Nonprofit Startups and the Power of Bartering
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Is there anything with more enthusiasm and less money that a startup nonprofit organization? While you’re likely devoting a fair amount of time and brain power to figuring out financial options for your startup, make sure you also consider reasonable barter situations.
Whether you’re planning to operate from your home or are setting up shop in an actual shop, there is no feeling in the world that compares to that mixture of ecstasy and terror. One of the first questions you have to ask yourself – and everyone else will want to know, too – is “How are we going to pay for this?”
There are, of course, the obvious answers.
- From your own pocket
- With donations
- Through grant funding
But the aspiring nonprofit founder has to be realistic. Your own pocket is only so deep. There are never enough donations to go around. And grant funding? We’ll, that’s most likely something that is being pushed to the backburner while you’re getting things established.
One of the cheapest ways to get what you need in those early days is to barter for it. You can trade goods and services with other nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and even individuals.
In order to barter with others you must have something of value to trade in the first place. Take a little time to evaluate your assets.
Space
Having a spare bit of space can be a great start when you want to barter. If you have an extra office space in your building, for example, maybe you could trade it for the services of an accountant who is looking for a little place of his or her own. Or perhaps your animal sanctuary has an extra outbuilding where another business could store a truck in return for allowing you to use it for vet appointments.
Equipment
Did you inherit a photocopier or purchase a postage meter or end up with a backhoe somehow? What kinds of trades could you work out based on this equipment? Perhaps the nonprofit garden down the road would be willing to barter some landscaping in return for access to your fax machine.
Services
Is it possible that your constituents would have something to offer in trade for your services? If not, consider what other types of services you might be able to offer and who would benefit from them. If you’re a Notary Public, for example, perhaps you could trade that service to an attorney who would be willing to draw up a couple of simple contracts in return.
Yourself
Chances are that you are the most valuable thing your startup nonprofit organization has going for it. Why not leverage your skills and abilities to barter for the things you need? If your rabbit rescue is looking for some hutches, maybe a local farm would give you some of their old ones in return for mucking out stalls. If you were a chef in a former life, offer to cater a monthly lunch for a local advertising company in return for their services.
After you’ve determined just what you have to offer, you have to figure out exactly what you need. Make a list of these goods and services and try to come up with at least three potential sources of bartering for each item. Then it is a matter of approaching these potential sources with the same enthusiasm you have for your nonprofit organization.
In order to get the most out of bartering, you need to take the time to really inventory yourself and your startup nonprofit organization. Be creative with your ideas. You will also need the confidence to make the barter request. You may just be surprised at how often you’ll hear “yes.”
Topics: Getting Started | No Comments »
Conservationist Nonprofits: It’s a Buyer’s Market
By Tamara Berry
Almost everyone is tired of hearing about the plummeting real estate market. Yes, houses are being repossessed at alarming rates. Yes, real estate developers are unable to find buyers for their once-profitable plots of land. Yes, the entire global community is impacted by these economic changes. It’s one of those topics that is so immersed in gloom and doom that it is becoming difficult to muster up any optimistic feelings.
That’s why a recent article released by the Associated Press has many nonprofits and conservationists digging out their rose-colored glasses once again.
All over the United States, thousands of acres of land priced at exorbitant rates only months ago are now reaching a price range that even struggling conservationists can afford. Property that may have incredible historic, scenic, or even community-building potential is suddenly up for grabs – and no longer just by big businesses looking to build housing developments that cater to the upper and middle classes.
Although most of the companies that have benefited from this cheap land grab are large land trust companies, nature conservancy groups and nonprofits working with green issues can also benefit from the drastic pricing cuts. And because so much of the land isn’t useful to anyone other than other conservation groups, it’s like a department store clearance sale without the crowds.
Topics: In the News | No Comments »
Are Going Green and Running a Nonprofit Mutually Exclusive?
By Tamara Berry
Nonprofits are always looking at their bottom line. Whether it’s cutting expenses, increasing donor contributions, or securing foundation grants, the dollars and cents of running a successful nonprofit organization often form a complex maze of wants and needs that it seems impossible to escape.
In today’s business community, however, the buzzword on everyone’s lips is “green.” Organizations of all sizes are becoming more ecologically responsible – often to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why the ostensibly high cost of going green scares a good many nonprofits away.
There are many noteworthy nonprofits working directly with environmental issues and decreasing the carbon footprint of people all over the world, but changes made at a much smaller, more individualized level should never be overlooked. As a community leader and an organization seeking to make a positive impact in this world, it’s your responsibility to install responsible measures that serve as a model for other companies. And hey, you might even get some media attention and draw in some eco-savvy donors, as well.
Starting Small
Instead of going out and rewiring your entire building or getting rid of that old, donated van for a fleet of Tesla Roadsters, you can implement small changes that will soon add up to make a big difference.
- Offer your newsletter in email format. Add a subscription button on your website and reserve a space in your printed newsletter to appeal to current subscribers to make the move to online. This not only reduces paper and printing waste, but it can save you quite a bit of money, as well.
- Use direct e-mail whenever possible. Direct mail donor lists are commonplace among the nonprofit set. While we don’t want you to go in and cut your list or make a switch entirely over to email at the cost of losing your important donor dollars, you should still consider when using email over direct mail might be okay (think updates, donors who support your green business model, or donors you haven’t heard from in several years).
- Make small office changes. These are the types of tips that work for any office. Replace your light bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs. Reuse paper when printing out materials for in-office use. Implement a recycling program for paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and glass.
- Put your green goals into your mission. Although you may be a long way off from installing solar panels on your rooftop, putting your eco-friendly outlook into your mission statement can ensure that the idea is always on the forefront of everyone’s mind. It also means that you can use your environmental concern when writing grants (heck, you can even write grants specifically for green upgrades), a move that get you a little more attention and a little bigger edge.
Topics: Internal Issues | 2 Comments »
Four Ways to Have a More Profitable Fundraiser
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Fundraisers are a part of life in pretty much every nonprofit organization. They’re hectic and complicated and a whole lot of effort. They’re also incredibly important, which is why we keep doing them.
In order to get the most out of your next fundraiser, keep these things in mind:
- Create a budget early, and stick to it. - Oftentimes we forget to set a budget for fundraisers and end up trying to pay for things on the fly. It’s no fun to add up receipts after the fact only to find out you lost money on your fundraiser!
- Consider what you can borrow or barter to keep costs low. - Is there a service you could trade in order to get your venue, catering, prizes, etc. for free or at a discount? Get creative. If you have a volunteer with a special skill they’re willing to donate, perhaps you could trade it to get event programs printed, for example.
- Look at what has been successful (and what hasn’t) in the past. - If you have an annual event, it’s really easy to just get stuck on autopilot. If you don’t look at what works and what doesn’t you’re not going to get the most out of this year, either.
- Plan as far in advance as possible. - This seems so obvious, but you know you’re going to be running around at the last minute taking care of stuff. Spend some time at the beginning of the process to plan ahead, and you’ll have more time later to take care of the little details.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparing for a fundraiser, but even taking the time to do these four small things can have a huge impact on the money you’re able to raise.
Topics: Fundraisers | No Comments »
How to Keep Your Nonprofit’s Emails from Being Read as Spam
By Tamara Berry
Sending out updates or newsletters as part of an online marketing campaign is a great way for nonprofits to stay in touch with interested parties at minimal cost or effort. In fact, since keeping your name and brand at the forefront of people’s minds is one of the cornerstones of keeping volunteerism and donations high, many marketing consultants suggest doing just this.
However, if you aren’t taking certain precautions, your emails might be bypassing their targets and going directly to junk inboxes and spam filters – right up there alongside financial scams and offers for sexual enhancements.
The most important step you can take in keeping your newsletters on the straight and narrow is avoiding the Blacklist. A Blacklist occurs when a spam filter decides that your email address or domain name is a recognizable spam sender. You are branded with the equivalent of a scarlet letter, and it can be incredibly difficult to remove it. While this is good news for those of us who hate getting hundreds of spam emails every week, it is bad news for anyone who gets placed there unjustifiably.
Avoid Getting Blacklisted:
- If your email or newsletter uses certain keywords or techniques (such as the word “free” or “money,” a large proportion of exclamation points, WORDS IN CAPITAL LETTERS, or really long subject lines), you might get automatically placed on the spam list. Keep your subject lines short and simple, and avoid over-hyping anything you send out.
- Place a “Thank your for subscribing” message somewhere near the top of the email. This will remind people that they requested to be sent your email updates and newsletters, thereby reducing the risk that they will click the “This is Junk” option on their email provider, which is a quick way to the Blacklist.
- At the same time, never send out your newsletters unless your recipients have subscribed or requested it. Unsolicited mail has a higher probability of being Blacklisted. It’s also a good idea to allow for easy unsubscription, as well.
- Include your organization’s contact information somewhere on the email. Giving a legitimate phone number, address, and URL authenticates the work you are doing and the emails you are sending out. This makes you look a lot less like spam and a lot more like the quality organization you are.
- Avoid sending your emails from a free email address (like Yahoo, Google, or AOL). Use your official company email service or any email address that can be traced to a legitimate organization.
- Never send any attachments on the email. Attachments are one of the primary vehicles through which spammers send viruses and other catastrophic messages. Blacklists look out for these for this very reason.
- Consider using an email services firm to send out your newsletter. Specialty groups that work directly with nonprofits (such as Local Voice or Network for Good) are an especially great way to go if you have additional communication needs.
- Comply with the regulations set out by the Direct Marketing Association. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with a copy of their FAQs related to spam and sending out emails.
Remember, getting off a Blacklist is much, much more difficult than getting on one. Avoid problems now by taking the right steps to validate your email correspondence. Get permission for all the newsletters you send, and keep copies of everything.
Topics: Marketing | No Comments »
Join Your Nonprofit State Association
By Tamara Berry
Most states offer nonprofit associations that are open to licensed organizations functioning within state borders. Although most of them come with an annual membership fee, costs are generally pretty minimal (most offer year-long options for under $500).
For your subscription fee, you get a great networking opportunity with like-minded organizations as well as suppliers in the area. Oftentimes, companies without a nonprofit status (but ones that sell goods or services that can be of profound help to nonprofits) offer discounts when a connection is made through the association.
Although most nonprofits already know about the substantial benefits that can be derived from networking to share resources, information technology, strategies, and funding opportunities, these associations go a little bit further by addressing things on a state-wide level. Issues of governance, state and city license requirements, and other legal and ethical ramifications that vary according to location are often addressed through these associations. This is especially true for organizations that work directly with advocacy and public policy as a part of their everyday operations.
Another benefit of nonprofit state associations is access to conferences and training opportunities provided locally. Oftentimes, the primary barrier to attending conferences is the lack of travel budget. By keeping things within state and even city borders, you can oftentimes cut out the need for costly air travel or overnight expenses.
While networking on a national or even international level should certainly never be ignored, it’s important for nonprofits to also remember the impact they can have on a local level. Whether your organization is seeking to open new avenues of resource acquisition or looking to serve in a mentorship capacity to smaller, struggling nonprofits, there is much to be gained from reaching out to those in your community.
To learn more about state associations for nonprofits, please visit the National Council for Nonprofit Associations.
Topics: Networking, Online Resources | No Comments »
Volunteer Retention: Choose the Right Job for the Volunteer
By Lorna Doone Brewer
Recruiting volunteers is important. Retaining them is even more important. Unfortunately, volunteer retention is going to suffer if you don’t take the individual’s skills, abilities, and (especially) interests into consideration. We’ve spent a few days talking about how to recruit volunteers, but today’s post is about what to do once the volunteer has stepped through the door. What to do after the internal dance of joy, that is.
If you’re in the middle of a big envelope stuffing project and a new volunteer walks in, the first inclination is to put him or her to work folding and licking. Let’s be realistic. If you’re in the middle of a project like that, it’s exactly what you’re going to do. It’s exactly what we’d do, too.
But once the chaos of the current project has passed, there’s probably going to be another just-as-urgent project right around the corner. It’s far too easy to just keep shuffling that volunteer from project to project. Today it’s envelope stuffing, tomorrow it’s data entry, the next day it’s moving boxes around the warehouse . . . The problem that this process doesn’t foster volunteer retention. By the time you hit next week, that volunteer is liable to be long gone, and you’re back at square one.
One of the most valuable things you can do boost your nonprofit organization’s volunteer retention rate is to ask newcomers what they’d actually like to do.
Maybe you’ll luck out. Maybe the new guy will answer with, “I’m here to fulfill my childhood dream of sending out direct mail appeals.” More likely, he’s going to tell you that he’d like to offer some IT support or that he’s interested in working outdoors, or any number of things that are decidedly not envelope-stuffing related.
Many volunteers are going to tell you that they’ll do whatever you need them to do. And they will. But they won’t do it for long. If you can match the volunteer’s skills to a job you need done, your chances of keeping him or her onboard go up. Taking time to do this type of thing shows the volunteers that you’re not just devoted to your cause, but that you’re devoted to them, as well.
Topics: Volunteers | No Comments »
How to Recruit More Volunteers
By Lorna Doone Brewer
So, now that we’ve looked at some of the usual suspects when it comes to volunteer recruitment for nonprofit organizations, let’s get a little more creative. This is a fun exercise to use to get the ideas flowing in a staff meeting or at a group lunch. You can use this technique over and over in order to brainstorm ideas for all different types of volunteers.
1. Who Makes the List? First, have the group choose the type of volunteer they want to recruit, and write it at the top of a whiteboard. Different organizations are looking for different types of folks, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work so well. One nonprofit organization may be looking to recruit volunteers to translate documents from English to Spanish, while another is looking for volunteers to plant gardens in community spaces. Even separate departments within the same nonprofit organization need different skills in their volunteers.
2. The Boring Stuff Talk about the typical process your nonprofit organization generally uses to recruit volunteers. Many of the places you usually look are probably already listed in our previous post. Write the list out on a whiteboard under the heading “Usual places we look for this kind of volunteer.”
3. Hey, Why Didn’t I Think of That? Based solely on the type of volunteer you’re looking to recruit, have the group brainstorm at least five totally obvious yet unexplored places to look. For example, you may not have thought to look for translators at the local high school, even though several of them are employed there. In the case of volunteers to plant gardens, why not recruit through the local home and garden store?
4. Why, That’s a Brilliant Idea! Now, it’s time to move on to the “Completely ridiculous places to look” category. We also like to call this the “That’s so crazy, it just might work” category. Again, use the volunteer type to help brainstorm these ideas. Looking for a volunteer to translate from one language to another? Maybe one of your nonprofit organization’s clients is bilingual and wants to give back as a way to say “thanks.” Need someone to plant gardens? Why not look at a local restaurant that specializes in organic entrees? There’s a good chance they’ll appreciate the opportunity to help others enjoy fresh, healthy produce.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that brainstorming is all about accepting any ideas given. Write every suggestion on the whiteboard without analyzing it. There will be time for that later. Instead allow people to really get their creative juices flowing. You never know where you’re going to end up, but wherever it is, you’re liable to be holding a list of great recruitment ideas when you get there.
Topics: Volunteers | 1 Comment »
When is it Time to Revise Your Mission Statement?
By Tamara Berry
Few nonprofit organizations don’t recognize the importance of their mission statement. It is your organization’s purpose - your shout out to the world (and to potential funders) about what you are and what you do. It is the binding factor that keeps all your employees, volunteers, and community partners in line with your goals and accomplishments.
However, over time, it’s very easy to start taking a mission statement for granted. The amount of time and effort that almost invariably goes into constructing one makes complacency very easy, and if a few words are no longer pertinent to your underlying goals as an organization, who’s going to be the wiser? Right?
Wrong.
Your mission statement is the foundation of your nonprofit organization. Chances are, it appears on every single grant you apply for, every single brochure that goes out to the public, and your website. In a word, it is the face your organization presents to the world. As you undergo internal changes, it is imperative that your face reflects this growth.
Organizational Changes
Regardless of whether you have undergone a change in leadership or you are reaching out to a new constituent base, changes should always be accompanied by a second look at your mission statement. Are you directing a new campaign to help your surrounding community? Make sure your mission statement includes local interest. Are you expanding your corporate contacts to increase funding? Make sure your mission statement appeals to them (and their pocketbooks) while still remaining true to your organization. If a mission statement is supposed to be who you are, it has to be who you are no matter what your stage of development.
Funding Difficulties
If you are continually being turned down for grants or if you’ve encountered a sudden drop in financial contributions, there is a chance your mission statement has something to do about it. Granted, there are infinite other reasons why your funding may be dropping, but don’t overlook this one simple factor. You may be too vague, too specific, or simply alienating a certain demographic with your word choice. It’s a mistake that could cost you quite a bit of money.
Renewed Vigor
Having employees, volunteers, and other involved parties excited about an organization is one of the primary reasons we all stay in the nonprofit game. You love what you do and want to share that passion, and what better way to do this than with a mission statement that accurately captures and conveys that emotion? Getting key players involved in the process (i.e., drawing on multiple opinions and ideas when revising your mission) is a great way to increase enthusiasm even more. Nothing motivates like contributing to the larger picture.
Focus Your Concentration
Oftentimes, if your mission statement is too broad and vague, so is the work you are trying to accomplish. Striving to reach too broad of a range or serve too large of a population is one of the largest contributing factors to failed nonprofits. Use your mission as a way to reflect on and check on your nonprofit; if your mission statement is overwhelming in its contents, look for parallels within your organization (or vice versa). It’s a great way to do a self-check.
Aid in Evaluation
Speaking of self-checks, mission statements have the added bonus of serving as a way to create measurable outcomes. Because most nonprofits seek to accomplish goals that aren’t quantifiable, a good mission statement can double as a measuring post. Making a few small changes might help to give you a new direction and allow you a way to double check your progress.
Topics: Internal Issues | No Comments »
Volunteer Recruitment Basics
By Lorna Doone Brewer
For many nonprofit organizations, volunteer recruitment is an ongoing struggle. The need to find qualified volunteers is great, but the tactics necessary to seek them can be a little elusive. Because sometimes the most obvious solutions to problems are also the most difficult to see, today we’re just going to recap a few of the go-to places for finding enthusiastic volunteers.
- Run an ad in the local paper. Some of them even offer this as a free service to nonprofits.
- Utilize online volunteer recruitment resources.
- Set up booths at community events and job fairs.
- Work your personal network (and those of your employees).
- Appeal to your current donors.
- Transform clients into volunteers.
One of the most important aspects of recruiting volunteers, no matter what your method of finding them, is to “make the ask.” Again, this is fairly obvious information, but how many times do we just simply forget to ask people to volunteer?
Topics: Volunteers | 1 Comment »