There is a tremendous need for affordable housing not only for the community at large but for many of the employees whom wish to work in the nonprofit field.  Nonprofit organizations are constantly looking for affordable space to deliver their programs.  There are several means to utilize both needs to accomplish both.  An organization may choose to use its scale to develop its own  plan.  Some nonprofits will find it beneficial to partner with other nonprofits and/or for-profit entities.

Nonprofits have access to funding sources that for-profits do not.  Therefore, with sufficient planning, design and the right partners nonprofits can make a huge impact in the affordable housing area.   These affordable housing ventures done right can  within five years generate revenues for nonprofits to pay for a level of program costs.

Does a company’s type of incorporation define whether it should do no harm?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the public?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the community?

Should the goals of a company be for the greater good of the world?

The success of any organization requires that it be responsible to its financial well being as well as is mission. The merging of non-profit and for-profit ideas and best practices can bring social responsibility and social media to the forefront.

Do you know how many times your nonprofit has been seen by individuals in the community/geographic area you serve?

Try using email and an electronic newsletter to communicate.  It’s fast, effective and cost efficient.  You should see measurable results within six months.  Your contact list sitting on your desk does not communicate for you.  Use the technology that is free and already available to you to reach out and touch someone.

There has been a lot of recent action by government officials to identify reasons to limit or terminate the tax exempt status of nonprofit organizations. What public good are you providing? What are you doing to lower the costs that you charge?

IRS Publication 557 is the reference document that a nonprofit organizations should refer to as a reminder of what it takes to be a tax exempt organization.

IRS Form 1023 is the reference document that a nonprofit organization should refer to as a reminder of what the IRS is reviewing to assess a nonprofit’s tax exempt status.

Refer back to your Articles of Organization to remind your nonprofit organization of the reason you were created and obtained your tax exempt status.

As individuals or organizations seek to reach their ultimate goals there are constant barriers and obstacles placed on them before they can achieve their goals.  The overcoming of these barriers and obstacles requires strategically planning where to place the time, effort, will and money to secure the release of those circumstances that have handcuffed ones achievement of their goals.  Government in passing regulations does not  conduct a due diligence to see if it conflicts with another regulation.  Government does not pass laws to be clear and concise.  Religion is very much like government in that it too has conflicting rules and interpretations. 

• The USA wants immigration but needs to scapegoat someone for problems.
• The USA says it does not discriminate but there is not enough of the pie for everyone to share.
• Nonprofits say they are helping where government does not but depend on government to fund many of their programs. 
• Soldiers serve the USA regardless of the conflict and fight for the benefits they were promised. 

Success is more likely to occur when an individual or nonprofit places its faith in their beliefs, vision and actions.  Success is more likely to open the gate to greener pastures and unshackle your efforts when the individual or nonprofit has a thought out plan. 

By wrapping oneself under the rules of the Constitution which come with the American flag there is almost no goal that is not achievable.  It is people who create obstacles.  It is leaders whom willingly and knowingly challenge the barriers and obstacles for the betterment of all that make change. 

A measure of whether your nonprofit is growing in support is the percent of new people that become involved in your organization each year. The creation of a data base of each person the nonprofit comes in contact with is an important means to promote the organization. The inclusion of businesses, community leaders and government agencies in the geographic zone the nonprofit serves provides for growing the community involvement. Have a specific plan to communicate, otherwise you do not exist in the minds of most of the community.

There has been lots of talk during 2008 of a movement towards people being more socially responsible. However, is it more talk then action when view among the whole population. Part of the lack of social responsibility is the ease to which a person can participate. The ways that the media controls what information reaches a person places smaller organizations at a disadvantage.  The media market is about who  pays more.  The same happens with Google searches.  By nature most people want convenience, this includes obtaining information.  Nonprofits should take the initiative to send their message to their community on how people can easily participate. Do not leave it to the Ad Hoc Media to brand your message or get the word out.  Giving back does not have to only be in money. Let people see how they can participate. Let people hear how they can participate. State how a persons participation will create a difference.

Ignoring ones community only creates opportunities for negative results. Remember the media loves to report the bad and rarely the good. Generation Next is reaching out looking for a means to be socially responsiblity but needs motivation. The presidential race has provided many with an outlet. The media has been flirting with whether it is a fad or long term.  It is time for nonprofits to formalize their outreach to youth and young adults. Banks invest in reaching these individuals because the statistics show they are more likely to be with them for life and buy more products later. Colleges constantly reach out to their Alumni and the results show why. A nonprofit needs to invest in building their future donors and keeping those whom have been associated with the nonprofit in the past a part of the organization.

Remember this phrase:  “Out of sight, out of mind”

My son and I jointly have produced this article.

“A day to recognize a mother and being thankful for her.  You can have more than one.”

Whether through birth or other reasons we come to have special feelings for women in our lives.  While our feelings are not limited to one day, Mothers Day focuses each of us on a day to reflect the persons effect on our life.

Nonprofits whom provide services to women especially in the area of domestic violence or elderly should take advantage of Mothers Day to have donors honor their mother and support your nonprofit programs.  Your nonprofit should be specific on how the donation will honor the donors mother.  Remember to use your fundraising to be a year round communication tool.

1. List Your Priorities of Programming Ideas
2. Elements to Use in Action Steps/Approaches/Strategies (Working Together)

• Strategic Planning (What, where, when and why baseline)
• Maximizing Assets: People, Organization, Effort, Space, Allocation of costs, Labeling, Cost allocation plan, Assignment of job function.
• Referral and Intake Systems
• Cross Pollination: Using resources already available and maximizing capacity.
• Whom do you serve: Geography, community, age and service type. (Who shows up in the Service Plan or the Strategic Plan?)
• Reality Check on ability to serve
• Equal Access Goal (Where are the cases? Where are the resources?) Geo coding for allocating resources. (Transportation weight to consider. How do you manage yourself to complete all of your daily tasks?)
• Low Lying Fruit
• 20-40 Minute Rule
• Day Job Syndrome (Capacity to change, evolve, develop vs. the day to day job) (Capacity to change, evolve, develop vs. the day to day job)
• Investment Risk Scale of Capital (Can what I am committed to doing be used for something else if I am wrong?)
• Management Choices for change vs. Institutional Choices for change
• Defining Outcomes
• Branding: Ownership, reporting, sharing, confidence and leadership
• Communication: web, telecommunicating, Co-location, transparency, team responsibility, and risk
• Continuous Quality Improvement (How do you learn?)
• How do you compete? Niche vs. General and Narrow vs. Broad. What does your mission allow?
• Who are my Funders?

1. 1. Donors
   2. Foundations
   3. State
   4. Federal
   5. City/Town
   6. Community
   7. Individuals
   8. Your Organizations Assets

If you are interested in overcoming barriers check out the previous post:

http://mynonprofitwebsite.com/blog/2008/04/30/nonprofits-evolution/

How does your brand effect your nonprofits’s ability to reach Donors? What level of trust has your organization created for the donor? How well known is your brand in the community you serve? When branding include the logo and motto of your organization.