Nonprofits talk all the time about the importance of having CRM software, but is it really necessary? The short answer is yes. However, since costs are always a concern for nonprofits, you should know why a CRM is essential. For starters, it’s going to save you a lot of time and stress and help expand your mission. So let’s take a look at what a CRM is and how it’ll benefit your organization in the long run.
Signing documents has always been an essential part of business. The process of obtaining a signature, however, can be time-consuming and disruptive to your workflow. You have to mail out the document then wait for it to be returned which could take weeks. In today’s world, there has to be a better solution.
Electronic signatures, or eSignatures, have been around for some time now. Instead of signing a document in person, eSignatures make it so you can sign them online. While some believe eSignatures aren’t as valuable as a physical signature, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s look at why you should switch if you haven’t already.
Collaborating alongside another nonprofit certainly has its pros and cons. The upside is that it can grow your mission and tackle issues you weren’t able to resolve on your own. The downside? You’re working with another nonprofit that has its own agenda. You might not see eye to eye on everything, which can create tension at times, so it’s important you stay on the same page to avoid any friction.
Despite the differences you might have, collaborating with another nonprofit is one of the best decisions your organization can make. The benefits far outweigh the cons. If you’re considering partnering with another nonprofit, here are some of the benefits you should think about.
With social distancing measures in place and people quarantined in their homes, fundraising couldn’t be any more difficult than it is right now. Just about every nonprofit has had to postpone or cancel an event. Before you scrap your next event, however, you should know there are a lot of nonprofits actually surpassing their fundraising goals lately. How? They are reaching out to donors online and explaining how crucial their mission is at this time. Here are just some of the strategies those nonprofits are using to increase their donations during the Coronavirus that you can use as well.
As a small business, it’s not uncommon to feel like you’ve hit a ceiling. Your company isn’t moving forward, your sales are stagnant, and things have gotten…well…boring. Finding the right next step for your business to break through to the next level can prove to be difficult.
For small businesses, there are several factors holding you back. Whether it’s not having enough time to focus on your company needs, not enough insight, or not enough security, there’s a lot weighing you down. That’s why investing in technology can ease your workload and free up enough time for you to focus on growing your company.
Let’s see how these 5 software enhancements can take your business to the next level.
No matter how much forecasting your organization does when building a budget, something always comes along throughout the year to throw a wrench in your plans. Whether it’s poor sales or funding, unplanned expenses, or market shifts–it hits when you least expect it. That’s where a what-if analysis can help you avoid a budget shortfall.
A what-if analysis is an accounting tool that is used for exploring alternative scenarios to your current budget. Let’s say you want to get an idea of how increasing your employees’ hourly pay by a dollar will change your overall budget. With a what-if analysis, you can run the numbers to find out without changing your actual budget.
A what-if analysis is perfect if you want your organization to have a better plan for the future, a faster turnaround when facing setbacks, and for knowing when to avoid potential risks. So let’s review the ways it can improve your organization.
Technology has proven over the years to be a cost-cutting option that lets you do more with less. Surprisingly, nonprofits haven’t come to embrace it as strongly as they should. In a study done by NetChange, they reported that only 11% of nonprofits viewed their digital approach as effective. That’s not a good sign.
Funding is often difficult to come by, so it’s interesting that nonprofits are shying away from technology. On a daily basis, nonprofits are expected to expand their donor base, increase mission impact, and maintain financial security–all of which can be done without a hefty price tag. Here are just a few options that can solve all those issues while coming at little to no cost.
Anyone who’s submitted a grant proposal before knows how difficult the process can be. The application can take weeks of researching, calculating, and writing. But even then there’s no guarantee that you’ll be rewarded for your efforts. There’s a lot to gain by taking the time to apply. You just need to know what to include in your proposal.
Since grantors don’t accept all proposals, the process can be highly competitive. Not only do you have to meet their guidelines, but if you want to obtain a popular grant, you have to go above and beyond. You need to show them that your nonprofit has more than the skills required to carry out their expectations. So before you draft your next proposal, here are a few things you should include in order to blow away their expectations.
All eyes are on Australia.
Since July, wildfires have scorched 12.3 million acres across the continent with still no end in sight. The devastation has amounted to thousands of homes being consumed in the flames with reports of 28 casualties and nearly 500 million to a billion animals killed.
Support from around the world has poured in through donations, yet there’s already so much lost it will take years to regrow, repopulate, and rehabilitate. And while it might be difficult to see a glimmer of hope in this chaos, nonprofits in Australia have been stepping up to do all they can.
Here are just a few of the nonprofits that have been going above and beyond to assist the fight against the Australian bushfires.
Tax season can be confusing for nonprofits. Even though your organization is considered “tax-exempt” by the federal government, you are still required to file paperwork and documentation to the IRS. The plus side is that unlike most for-profit businesses, your nonprofit won’t be paying taxes.
However, filing your annual returns can be a long and arduous process. There is a lot you need to know to maintain your tax-exempt status. So whether this is your first time filing or you’re in need of a quick refresher, this should serve as a good roadmap for navigating your nonprofit’s tax season.
