The Rundown - January 14, 2022
The latest news and notes from the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors
Welcome to the Rundown for January 14, 2022
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Colorado Nonprofits Get Access to Creative Financing
This article showed up on the NextCity.org website and discussed a new tool that has arrived in Colorado for some non-profits to get some much needed financing. The Nonprofit Finance Fund, started up the Metro Denver Nonprofit Loan Fund with $1 million dollars in donations from local foundations in the Denver metro area.
The Metro Denver Nonprofit Loan Fund loans out zero percent interest loans to nonprofits, with the average loan amount anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000. There are very strings attached to the loan for what the funds can be used for and the article spoke of a small nonprofit started in 2018 that works with adolescents. As the pandemic hit, referrals to the agency hit an all time high. The small shop was struggling to keep up with covid-related demands and the loan fund stepped into help.
Maybe more financing tools like this will start to pop-up throughout other areas in the country. Taking this idea far out, I can almost see a world where local foundations don’t necessarily grant money out, but “loan” dollars to local non-profits through a zero-balance, declining balance option. Could we see the day where a foundation enters a long-term performance agreement with a non-profit to do certain work and then a percentage of that is forgiven each year the non-profits meets specific goals? It is certainly an idea worth thinking about.
Giving Rates Go Up in 2021
This post by Philanthropy News Digest showed research that showed that philanthropic giving ticked up in 2021. A survey showed that last year, 81% of respondents made a charitable donation, up from 73% the year before. 92% of those individuals with incomes north of $100,000 made a donation and 84% of those between $40,000 to $100,000 made a donation.
The one place where the numbers weren’t so rosy were in donations of time. 56% of respondents indicated that they donated time to a charitable organization, off from 58% in 2020. By the way, the high water mark was 65% in 2013. Also, financial giving to religious organizations now stand at 44%, down from 52% in 2017. Religious organizations have always had been the home of the lion’s share of charitable donations in America. It will be interesting to see over time, where those donations end up going.
A Florida Consultant Sees The Future
This article in the Tallahassee Democrat was penned by a Florida nonprofit consultant and could really be applied to organizations across the country. Some of the work that Alyce Stansbury is recommending nonprofits undertake include the things that industry leaders would expect, strategic planning, managing donor expectations and meeting community needs.
However, there were a couple of interesting things that hit my radar.
Technology
Ms. Stansbury claimed that 1/3rd of the direct mail solicitations she received in December had a QR code to easily enable folks to make a donation. The QR code, those funny looking pixelated white and black boxes, have become ubiquitous in the post-covid world. If you are going to be a nonprofit with a future focus, a QR code landing page for donations maybe something you need to have.
Relationships
The old adage is true, “People give to People”. And at it’s heart, philanthropy and nonprofits are people centered endeavors. Nothing has been more hard in the pandemic than trying to manage relationships with donors and strategic partners. Not only has it been extremely hard to engage donors on a personal level, there is the emotional toll the pandemic has had on our personal lives and our priorities. If nothing else, at least try to make 2022 a year where you can reach out to folks you haven’t physically seen in the last couple of years to at least rekindle a lost connection.
Executive Transitions and Workforce Retention
The “Great Resignation” may very well continue in 2022. The nonprofit sector, never known for high salaries, will have to find news ways to become competitive in the new marketplace. The sector could be a leader in really finding ways to allow folks to work from home or work remotely. While there will always be a need for front-line work in our jobs (no matter what your title or job description), more flexibility is going to be the key to attracting and retaining employees.
Local News You Can Use
Here is a local event dealing with leadership that you may have interest in if you are in the Miami County area.
Want to be a Board Member?
If you live in Western Ohio (particularly Van Wert, Auglaize, Logan, Shelby, Darke, Miami, Champaign, Preble or Greene Counties) and would like to serve as a board member for a youth-based non-profit, please let me know by emailing me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com! Council on Rural Services (CORS) is looking for board members in the region. CORS is best known for being the Early Head Start and Head Start service provider for pre-school children in Western Ohio.
Is your New Year Resolution to Learn Something New?
If your New Year Resolution was to sharpen your skills and meet new professionals in the field, I would encourage you to look at some of the offerings of The Fund Raising School at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University’s campus in Indianapolis. The professional development school has great programming both on-line and in-person both in Indianapolis and at other sites across the country. Take a look at their course offerings here!
An Excerpt from the “Tools, Tips and Tricks” Newsletter
The Pinnacle Solutions, “Tips, Tools and Tricks” newsletter comes out every Tuesday and is available for a paid subscription for as little as $7/month. Here is an excerpt from our last version:
Friends, we are what makes American society work. Without you and your hard work, our society is in deep trouble. It’s nonprofits that have taken on the lions share of the work to feed our neighbors, provide care for the home bound, give shelter for those that are in need, and a whole array of other services.
Our sector is also where people come together. Those that have a heart to serve, no matter their background, their socio-economic status, their station in life, are always welcome to come and give what they can for the greater good.
Maybe I am overly optimistic, but I am not worried until our sector truly breaks down.
All of this to say this - when things get fragile, you become strong.If you are searching for good information that will help you manage and lead a non-profit agency, please subscribe to the “Tips, Tools and Tricks” newsletter! And of course, as a huge “thank you”, all of our paid subscribers will get a special gift.
Other Ways to Connect
Our coaching practice has openings starting in 2021. If you are interested in working with me to get your nonprofit organization on a track to achieve the big missions you have for your organization, please reach out to me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Check us out on our LinkedIn Page
and Check out the Celebrating Leadership Facebook Group for almost daily content and interaction with other leaders!
It’s the Season to Share!
Also, if you found value in this weekly newsletter, would you please take a moment and share it with your friends and colleagues? It would be very helpful to keep the energy behind this newsletter going!