Accountability

A new OneCause research study found that social donor loyalty continues to trend upward as nonprofits regain momentum.

“When people say you can’t change the way people think about charity, I think, ‘Oh yeah? Watch,’” Dan Pallotta, the founder and president of Charity Defense Council said in the teaser of his new film, “Uncharitable,” which is coming to select theaters in the fall.

As boards become more diverse, ensuring that members are fully and meaningfully welcomed, oriented and engaged should become a bigger priority for nonprofit boards, too. Here are seven common-sense suggestions to improve your board’s engagement and inclusion efforts.

The average age of donors is 65. An estimated one in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. If you were in a meeting with a prospective donor for a major or planned gift, what would you do if you did detect cognitive decline?

Let’s discuss some responses to pushback that will leave you well-equipped to communicate with donors.

What Americans Think About Philanthropy and Nonprofits,” a new study from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, polled about 1,300 Americans over the summer of 2022 to learn more about how the American public perceives philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. 

Nonprofits vary greatly in size and focus, from community organizations that feed the hungry to global institutions protecting the environment. But one thing all nonprofits have in common is the need for stakeholder surveys.

As nonprofits remain a target for bad actors due to their vast amount of data, data security should be at the top of the priority list.

Kevin Scally, chief relationship officer at Charity Navigator, shared that with a shrinking donor population, recurring gifts can both democratize philanthropy and lower the barriers for giving. 

At many nonprofits, volunteers play critical roles, from staffing special events and keeping programs running to serving as directors on boards. They are often the most effective community ambassadors, but, increasingly, nonprofits must consider the risks associated with failing to vet potential volunteers.