Crowdfunding is Exploding! (Dec 3 Webinar)

With Crowdfunding & social giving growing 18% annually, learn how to set up your own crowdfunding campaign - Crowdfunding and social giving channels account for among the highest online donation growth. Crowdfunding is the collective effort of individuals who pool their money, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Central Indiana-based Net Literacy is partnering with LegalZoom to present a dynamic webinar highlighting the opportunity that crowdfunding could have for your organization. Drawing from industry best practices, they will guide you through the process of vetting platforms and setting up your crowdfunding campaign. Join them on December 3rd at 1:00pm EST / 10:00am PST. Register Now >>

Step Up Now to Raise Money for 2014

Last May, 35 nonprofits of all sizes and missions raised a combined $125,000 in a fund raising walk on the Canal while someone else handled all the event logistics. Do you envy those nonprofits that present their own walks with hundreds or thousands of people but don’t want their event headaches or don’t have an army of supporters?

Walking for Dreams (www.WalkingforDreams.org) has a long history of growing each year in organization participation and funds raised. Your nonprofit organization registers with WFD and agrees to pay a participation fee of $400 which covers all the logistics, a pre-event meeting/training or two, walk site at the canal with refreshments, and a shared event registration website where your walkers can send their supporters to donate by credit card. You keep all of the funds your walker team raises (less a small credit card processing fee if paid through the website).

Over the years, I have walked as a supporter for several different organizations and our whole family enjoys the event. They encourage people to bring their dogs and make it a nice afternoon on the canal or downtown. Next year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2014. For more information, go to www.WalkingforDreams.org.

When is Outsourcing HR Right for You?

The ACA has added another layer of headaches to the challenges faced by every nonprofit in providing effective an work environment for staff while remaining legally compliant and serving your clients, students, or patrons. As you contemplate yearend changes, here is a good article from the archives of the Nonprofit Quarterly to help advance that conversation with your board or staff team.

Human resources (HR) outsourcing can address some of the staffing and skill-related problems that plague small and budget-strapped nonprofits. For these organizations, staffing an HR department with the right combination of full-time employees who have the right expertise can be a tall order. As a result, these organizations' HR departments may suffer from a dearth of employees or critical skill gaps.

Because of financial or time constraints, many organizations try to get strategic and managerial expertise from the same hire. As a result, they may hire a lower-level HR professional who lacks crucial strategic or managerial skills, or they may opt for a high-level professional who isn't interested in managing the day-to-day activities of the HR function. In either case, hiring an inadequately skilled employee only adds to organizational costs and creates greater inefficiency.

What are the reasons to Outsource HR?

How Does HR Outsourcing Work?

Read the article here. 

Indiana Foundations Support Quality of Place

From November 6 - 14, 2013, around the state, the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance (IGA) will convene more than 100 grantmakers to discuss and clarify the philanthropic sector's role in building Indiana's quality of place.  These regional forums are designed to engage Indiana foundations in exploring the effective principles and practices that enhance local quality of place and community economic prosperity.

As Ball State's Dick Heupel and Michael Hicks state in their report, The Future of State and Local Economic Development Policy, "The livability of communities is a close second only to schools in driving residential investment, growing wealth and boosting the economic prospects of a region."

The IGA forums will provide insights into the various pillars and principles which support quality of place and outline steps for foundations to take as they seek to advance this work. Findings will be shared with key stakeholders to enhance these efforts across the state as well as to help neighborhoods and cities make their communities more livable for individuals of all ages and abilities. The forums will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., local times, in the following locations: 

·         November 6, Evansville, IN
·         November 7, Starlight, IN
·         November 12, Hammond, IN
·         November 13, Indianapolis, IN
·         November 14, Auburn, IN

Learn more and register for the event(s) you wish to attend.