Share how your Organization Inspires others for a Chance to Win $5,000 in Nonprofit Services!
We have been working really hard lately putting together an awesome contest for nonprofit organizations nationwide! Now with just a few days left before the official launch we would like to give you a sneak peek of what is coming. The CharityNet USA “Pay it Forward” Nonprofit Contest officially begins this Wednesday, 9/1/2010. Nonprofit organizations across the nation can then enter to win up to $5,000 in nonprofit services from CharityNet USA by simply submitting a short video entry and persuading the public to vote for them! Check out more details below by watching the CharityNet “Pay it Forward” Contest Video, or visit the nonprofit contest landing page at http://www.charitynetusa.com/payitforward.php.
“Pay it Forward” is the idea that a simple act of kindness can change the world and we believe that Nonprofit organizations all across the nation have done just that!
We commend these acts of generosity; and therefore, we want to pay it forward to you with the CharityNet USA “Pay it Forward” Nonprofit Contest.
This is your organization’s chance to win up to $5,000 in nonprofit services! It is your time to shine and your chance to win the valuable services you need to grow your nonprofit and continue paying it forward!
Join us for a free nonprofit webinar where we will discuss Ideas to Start Building a Solid Fundraising Base!
The average revenue major fundraising events produce is between $10,000 – $20,000 or more per event. Are your organization’s fundraising events generating near this amount?
If not, they are probably lacking creativity, poorly planned and not positioned to reach your target audiences. Succumbing to these mistakes can leave your pockets empty and your events prone to failure.
We invite you to spend some valuable time with CharityNet USA, and take a look at a few creative fundraising ideas that can help you find the funds to invest in the essential fundamentals you need and build community awareness of your organization.
Topics of Interest:
•The basic fundamental of fundraising
•5 creative and innovative fundraising event
•Developing the fundraising plans
•Measuring your event’s success
Join us for a FREE nonprofit webinar August 26th, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Learn how to ensure your nonprofit organization’s growth through fun and effective fundraising!
A FREE Nonprofit Webinar: Getting your Organization on the Strategic Path to Success!
What is your organization going to accomplish this year?
How will your organization grow?
What are the steps needed to propel your agency to another level?
Is everyone in your organization on the same page?
The answers to these questions and more can be found in a strategic plan!
Strategic planning is the framework that determines where an organization is going over the next year or more; how it’s going to get there; and how it will know if it got there or not. It increases effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and accountability.
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and take a look at the steps to developing a clear strategic plan that will lead your organization on the path to success.
Topics of Interest:
•Why Strategic Planning?
•Contents of a Killer Strategic Plan
•Strategic Planning Approaches
•Keeping the Organization on the Right Track
Join us for a FREE nonprofit webinar August 19, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) & Push yourself and your team to focus on the future and the commitment that it will take to better serve the community and make your organization a success!
A free nonprofit webinar discussing the Elements of an Awesome Nonprofit Grant Proposal!
Over $50 billion in grants is given away each year to charities, churches, and schools nationwide. Are you getting your share of this sum? If you haven’t yet started submitting grants for funding, now is the time to get started!
No matter what your program does, there is most likely grant funding for it; the key is knowing how to prepare a killer grant proposal that will relate your need to the most appropriate funding sources.
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and learn how growing your organization’s projects and programs can be possible through nonprofit grants!
Topics of Interest:
•An Overview of Nonprofit Grants
•Identifying Projects to Fund
•Different Types of Funding Agencies
•Elements of a Grant Proposal
Join us for a free nonprofit webinar on August 12, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST) & learn how to get the funding your organization deserves!
Providing Nonprofit Startups with the Tools to Raise $10,000 in 10 Weeks!
Here at CharityNet we are all very excited to announce the official launch of our new fundraising program for nonprofit startups. With initial and early-stage funding being one of the most difficult tasks for organizations to conquer, we are happy to be able to provide organizations with a simple problem-solver. Check out today’s press release to learn more about the program and while your at it, sign up for our upcoming information session to see if it could be a good fit for your organization! By the way did I mention, the program is free!
CharityNet USA is excited to announce the launch of their new 10 X 10 Program. Combining elements of capacity building and fundraising, the program will help nonprofit startups raise $10,000 in 10 weeks enabling them to build a solid foundation for
View the 10 X 10 Program Information Packet
future growth and mission fulfillment.
“ Tackling fundraising as a nonprofit startup can be extremely difficult – seeing as often the organizations lack the resources, individuals and time to plan and execute the fundraiser,” said Melanie Swift, MNM, Director of Nonprofit Services for CharityNet USA.
CharityNet USA’s 10 X 10 Program provides participating organizations with a seamless process for event execution, while tying in an achievable time line for financial and administrative growth. Once an organization enrolls into the free program, CharityNet will begin a comprehensive analysis of the nonprofit startup to determine what critical elements are needed to sustain and further develop the organization. Once goals have been identified and placed on the timeline, the organization is given all the necessary event planning tools…
The program includes a variety of nonprofit fundraising events, from basic car washes and bowl-a-thons to elaborate sports events and galas each allowing for its own elements of customization. Money generated through the program becomes invested into administrative fundamentals essential to the organization’s long-term success.
For nonprofit startups interested in learning more about the 10 X 10 program, details of the upcoming 10 X 10 information session are below:
Who: CharityNet USA What: 10 x 10 Program Information Session Where: Online at any computer with an internet connection When: Wednesday, August 4th, 3pm EST How to Register: Visit the following link https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/751133515
We hope to see you at the info session. If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment in the “comments section”. Click here to view the full press release.
There are many benefits to being recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. One of the biggest benefits would be tax exemption from the IRS. Being exempt from paying taxes means that your organization will not have to pay federal taxes, and in many locations sales taxes and property taxes are also exempt. Being tax exempt can save you a great deal of money over time, allowing you to focus more of your funding efforts towards actual programs and services.
501c3 recognition also has the ability to make your organization more credible in the eyes of the public and other entities within your community. After being approved by the IRS as a 501c3 organization you will have the ability to clearly state your 501c3 nonprofit status on all materials you distribute and any announcements made about your organization. This notifies any interested parties that you are a legitimate organization and have proven to the IRS that the work you are doing is serving the public.
Another major benefit to becoming a 501c3 nonprofit organization is having the ability to give tax deductions to individuals who make a donation to your organization. As a 501c3 organization all donations made, whether monetary or in-kind, can be claimed on that individual’s personal income taxes. This is very appealing for potential donors, specifically those who are interested in making large donations or contributions to your organization. Having 501c3 nonprofit status also makes it much easier to solicit donations. Many individuals and companies will not make contributions to organizations that are not recognized as 501c3 nonprofit organizations since they are unable to receive any benefit from their donations.
Having 501c3 nonprofit status will also allow your organization to be eligible for many grants. These grants can be from both private foundations as well as the government. Most grant funding organizations require applicants to be recognized as a 501c3 before considering their grant proposal. Upon approval by the IRS your organization will be issued a letter showing confirmation of your approval. This letter will be required by most grant funding organizations when applying for a grant.
Other benefits include discounted postage rates as well as special mailing privileges for nonprofit organizations. The United States Postal Service provides opportunities for bulk mailing to nonprofit organizations, which is another method nonprofit organizations can save money. Finally, a 501c3 tax exempt organization could receive free or discounted rates from media outlets, e-mail services and newswires for announcements and press releases related to your organization. This can provide your organization with the opportunity to increase awareness of the activities you are holding as well as the work you are doing in the community.
Receiving 501c3 nonprofit status from the IRS is typically a big turning point for many nonprofit organizations. But it did not come without much hard work, anxious waiting and possibly assistance from a professional nonprofit consultant. While the benefits of becoming a 501c3 nonprofit are big, so is the amount of paperwork and package preparation. Therefore, if your organization is seeking 501c3 status from the IRS it is encouraged to seek assistance to make sure the application is completed correctly and speedily.
Join us for a FREE Nonprofit Webinar on July 29, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm & learn how to Build the Lifeline of your Organization!
The success of any fundraising program depends on the ability of the volunteers or paid staff members to successfully solicit participation from past, current, and new supporters. This will be achieved by developing strong relationships with the people you encounter and being able to identify special skills, traits and interests that can benefit your organization.
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and learn how develop your fundraising team and build the lifeline of your organization!
Learn how to develop and manage your fundraising team, putting your nonprofit on the fast track to desired expectations at our FREE nonprofit webinar July 29, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST)!
One of the best ways for nonprofit organizations to acquire the capital funding necessary t o operate their programs is to solicit for nonprofit grants. Nonprofit grants usually are given to organizations from the local, state or federal government agencies or private organizations. Many nonprofit organizations are great at fundraising and soliciting for donations but for whatever reason they have not ventured into sourcing funding from nonprofit grants. When soliciting for a nonprofit grant from either a government agency or private organization, you will need to create a grant proposal. The grant proposal will introduce your organization to the positional funding source, give them a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose and give a decryption of your organization’s planned programs and specific objectives. It will also provide a clear description of your organization’s purposed budget, your specific qualifications, and a conclusion wrapping up all of the information. Below you will see an outline of a grant proposal.
Cover Letter (one page)
Provide a clear, concise overview of the organization, purpose and reason for and amount of the funding request.
Cover Sheet (1/2 page)
Also called an executive summary, this case statement and proposal summary is the most important component of your proposal. Summarize all of the key information and convince the grantmaker to consider your proposal for funding.
Narrative (10-15 Pages)
Needs Assessment (Problem Statement) (3-4 Pages)
Objectively address specific situation, opportunity, problem, issue, need, and the community your proposal addresses.
Program Goals and Objectives (1 – 2 pages)
Describe the outcome of the grant in measurable terms; in a succinct description of the proposed project outcome and accomplishments, including your overall goal.
Methodology (4 + Pages)
Describe the process to be used to achieve the outcome and accomplishments.
Evaluation (1 – 2 Pages)
Determine the plan for meeting performance and producing the program/project and justify how you will measure the effectiveness of your activities
Budget
Clearly delineate costs to be met by the funder and all other funding sources; outline both administrative and program costs.
For specific projects, include separate budgets for the general operating and the special project. Show income and expenses in columnar form (according to general accounting/bookkeeping principles).
Qualifications (1-2 pages)
Describe applicant, qualifications for funding and establish credibility.
Conclusion (1/2 page)
Present a brief, concise summary of your proposal that states your case, problem, solution and sources/uses of project/program funds.
Hopefully this article will allow your organization to add a new funding source to the fundraising, donations, and soliciting that you are currently undertaking. Be sure that your grant proposal clearly introduces your organization to the positional funding source, gives them a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose, and provides a description of your organization’s planned programs and specific objectives. It should also provide a clear description of your organization’s proposed budget, your specific qualifications, and a conclusion wraps up all of the information. Your nonprofit organization should take advantage of all fundraising sources including nonprofit grants.
One increasingly important marketing tool for nonprofit organizations to utilize is social media.
The first step to social media websites for nonprofit organizations is to pick the right social networks. Don’t dismiss smaller sites simply based on their sizes. Smaller sites may have members that are more focused.
If you have never created a social media page you may want to consider hiring a nonprofit marketing professional to design your page. You may be able to have a volunteer create the page free of charge. Having a professional looking page will give a good first impression of your nonprofit organization. Make sure that your organization’s profile looks good. You can also control what your organization will look like on other people’s friend lists. Be sure to pick a great picture and title that will get noticed.
With millions of individuals already on social media and networking sites, chances are many of your members are already actively participating. Survey your members and find out who has MySpace profiles, Facebook accounts, Twitter Accounts, or if they belong to other social networks. Send them an e-mail inviting them to become your friend or to join your group.
To keep your page fresh and exciting, update your pages with new content regularly. Use MySpace ‘bulletins’, Nonprofit Twitter ‘Tweets’ and Facebook ‘notes’ on other users’ profiles to get the word out on important issues and drive people to your page.
Assign a staff person or volunteer to accept friend requests, post comments on other people’s pages, and invite others to become friends. The more people that follow your profile, the more people will become aware of your nonprofit organization.
The ultimate goal of social media and networking online for nonprofit organizations is to start turning your ‘friends’ into activists, donors, and volunteers. Make sure your social networking pages always feature lots of opportunities to get involved. Also include donation opportunities on your social networking pages. Even if you do not raise much in the short run, it helps to set expectations for the future. Be specific when you do ask your friends to do something for your nonprofit organization. Also always let people know what happened at an event or with a campaign even if they did not participate. They might get involved the next time.
Hopefully this article has given a simple social media breakdown for nonprofits. As the number of people that use these online social media and networking sites continues to grow, the importance of having an online presence on these sites will become increasingly critical for nonprofit organizations. Just remember that the more people that you have as friends online, the more people are aware of your organization and the more potential volunteers and donors you will have.
A Free Nonprofit Webinar about Getting your Non Profit Started by Utilizing Social Media Effectively!
From social networking and blogging to bookmarking and video streaming, there are dozens of ways to implement social media into your marketing mix, but that means nothing if they are not implemented effectively. In order for your efforts to provide you with a significant return, you must figure out what methods work best for you and know how to execute them!
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and learn how to get started utilizing social media to grow your nonprofit by building content online that will get people talking!
Topics of Interest:
•The New Realm of Social Media
•5 Social Media Methods
•How to get People Talking
•Integrating your Social Media Campaigns
Don’t get left in the dust! Get social and start reaching millions through this new medium by attending our FREE nonprofit webinar July 15, 2010 from 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. (EST)!
