How Nonprofits are Fighting the Australian Bushfires

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.

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A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Tax Season

A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Tax Season

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.  

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Four 2020 Conferences That Every Nonprofit Must Attend

Four 2020 Conferences That Every Nonprofit Must Attend

There are over 60 major nonprofit conferences slated for 2020. While every conference offers its own unique theme and advice, it’s impossible for you to attend all of them, especially if you’re running a nonprofit. However, if you’re interested in listening to some of the best speakers share their experiences and inform you of the latest trends, then we have the perfect list for you.

Our list gives you the 4 best nonprofit conferences you can’t miss. These conferences will give you leading advice on marketing, fundraising, technology, storytelling, and–let’s not forget–networking. On top of that, we also provide some places of interest near the conference centers for you to venture out and explore when you have some downtime.

With that said, let’s see the 4 conferences every nonprofit must attend in 2020!

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Nonprofit Trends We Can Expect in 2020

Nonprofit Trends We Can Expect in 2020

The new year is almost upon us and that means new opportunities are around the corner for nonprofits. 2019 brought about more innovation as Instagram added donation stickers, there was an increase in online donations, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and PayPal made it easier for people to contribute through their mobile devices.    

As the new decade approaches, we can look back and see all the changes the past decade has brought. Ten years ago it would have seemed crazy to suggest that social media would play such a large role for nonprofits. But as a nonprofit nowadays, you can’t afford to overlook those platforms. So let’s take a look at what’s in store for the upcoming year and see what trends your nonprofit should be on the lookout for! 

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How to Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign with Facebook Donate

There’s no doubt how vital Facebook has become for nonprofits. Its platform serves as a means for reaching out to supporters, volunteers, and–as of recently–collecting donations. With over a billion people logging in each day, nonprofits can’t afford to overlook the social network, especially when it comes to crowdfunding. 

Even with how many people use Facebook, it doesn’t mean you’re going to hit the jackpot right away. If you want to run a successful crowdfunding campaign, you need to know how to stand out. Here are some tips on how you can maximize your search rate, your appeal, and stand out in a crowd of posts so your organization can find success. 

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How to Keep Donors Engaged with Your Nonprofit

If you’re scratching your head wondering why your donor retention rates are so low, join the club. Almost every nonprofit struggles to keep people from jumping ship. In fact, donor retention has averaged around 43% while donor attrition has remained steady at 57%. That means getting donors to stay onboard will always be an uphill battle.

That doesn’t mean you should surrender though. Donor retention can lead to stronger relationships in the community, an increase in funding, and more success with your mission. Because retaining donors can be difficult, it should be a top priority to do all you can to stay committed to your base. These 4 tips are intended to help you keep your donors engaged with your mission.

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Do’s and Don’ts of Ethical Fundraising for Nonprofits

Do’s and Don’ts of Ethical Fundraising for Nonprofits

All of us develop bad habits over time without thinking about it. Whether it’s chewing on your pen, playing with your hair, or saying the word, “like,” like two-hundred times a day–we all do it. As the saying goes, “Old habits die hard.” While that may be true, when it comes to nonprofits, bad habits in fundraising can have disastrous impacts.

Since nonprofits are reliant on fundraising, it’s easy to lose sight of which fundraising tactics are ethical and which ones aren’t. The point of ethical fundraising is to pay respect to your donors, build trust among the general public, and promote transparency; which leads to better retention rates among donors and, hopefully, a higher revenue stream.

To maintain an ethical approach to your fundraising, you need to follow certain guidelines. Here are a few do’s and don’ts of fundraising to ensure you maintain trust with your donors.

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Why It’s Time Nonprofits Started Working Remotely

The workplace doesn’t look like it once did. Instead of suits and dresses, or even casual slacks and button-down shirts, it’s now pajamas and sweatpants. Yes, the world is transitioning out of the office and into the home. Some people view this negatively while others are warmly embracing it. One thing everyone can agree upon is not dealing with traffic is a huge bonus.

While working from home was once seen as unconventional, businesses have been coming around to it and the results have been positive. Since nonprofits are on the frontline of cost cutting and working from small budgets, you might want to start contemplating whether you should switch as well. Here are some of the best reasons why working remotely is better for your organization!

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A Quick Guide For Growing Your Nonprofit’s Social Media Presence

Your nonprofit may not have the 15 million followers on social media that you dream of. Maybe you’re struggling to break the 100 follower mark. Whatever the case may be, the good news is there’s no better time for you to increase your outreach and your followers. Social media is constantly moving forward and you can too by discovering the right approach with a solid plan.

When developing a strong content strategy, there are three key areas where nonprofits often fail. For one, nonprofits often assume the goal of social media is to be a good source for revenues and donations; two, they believe they need to be relevant to a broad audience; and, finally, their content is erratic and only highlights events or charity works. If you want to generate a powerful online presence through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, here’s how you can avoid these problems.

Nonprofit, Social Media

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What Every Board Member Needs to Know About Nonprofit Accounting

What Board Members Need to Know

Justifying the price tag on nonprofit accounting software probably isn’t easy for you as a board member. Because financial resources are often tight, your focus might be to spend money on advancing your organization’s mission and not on its accounting needs. Besides, accounting software is often free, so why spend money you don’t have to, right?

While the price might be difficult to overlook, a good accounting software can arm your organization head to toe with better security, reporting, and fund management. Without it, you’re leaving your financials susceptible to error and errors aren’t easily overlooked by those funding your nonprofit.

As a board member, you have an important role guiding your organization, but you might not be aware of the unique problems nonprofits face when it comes to accounting. Setting your nonprofit up for success begins with properly maintaining the finances, so here are a few reasons why nonprofit accounting software is so important.

Accounting, Board of Directors, Grant Management, Reporting, Security

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