top reasons nonprofits fail
TRANSCRIPT
HBIF Meeting 12-09
Administrator
Nicole Roach
Marketing Coordinator
CharityNet USA
Key Speaker
Melanie Swift M.N.M
Director of Nonprofit Services
CharityNet USA
• CharityNet USA: A “One-stop” resource
center for nonprofit organizations
nationwide!
• Key Speaker: Melanie Swift
• Questions
• Recorded Webinar Available At:
http://www.charitynetusa.com/webinararchive/index.php
• Introduction to the top reasons nonprofits fail.
• The current state of nonprofit organizations.
• Characteristics that can make or break any
nonprofit leader.
• The top 5 reasons for nonprofit failure & how to
avoid those dire mistakes!
• Americans flock to
starting a nonprofit for
variety of reasons:
Help the Community
Feels Good
Tax breaks
A Need to Contribute
Personal development
Nonprofit
organizations are
prone to a
variety pitfalls.
These can be so
dangerous that
they can turn any
organization
belly-up!
• Damage to the nonprofit sector from
the recession is mounting.
• The financial situation for nonprofits has
worsened in the past six months, while
the need for their services has
increased.
Joe
Nonprofit Leader
Confidence
Organization
Skills
Desire to do
Good
Sincere
Flexible
Goal Setter
Responsive
A Head for
Business
• Build a Solid Capital Structure
Keep Strict Money Records
File all Documents & Forms
Correctly & On Time
Set Aside Seed Money
Evaluate Want vs. Need
• Consider the following:
• Small donors are just as
important as large donors.
• Don’t expect donors to
maintain or increase the size
of their contribution each
time they give.
• Thank every donor in every
way possible!
• Build Strong Relationships.
• Learn how to market cost-effectively and time-
effectively.
• Target your marketing efforts with intense research.
• Create a marketing plan with a budget.
• Build strong relationships - Word of Mouth is one of the
strongest marketing tools!
• Make the marketing campaign and materials
interesting and accessible
?
• Get a Website !
• If you have a website Make it-user-friendly by:
• Avoiding Bulky language
• Making sure your contact information is
accessible & accurate
• Having strong content
• Making sure nothing is further than “two clicks”
deep
• Displaying your mission in a clear area
• Having an online donations page
RESEARCH & PREPARE!
501(c)(3)
• Do not pay federal corporate income tax.
• In most cases, do not pay state corporate,
franchise, excise, sales, and use taxes.
• Can offer individual and corporate donors
a tax deduction for their contribution.
• Eligible to receive
foundation grants.
• Eligible for lower postal
rates.
• Viewed as a whole as
reputable organizations.
Nonprofit
Does Not
Mean Tax
Exempt!
• Growing your nonprofit and building
awareness is not impossible during the
current economic conditions…. It may just
take a little extra creativity, planning and
motivation along the way!
• Build a solid source of funding, plan and
execute marketing initiatives and take things
one step at a time!
• Nonprofit Grant Writing: 6-3-2010 3pm EST
• Nonprofit Board of Directors 20 Best Practices:
6-10-2010 3pm EST
• Developing a Strategic Plan: 6-17-2010 3pm EST
• CharityNet Nonprofit Services
• 501c3 Prep
• Grant Writing
• Strategic Planning
• Website Development
• Graphic Design
• Marketing
• Bookkeeping & Accounting
• Nonprofit Services
• Contact Us
• Nicole Roach: [email protected]
• Melanie Swift: [email protected]
• Visit www.CharityNetUSA.com or Call 407-857-9002
www.twitter.com/charitynetusa Facebook Fan Page:
CharityNet USA