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 4^th, 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.

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.

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!

Topics of Interest:
   • Finding Volunteers
   • Setting Guidelines
   • Identifying & Selecting Leaders
   • Showing Appreciation

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)!

 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.

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.

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)!

Once an organization has received 501c3 status it is then exempt from paying federal taxes. The government strictly regulates the activities of nonprofit organizations as a measure of insuring that their activities remain dedicated to exempt activities. One regulation the government institutes is at no time can any part of the organizations activities or the net earnings of the organization be used to benefit any director, officer, or any private individual associated with the organization. Also, steps must be taken to so that none of the organization’s officers or any private individuals benefit from the distribution of any assets owned by the organization (should the organization shut down or stop operating for any reason). In order to remain in compliance, a 501c3 nonprofit organization must file a 990 tax return form with the IRS every year. This form is used to display the financial activities of the organization over the course of the previous year.

One of the most desirable advantages of starting a 501c3 nonprofit organization is that donations made to the organization can be tax deductable. This makes soliciting donations easier for the organization because donors can claim the donations they make on their taxes. By allowing these donations to be tax deductable, the donors really are not losing any money by making donations and many donors would rather give their money to an organization or a cause that they believe rather than to the government.

Are your donors able to make charitable contributions and receive a tax deduction?  Is your organization qualified to receive private and public grant money? Is your non profit saving money on lower postage rates on corporate mailings?

If the answer is “no” to the above questions, perhaps your non profit should take steps to obtain 501c3 status!  

The recognition of your organization as a 501c3 tax exempt non profit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers numerous advantages and is necessary to help your organization grow.  

We invite you to spend some invaluable time with CharityNet USA and find out why obtaining 501c3 status is essential to the growth of your organization’s projects and programs!

Topics of Interest:
•Qualifications
•Steps to Obtaining the Status
•Staying in Compliance

Join us for a free nonprofit webinar July 1st, 2010 from 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. (EST) & learn how to gain the numerous advantages your non profit organization deserves!

About 63% of respondents say that blogging has led them to become more involved with things they’re passionate about. This is great news for nonprofit organizations who can utilize their posts to help volunteers become more passionate about the causes they work with. Hobbyist or persons who are unpaid for the content they generate write about 73% of blogs. Blogs can be a commitment as small as one hour a week to 10 hours a week depending on how often you post.

Technorati has indexed more than 133,000,000 blogs since 2002 and around 77% of Internet users read blogs according to Universal McCann. According to recent data 57% of blog readers are male, 48%, were under 30, and 82% were longtime Internet users or had more than six years’ experience online. Blog writers appear to mirror these trends, as two-thirds are male between the ages of 18 and 44. Over 75% have college degrees and 40% have graduate degrees.

Blogs are decidedly content driven but a growing emphasis is being placed on having more multimedia friendly blogs. Over 82% of respondents say that they post photos to their blog, making images the most popular form of multimedia. Of those who use media other than text, 73% say that that they create the photos, video, or audio they post themselves about half of the time. Only 13% of all respondents say that they never post any images/videos/audio to their blogs, preferring to just use text. With just-text blogs becoming the minority in today’s blogosphere, it’s important to use appropriate multimedia to make your nonprofit blog exciting. Post a picture at a recent fundraising event or a video of a family you just helped. Human-interest stories are really important to make your reader feel empathy in your blog.

Bloggers participate in an average of five activities to drive traffic to their blogs. Which is most successful? Well the jury is still out but Twitter is definitely in the top five. Blogs with greater than 100 page views a day received on average 83% of their page views from Twitter referrals. This referral percentage was constant as the audience size of the blog increased. In other words, the faster the growth of a blog the more important Twitter became in promoting it.

It is important to keep up with your blogs statistics to see how people are finding your blog and how often they are reading it. There are many free blog statistic softwares available to blog writers but the five most commonly used are:

1. Google Analytics

2. StatCounter

3. SiteMeter

4. AWStats

5. MyBlogLog

Blogging is not just about numbers, traffic, or hits to your website but can be a wonderful nonprofit marketing tool. Be careful to avoid the trap of writing for search engines rather than human beings. As a nonprofit blog, your key objective needs to be keeping the community informed about recent trends in your overall cause or local events sponsored by your nonprofit. Build your credibility first and traffic later. Traffic is a direct reflection of writing good content and smart cross promoting of your blog. Contact CharityNet USA today about setting up a blog for your website so you can take advantage of these exciting statistics.

Bookkeeping is one task that many nonprofits neglect or make half-hearted efforts at doing.  Both options are a mistake.

In the accounting process, you are classifying, reporting and analyzing financial data –none of that can happen without accurate, organized data.  Bookkeeping is the first basic step to this process!

We invite you to spend some invaluable time with CharityNet USA and learn a number of ways to make sure that your nonprofit gets its financial house in order!

Topics of Interest:
   •Things Needed to get Started
   •Bookkeeping & Accounting Process
   •Financial Reporting Tools
   •Solutions and Tips on Record Keeping

Learn the importance of basic financial management, bookkeeping and accounting and how to master it so your organization can reap the benefits by attending our FREE nonprofit webinar on June 24, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST)!