Many nonprofits these days are looking for ways to scale back. But how does one decide what activities to continue and what activities to change or discontinue? The Standards for Excellence® code recommends that charitable organizations have cost-effective procedures for evaluating programmatic efficiency as part of a comprehensive program evaluation system.Taking a look at efficiency pushes us to question whether we can be producing more or better outcomes at a lower cost. Measuring efficiency[…]

The Standards for Excellence® code requires that a nonprofit board have no fewer than five board members, preferably at least seven. However, the true answer is that “it depends.”  The size of your board of directors will depend on the type of organization, the size of the organization’s budget, the organization’s maturity, and the nature of its work.  It might be appropriate for a very new nonprofit to have only five board members.  However, it is rare to find a well-established organization[…]

‘Tis the season generous volunteers will bestow the gift of time upon thousands of charities. Volunteers will be up on ladders hanging holiday decorations, schlepping boxes of clothes and toys, and delivering meals to home-bound neighbors.  If your nonprofit will be engaging volunteers, it is a good idea to assess your current insurance coverage to determine whether you have the appropriate coverage in light of all of the work you do, including the efforts involving volunteers.  Depending on how[…]

Certainly this is the season of thinking of all of the things we’re thankful for.  Whether it’s the person who volunteers to assist your nonprofit with reception duties, the volunteer who works at his computer in the middle of the night writing articles for your newsletter or keeping your website up to date, or the volunteer who provides direct services on a weekly basis, you probably appreciate your volunteers more than words can say. Many managers work on the premise that volunteers should be[…]

Last month, my son turned two years old.  We had a big party with friends and family—pizza, ice cream, balloons, and even a cool 3-dimensional cake in the shape of a train!  I, on the other hand, will celebrate my birthday next week and like many of my contemporaries, unless it’s a milestone birthday, I would prefer for the event to pass without any fanfare or fuss at all.   (Truth be told, even if it’s a milestone birthday, I’d prefer to celebrate it quietly!)Our organizations, too, celebrate[…]

I remember a time when a visit to the dentist was a piece of cake. I knew that I could expect a brief examination, followed by praise for having zero cavities, a new toothbrush, and a mouth with that minty, "just came from the dentist" feel. However, as I got older and my excellent habits became just "so-so," I began to avoid the dentist, only going when there was a problem. I was too afraid of what she might find.Just as avoiding the dentist was not good for my pearly whites, avoiding a[…]

The Standards for Excellence® code states that nonprofit personnel policies should always address employee growth and development. However, many nonprofits have had to cut back on expenses such as training courses and conferences. A cut in the professional development budget should not mean that professional development should go by the wayside.   Now, is the time to get creative in your approach.Strategies such as job rotation, encouraging employees to volunteer in order to gain a skill,[…]

You may have heard about the recent report released by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration  which found that the Internal Revenue Service and charities were not doing enough to ensure that donors of motor vehicles avoid taking unsubstantiated tax deductions.  The report found that in 2007, over 92,000 taxpayers took unsubstantiated motor vehicle donations totaling $204 million—which may have resulted in tax avoidance by taxpayers to the tune of $17 million in taxes in 2007. The[…]

If there was a pill that your board of directors could take to solve all of its problems, I’m sure you’d order a year’s supply right away. Sadly, there is no magic pill that will create and maintain excellent board member performance.  But the Standards for Excellence Code® offers a solution -- "the board should establish stated expectations for board members, including expectations for participation in fundraising activities, committee service, and program activities.” A clearly written job[…]

The first day of school can be a major source of anxiety. You probably remember agonizing about what you would wear, getting your hair just right, and who would be in your homeroom. If starting a new school where everyone is a stranger, that anxiety level rises even higher. Beginning a new job or career, can be just as stressful. However, a good orientation to the organization can ease some of this stress and help new employees succeed.Most new employees probably receive a basic introduction[…]