Financial and Legal Archives - Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

Mission-Aligned Money Management

May 30, 2025 by Jordan Jerkovich

While many nonprofits are working hard to make ends meet, some are fortunate to have built up a surplus or reserve—and with that comes the opportunity to invest in ways that can support and even grow their mission. However, traditional investment strategies don’t always align with a nonprofit’s values or purpose. That’s why we recently hosted a class on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, led by our friends at Blue Marble Investments. They shared how mission-aligned and sustainable investment options—such as fossil fuel–free portfolios—can perform on par with traditional investments while staying true to your organization’s ethics.

Check out a recording of the presentation here.

How accessible is your website?

July 26, 2024 by Michael Simkins

We’re all aware of the need for public spaces to be accessible and of the many accommodations that help to make them more so. But what about our websites? They are one of our most powerful communication tools. Our websites need to be accessible too.

Here are four things you can do to increase the accessibility of your website:

Use accessible website templates

Why: Many website builders (like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace) offer templates that are designed with accessibility in mind.
How: Choose templates labeled as accessible or compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These templates often include built-in features like proper heading structures, color contrast, and keyboard navigation.

Add alt text to images

Why: Alt text provides descriptions of images for people using screen readers, making visual content accessible to those with visual impairments.
How: Ensure that every image on the website has descriptive and relevant alt text. This can be done manually through the website’s content management system (CMS).

Ensure text is readable

Why: Clear and readable text is essential for users with visual impairments or cognitive disabilities.
How: Use high contrast between text and background colors, choose readable fonts, and maintain a minimum font size of 14-16 pixels. Avoid using images of text whenever possible.

Implement keyboard navigation

Why: Some users rely on keyboards rather than a mouse to navigate websites.
How: Test the website to ensure that all interactive elements (like links, buttons, and form fields) can be accessed and used via keyboard alone. This can often be done through the tab key. Ensure the focus indicator is visible when navigating through elements.

For more information:

Introduction to Web Accessibility
How to Make Your WordPress Website Accessible – a short video, and the suggestions apply regardless of whether or not you use WordPress.

Website Privacy Policy

May 4, 2024 by Michael Simkins

We’re a nonprofit. Does our website need a privacy policy?

Yes, California nonprofit organizations are subject to privacy laws, including the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA), which requires operators of commercial websites or online services that collect personally identifiable information from California consumers to post a conspicuous privacy policy on their website. While nonprofit organizations may not be explicitly stated in the law, if your nonprofit website collects personal information from California residents, it’s advisable to have a privacy policy to comply with CalOPPA and to demonstrate your commitment to protecting users’ privacy. Additionally, having a privacy policy can help build trust with your website visitors and donors.

The key elements of a policy include:

Identification of the Operator – that’s probably your nonprofit.
Types of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Collected – for example, names, email addresses, etc.
Purpose of Data Collection – why you collect the information and what you do with it
Third-Party Sharing – do you share it? If so, why and to whom
User Rights – especially how they can change or delete their data
Data Security Measures – how you protect the data
Policy on Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Changes to the Privacy Policy – how you notify of changes.
Contact Information – how can a user contact you.
Effective Date – date the policy went into effect.

For further reference: Making Your Privacy Practices Public from the California Department of Justice

Grant Management Basics

April 22, 2024 by Michael Simkins

We are a small nonprofit and we just got our first major grant. We want to do things right. What advice do you have?

Managing a first major grant can be an exciting opportunity for a small nonprofit. Here are some basic recommendations to help ensure success:

Understand the Grant Requirements: Hopefully, you did this before you applied for the grant! That said, this is a good time to thoroughly review the grant guidelines and requirements. Make sure you understand what is expected from your organization. Make sure you’re clear on the objectives, reporting deadlines, budgetary restrictions, and any other conditions attached to the grant.
Create a Project Plan: Develop a detailed project plan outlining how you will utilize the grant funds to achieve the proposed objectives. Break down the tasks, assign responsibilities, and set realistic timelines for completion.
Establish Clear Communication Channels: How will you keep everyone who is involved in the funded project on the same page? Maintain clear communication channels both within your nonprofit and with anyone outside who will be involved in implementation. Regular meetings and updates can help keep everyone informed and engaged.
Track Expenses and Budgets: Unless the grant you received is for general operations, use of the funds is typically restricted to the purpose for which the grant was awarded. Implement a robust system for tracking expenses related to the grant and regularly monitor your budget to ensure you’re staying within the allocated funds. This will help you avoid overspending and ensure compliance with grant requirements. Be prepared at any time to show how you have spent the grant funds.
Document Everything: Related to number four, keep detailed records of all activities, expenditures, and outcomes associated with the grant. Accurate documentation will not only help you meet reporting requirements but also provide valuable insights for future grant applications.
Build Relationships with Funders: Cultivate positive relationships with the grant funder(s) by keeping them informed of your progress, sharing success stories, and expressing gratitude for their support. This can increase the likelihood of future funding opportunities and potentially lead to ongoing partnerships.
Evaluate and Adapt: Regularly evaluate the progress of your grant-funded project against the established objectives and be prepared to adapt your approach if necessary. Collect feedback from stakeholders and use it to make informed decisions about how to best utilize the grant funds.
Comply with Reporting Requirements: Ensure that you meet all reporting deadlines and provide the required documentation as outlined in the grant agreement. Failure to comply with reporting requirements could jeopardize future funding opportunities.
Celebrate Successes: Take the time to celebrate milestones and successes achieved through the grant-funded project. Not only does this boost morale within your organization, but it also demonstrates to funders the impact of their investment.
Plan for Sustainability: Consider how you will sustain the outcomes of the grant-funded project beyond the grant period. If you did not have to do this as part of the application process, it’s time to develop a sustainability plan that outlines strategies for continued impact once the grant funding has ended.

Do we have to follow Robert’s Rules?

April 8, 2024 by Michael Simkins

If your organization’s bylaws say your meetings will follow Robert’s Rules of Order, then yes, you do have to follow them—but do you follow them? Robert’s Rules are complex! It is very difficult to follow them to the letter unless you have a dedicated parliamentarian available. I’ve been on quite a few boards and none of them truly followed Robert’s Rules.

Robert’s Rules provide a method for making group decisions, but there are alternatives that may better serve your board of directors. Here are some examples.

Consensus Decision-Making: This approach involves discussion until all participants can agree on a single course of action. It emphasizes cooperation and collaboration, seeking to address concerns and find solutions that everyone can support.

Consent Decision-Making: This approach involves seeking consent from all members for a proposed course of action. Instead of requiring full agreement, consent decision-making aims to ensure that no member has strong objections to the proposed action.

Democratic Voting: Similar to Robert’s Rules, democratic voting involves members casting votes for different options, and the option with the majority of votes wins. However, the rules and procedures may be simplified compared to Robert’s Rules.

Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. I encourage you to check out thedecider.app. It’s a cool tool to help you choose a decision-making model that suits the decision your group needs to make.

And don’t forget! If you decide to adopt a different method, don’t forget to revise your bylaws accordingly.