Grace Nielsen, Author at Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

Post-Pandemic Fundraising

May 13, 2021 by Grace Nielsen

As we watch the world slowly return to a new normal after a global crisis, it’s important to assess which fundraising strategies we have used during the pandemic are worthwhile to continue. Traditional and long-standing fundraising plans have been replaced with more flexible and innovative ideas. Some nonprofits enjoy and find value in online fundraising while others anxiously await in-person events.

Did the pandemic strengthen or strain your organization’s online presence? No matter how your nonprofit decides to fundraise post-pandemic, here are five resources that may offer ideas and guidance.

The European Fundraising Association surveyed over 800 charitable organizations on the skills they have relied on to persevere during the pandemic and reported that digital fundraising capabilities and strategic financial planning are two of the most crucial skills to maintain in a post-pandemic world.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy covers what fundraisers hope will stick post-pandemic, which could mean changing the traditional rules of fundraising and relying on donor trust to fundraise for unknown potential and possibilities.

NonProfit Pro provides examples of innovative uses of online fundraising and how they can remain useful post-pandemic. Volunteers of America Illinois utilizes Facebook for donor acquisition, United Service Organization conducts virtual fireside chats to connect with donors, and the Boys & Girls Club of America has begun to evolve their fundraising messaging to be more strength and equity based.

Nonprofit Tech for Good lists fundraising trends which resulted from the pandemic such as virtual events, recurring giving, strong connections with other organizations, and more.

AFP outlines fundraising planning in 2021 and preparing for a new era with suggestions such as holding hybrid in-person and online events, re-examining your donor database, and remaining intentional about increasing diversity in all aspects of your nonprofit.

Black History Month 2021: Black-Led and Founded Nonprofits

February 22, 2021 by Grace Nielsen

We often hear the phrase “Black-owned businesses” but what about Black-founded or Black-led nonprofits? In order to continue supporting Black organizations and to honor Black History Month, we have highlighted several with a variety of missions.

R.A.C.E. Matters SLO

R.A.C.E. Matters is a grassroots organization dedicated to center the lived experiences of Black and other People of Color through anti-racism education and cultural projects. R.A.C.E. Matters fulfills their mission through workshops, special events, cultural projects, and rapid response to racial and social injustice.

Outdoor Afro

Outdoor Afro ensures that Black people have access, representation, meaningful participation, and quality experiences in nature with an emphasis on conservation and re-imagination of Blackness in the outdoors.

Black Girls Code

Black Girls Code aims to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to participate in STEM fields and become leaders in their communities through exposure to computer science and technology.

Audre Lorde Project

The Audre Lorde Project is a center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Transgender, and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color that works for community wellness and social and economic justice through mobilization, education, and capacity-building.

Sister Love

Sister Love is a Black-founded nonprofit which aims to eradicate the adverse impact of HIV and promote sexual and reproductive health rights for women and families through education, prevention, support, research, and human rights advocacy.

Common Ground Foundation

Founded by rapper Common, the Common Ground Foundation empowers high school students from underserved communities to become future leaders through programs on healthy living, social impact, technology, creative arts, and more.

Trayvon Martin Foundation

Founded by Trayvon Martin’s parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the Trayvon Martin Foundation aims to end senseless gun violence through education and awareness.

For more diversity, equity, and inclusion resources for nonprofits, visit our Resources and Useful Websites page.

Low-Cost Professional Development Opportunities for Nonprofits

January 12, 2021 by Grace Nielsen

For smaller nonprofits, having an efficient and knowledgeable team is vital to your organization’s impact. According to Nonprofit Hub, providing opportunities for your staff to grow professionally leads to increased employee engagement and fosters a culture of learning, which can keep your team focused on your mission.

With the challenge of a small budget, extensive or elaborate education may not be an option. However, there are many opportunities for your nonprofit’s team to grow and develop professional skills without spending a large portion of your budget. Taking advantage of resources such as free webinars, workshops, and websites can take your nonprofit’s impact to the next level.

Here are five low-cost development resources for your organization.

Candid offers free live and on-demand workshops on important topics such as proposal writing, fundraising planning, and starting nonprofits. They also regularly offer training on how to navigate the Candid site and utilize its resources.

NonprofitReady is a free learning library for nonprofits that offers guidebooks and courses on diversity and inclusion, volunteer management, board development, and more.

CharityVillage offers free webinars, articles, and podcasts for industry professionals. Their resources offer insight on topics such as volunteer engagement, marketing, and job searches.

TechSoup provides low-cost courses and webinars on topics such as engaging donors, grant writing, and mastering new databases.

Nonprofit Learning Lab offers online trainings and free webinars on a variety of topics such as data visualization and social media for nonprofits.

Nonprofit Accounting Best Practices

October 28, 2020 by Grace Nielsen

Nonprofit accounting can be a daunting task due to its specific and detailed nature. Here we have compiled some basic information about nonprofit accounting including best practices and software choices.

Basics of nonprofit accounting

Since nonprofits have no ownership interests, receive donations from third parties, and have goals other than making a profit, accounting is much different and often more complex than for-profit accounting.

What makes nonprofit accounting so much different? Business.com’s “A Nonprofit’s Guide to Accounting” sums up three key differences:

Since a nonprofit does not have stakeholders, it produces a statement of financial positions, which outlines assets and debts rather than a balance sheet.
Nonprofits do not have equity, so this item is referred to as net assets, which are labeled as restricted or unrestricted.
Rather than an income statement, nonprofits produce a statement of activities that tracks revenues and expenses for each program.

Nonprofit accounting best practices

When managing your books, protecting your nonprofit’s financial data should be a top priority. Aplos’ “Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Accounting” and National Council of Nonprofits’ “Internal Controls for Nonprofits” both list important tips for responsible financial management. These can be policies or plans which reduce risk surrounding your nonprofit’s funds or assets.

It may seem obvious, but creating a budget and a multi-year plan is a great way to prepare for spending ahead of time. Both should be realistic for your organization.
Understand the requirements of the IRS and GAAP and remain aware of any rule changes.
Make sure everyone in your nonprofit understands how money travels through your organization. Creating a flowchart can help your staff visualize different responsibilities and risks at different points.
Delegate financial duties among multiple employees.This can prevent fraud and increase accountability.
Manage your fundraising expectations. Use past data to set realistic goals and adjust them if anything goes wrong—or right!

Software

When it comes to accounting software, Best Accounting Software has compiled one ranking of software for nonprofits. Their recommendations:

Aplos as best overall software: Aplos has features important to nonprofits such as fund accounting, membership management, and fundraising capabilities.
QuickBooks Online best for small nonprofits: QuickBooks is an inexpensive software that has the basics of program and fund accounting, donation management, and more.
Blackbaud Financial Edge most flexible for nonprofits: more suitable for large nonprofits, Blackbaud offers user-level permissions tools, customization, and flexibility in financial reporting and analysis.

For more information on nonprofit accounting:

Cal Nonprofits’ Nonprofit Compliance Checklist

Indiana Attorney General’s Best Practices for Nonprofits Checklist (pdf)

Grant Writing Basics

October 5, 2020 by Grace Nielsen

With billions of dollars given away through grants each year, it’s no wonder nonprofits often rely on them as major components of their annual funding. Grants are an excellent way to fundraise for your organization—however, the process can be intimidating.

Grant writing is the process of requesting funding provided by a private, corporate, or government grant maker. Grant seeking can be competitive, which is why it is important for grant writers to write clear, logical, and tailored proposals.

The Writing Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison examines the basics of planning and writing a grant proposal.

One way to begin is to obtain background information on your potential funder. What are their goals and values? How does your nonprofit align with them? This way you can adapt your proposal to further persuade your potential funder. Make sure to review the grant’s expectations to make sure your organization meets the requirements and follows the instructions.

To establish credibility, present your organization as knowledgeable, capable, and forward thinking. Reference past accomplishments where appropriate. Outline your information knowledgeably and concisely—don’t be afraid to be direct!

Once you are ready to start writing your proposal, review the main elements generally included in one:

Short overview/abstract summary: Present the most important elements of your proposal—such as an introduction of your organization, your purpose or goal, expected outcome, and how you will measure your success. It may be best to complete this last, as it is an abbreviated version of your proposal.
Statement of need: Establish value in your project by explaining the problem it will respond to. Include data if necessary.
Description of project/strategies and tactics: Describe your project’s goals, expected outcomes, methods to achieve these outcomes, and the timeline for your project.
Budget: Through tables and figures, clarify what you are asking for with justifications of costs.

Other sections may be required. For nonprofits, funders may ask for organizational qualifications in which you would describe the nature, mission, and function of your organization.

For more grant writing tips:

Candid’s free introductory training on proposal writing

The Modern Nonprofit’s Essential Grant Writing Tips

Grants Plus’ Nonprofit Grant Writing