, you too can end up with a powerful message that grabs your audiences' attention, drives the conversation about your products and services, and leads to improved fundraising results....” More...

Nonprofit Essentials: The Development Plan. Linda Lysakowski (John Wiley & Sons, 2007)

"...Lysakowski's book de-mystifies the [planning] process, presenting the challenges one must be prepared to address to achieve fundraising success in a practical, no-nonsense manner..." More...

Click here for a full list of archived Off the Shelf reviews.

Assessing Planned Giving Officers

noreply@blogger.com (Jimmy Tom) — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:25:00 +0000

Evaluating the performance of planned giving officers can be challenging, especially when gifts may not be received until years later. If you need guidance on developing criteria for measuring success, have a look at the latest issue of the Journal of Gift Planning (1st Qtr) from the National Committee on Planned Giving. In the article, “Evaluating Gift Planner Performance” expert Tom Cullinan suggests that some areas for measurement may include:

Existing and deferred gift commitments
Number of donor meetings
Response rates to marketing efforts
Number of new prospects identified

The article also provides guidance on standards for prospect meetings, cold calls, and activity reports.

For additional readings on planned giving, search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.