Category Archives for LinkedIn Articles


IRS introduces new EZ process to apply for non-profit status

The IRS has introduced a new process to apply for non-profit status, in what appears to be an attempt to relieve the backlog of new applications.  The typical Form 1023 is one that requires a very significant amount of work and practically requires engaging specialized legal advice before an organization can hope to prevail in […]

The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History

The greatest wealth transfer in history will create extensive opportunities for nonprofit agencies, according to an in-depth study by the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.  This potential and historic transfer of wealth has been a topic in the third sector for a good long while.  Continuing research on this topic should at […]

Encouraging Report of Online Donations

An encouraging report of online donations at the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations.  One group actually received a $1 million online gift.  Wow!  That will certainly skew their average gift analysis! =============================================================== THE CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY May 18, 2014 Online Fundraising Goes Mainstream By Alex Daniels and Anu Narayanswamy Online giving is still growing, but triple-digit […]

Why Fundraising Is Fun

Just last week, a client told me that one of her volunteers said, “I never knew fundraising was going to be so much fun.”  That story made Arthur Brooks’ piece in the Sunday New York Times all the more real.  At times, it is hard for professional fundraisers to remember why we enjoy our work […]

Digital Giving Index Update (InfoGraphic)

If you like InfoGraphcs, Newtwork for Good has a great new post on their blog that presents a very compelling story for organizations to focus on their digital giving strategy and resources.  Take a look, this might help a development officer make the case for investing additional resoruces . . . ============================================== Just Released: The […]

Build A More Effective Board

Board Development Techniques It is undeniable that a nonprofit organization’s success in fundraising is affected by the way it goes about selecting and recruiting its board members.  Success is also influenced by the way new board members are introduced to the organization and how they become involved in the operational and organizational life of the […]

Investing in Wealthy Donors Pays Off

In our view, the most important point of this study is that maintaining a laser focus and investing in wealthy donors is worth the cost. This article at The Chronicle of Philanthropy on an AHP study caught our eye.  At first glance, the idea that those organizations that spend more money raise more money doesn’t […]

Tips to Avoid Social Media Burnout in 2014

Here are several tips to avoid social media burnout, and the insatiable beast that it is.  Last week, I was at a reception and someone asked me what I do.  As most development professionals know, it’s not always a simple answer. The individual I had just met, having heard my somewhat inadequate description responded, “so […]

Business First: 20 People to Know in Nonprofits

Once a month, Columbus Business First will put the spotlight on 20 People to Know from the region who are front and center in their industries. People to Know: David Goettler Chief executive | Goettler Associates Why did you get into this profession?In late 1987, I was working as an auditor at Coopers & Lybrand and approaching […]

Burk Releases New Donor Survey Report

New Donor Survey Report: Penelope Burk and her Cygnus Applied Research, Inc. firm have released the next installment of their extensive and insightful research.  A free download of an executive summary of the report is available here. We’ve extracted a few key points from Penelope’s research below that we found of particular interest: _______________________________________________________ The […]