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Does Great Branding Create Nonprofit Success?

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Your nonprofit brand is not just your name, logo, or service. A brand consists of the organization’s vision, mission, values, objectives, and personality. Nonprofit branding helps establish a relationship of trust and familiarity. Consistent actions, messages, and design create a unified message and bolster your organization’s brand recognition. A nonprofit that frequently changes their visual or verbal communication style may confuse people and ultimately undermine their social impact.

“Brand becomes critical when you’re seeking to create partnerships, when you’re seeking other funders, and when you’re looking to associate yourself with people in the field,” explained Diane Fusilli, a global brand consultant and former Rockefeller Foundation communications director. “A strong brand helps bring greater credibility and trust to a project quickly, and acts as a catalyst for people to want to come to the table.”

So where do you start?

Visually communicate your brand.

Many small, grass-roots nonprofits have marketing challenges. It’s important to remember that most people first experience your organization through event flyers or social media posts. When visual brand elements are not present, you lose the opportunity to create a meaningful memory and connection. Since great design is all about the details, spend the time and money to develop brand tools. Your brand toolbox should include:

·         a logo
·         core brand colors
·         one or two brand typefaces
·         images and illustrations

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about your brand tools, attend Spokes workshop, “Get More Out of Your Brand” on Thursday, May 17. Megan Condict, Art Director for Verdin will provide easy-to-follow tips for establishing brand guidelines, no matter your technical skill level.

Verbally communicate your brand.

Potential donors probably won’t make a gift to your nonprofit until they know who is leading it, what it does, and how it makes a difference in your community. Your nonprofits’ story is the best way to connect with supporters and potential donors. Choose consistent words and phrasing with care, since your story is the emotional heartstring that compels the majority of donations.

To define your organizations’ verbal brand, imagine that your nonprofit is a person. What would s/he sound like? To which audience is s/he speaking? What action does s/he want the audience to take? According to this helpful article by Stephanie Schwab with Crackerjack Marketing, a cohesive brand voice requires four key attributes:

·         Character/Persona
·         Tone
·         Language
·         Purpose

Remember to share verbal brand guidelines with everyone who writes or speaks on behalf of your organization. Don’t forget about volunteers, board members, and interns who all have opportunities to promote your nonprofit.

You work hard for your organization, so make it count. Schedule the time to produce brand messaging and design elements. Brand guidelines not only make it easier to produce content for social media, newsletters, and other marketing materials, they also allow improve connection with current and potential donors. As always, Spokes is eager to support your efforts and can point you towards additional tools and resources. Give us a call at (805) 547-2244 or email [email protected].

 

 

Common Legal Pitfalls for Nonprofits (and How to Avoid Them)

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Event season is rapidly approaching, and committee members are busy preparing and planning raffles, selling tickets, and collecting items for silent and live auctions. Unfortunately, many nonprofits overlook common legal pitfalls. Spokes wants to help you avoid this costly mistake. Read this article to learn about registering for raffles, incorporating disclosure statements, and being prepared to pay sales tax.

RAFFLES
Did you register your last nonprofit raffle with the State Attorney Generals’ office? If not, then you broke the law…and you’re not alone. Many nonprofits don’t realize that unregistered raffles can result in hefty fines. In 2017, CalNonprofits conducted a survey and found that 38% of the nonprofit respondents said they were “unfamiliar” with raffle requirements. Only 51% who held raffles filed the required annual reporting form.

The good news is that it’s easy to conduct a raffle legally. Before your next fundraiser, follow this raffle checklist to:
• Submit application CT-NRP-1, your IRS 501c3 determination letter, and a $20 check at least 60 days prior to the event.
• File the Nonprofit Raffle Report no later than October 1 the following registration year.
• Report earnings to the IRS.
• Invest 90% of all funds raised into mission-related projects.

Following raffle compliance guidelines can feel like a lot of extra work, and there is a movement to simplify the requirements. If you want to help, sign CalNonprofits’ petition to support Assembly Bill 2347 to decriminalize small raffles. This bill seeks to:
• Eliminate post-raffle reports for nonprofits that hold small raffles.
• Allow nonprofits to hold 50/50 cash raffles if a single raffle raises small amounts of money and all raffle activity is below a similarly small dollar threshold. (Currently, all 50/50 cash raffles are illegal except for charities affiliated with major league sports teams.)

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Every time a donor purchases a ticket for an event, the nonprofit is required to let them know how much of their payment is tax-deductible. For instance, imagine a nonprofit is charging $100 for a gala ticket.
$100.00 = Ticket
$45.00 = Food and entertainment costs
$55.00 = Tax-deductible amount

It is mandatory to disclose the tax-deductible amount. On fundraising solicitations and tickets, add the statement: “The tax-deductible portion of each ticket is $55.00 and considered a donation in support of [organization], EIN # ___-______”

SALES TAX
There is a common belief that “tax-exempt” means that nonprofits don’t pay sales tax. In reality, every time a nonprofit sells or purchases an item – something tangible that you can touch – it must charge or pay sales tax.

Think of it this way: when a donor “buys” a tangible item, the nonprofit is “selling” it to the donor. Therefore, the item transfer qualifies as a sale and is taxable. After the sale, the nonprofit must pay sales tax to the State Board of Equalization (BOE). The nonprofit may charge the donor sales tax or it may deduct the appropriate sales tax amount from the donors’ payment and pass it on to the BOE. Please note that there is extra tax consideration for selling food; for more clarification, read this article: When does a nonprofit organization operating in California need to pay sales tax? or contact the BOE.

We know all these rules and regulations are intimidating. We’re here to help! Spokes has resources and tips for staying in compliance with the law. We will gladly take your calls and emails if you have questions about registering for raffles, incorporating disclosure statements, being prepared to pay sales tax, or other regulations: call (805) 547-2244 or email [email protected] for support.

Volunteer Appreciation Week: Clever Ways to Say ‘Thank You’

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Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 15-21! Now is the perfect time to plan to say thank you to your volunteers. If your organization is like ours, you rely heavily on volunteers as an extension of your staff or human resources. A genuine gesture of appreciation can result in a happier, more motivated volunteer. Here are some options to try out:

1. Surprise your volunteers with a kind gesture – coffee or muffins to start their day or a plant to show you’re thinking about them.
2. Show your appreciation through social media or a newsletter.
3. Send a personalized thank you note to the volunteer themselves or to their employer.
4. Use the power of the testimonial. Ask staff and other volunteers to write notes about a time that their colleague handled a challenge or made a difference. Compile the notes on a poster or book and present it to your volunteers.

Remember, a gratified and well-treated volunteer is a motivated and happy volunteer! If your organization is seeking additional support for its volunteer program, Spokes has several volunteer management classes coming up: Preparing Your Agency for Volunteers: Navigating Volunteer Screening and Recruitment on April 11 and Keeping Quality Volunteers: Volunteer Retention and Motivation on April 18. Join us!

The Best Way to Serve Your Community

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Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Are you passionate about making an impact in child welfare, social justice, environmental protection, and more? Are you new to board service or considering board service for the first time?

We’re Spokes, the nonprofit that supports nonprofits, and we’re here to help make your vision a reality. We think board service is one of the most meaningful ways to give back to your community. But you don’t have to just take our word for it. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the research on why board service is valuable for every entity involved, and we’ll finish by helping you with the next (or first) steps in the journey.

In San Luis Obispo County, more than 90% of local businesses are smaller owner-operated organizations – which bodes well for a local cultural of entrepreneurism, but presents real challenges for succession planning and talent development. It’s nearly impossible for small business owners to provide promising employees with professional development or cross training opportunities. But, there is another solution to develop leadership skills: nonprofit board service.

A recent study, Better World Leadership 2017, confirms that you can develop skills such as conflict resolution, management oversight, public relations, and crisis management while serving as board members for nonprofit organizations.

With more than 1,200 registered nonprofits, you’re bound to find your best match in San Luis Obispo County. However, successful nonprofit board service starts with training to understand the nuances of nonprofit management and governance. And, like all jobs, you should take time to carefully vet which nonprofit organization and mission is the best match for your personal values, interests, and expertise. Our course “Board Training Basics: Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership” on April 14 & 21 from 9 AM – 12 PM is designed to help you do just that. We encourage you to sign up for the course; we’re ready to help you start your board service career right! Reach out at [email protected], www.spokesfornonprofits.org, or 805-547-2244.

Is Your Nonprofit Risk-Aware?

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Life moves fast. In our haste to manage and innovate, we can overlook potential risks. Sometimes while we’re racing to keep up, accidents happen. Spokes is here to remind you to slow down and take a thorough inventory of who and what you need to protect.

Nonprofit board of directors are legally responsible for managing risks that could affect stakeholders and nonprofit property. These risks fall into a few distinct categories:

  • Governance risks – Is the board diligently overseeing the organization? Are they making reasonable decisions?
  • Financial risks – Is the board utilizing financial best practices to prevent fraud and ensure accurate bookkeeping?
  • Legal risks – Is the board adhering to laws and regulations regarding human resources, donations, and grants?

It’s in everyone’s best interest to make a plan for a deep and lasting commitment to safety, reputation and mission-protection. So where do you start?

Know your risks.
We sign up for risks anytime we host an event or launch a new program. Challenges and obstacles are inevitable; some come as surprises, while others can be assumed. Per the SAFE: Sound Advice for Functions and Events booklet, “Good prior planning, which includes safety and emergency procedures, appropriate documentation, and adequate staffing and security can both mitigate risk and reduce insurance costs. Not planning ahead can have a huge impact on both your reputation and your financial stability.” Click here to download.

Also, make a plan to watch Spokes video series Best Practices in Nonprofit Governance at your next board meeting. This short and information-packed series offers practical tips and strategies for protecting yourself and your organization. You can access the videos through your Member Benefits page after logging in to Spokes member portal.

If you’re a fan of checklists, the Free Management Library offers a Checklist of Nonprofit Organizational Indicators so your entire board or committee can track organizational goals and accomplishments.

Are you adequately insured?
Directors and Officers Liability, Volunteer/Participant Accident Insurance, General Liability…there are a wide variety of insurances available to nonprofits. A wise nonprofit will weigh innovative programming and supportive community services with a clear understanding of potential risks. The Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California and Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance has handy brochures that you can pick up at Spokes for details.

Do you have updated policies in place?
Policies protect and steer the board and staff as they fulfill the organizational mission. They are a reference tool for appropriate action, ethical decision making, and for dealing with potential or actual conflicts. Spokes has templates available for board-related policies, personnel policies, and financial policies. Examples include whistleblower policy, conflict of interest policy, and a gift acceptance policy. Contact us for details.

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