Nonprofit Connectors

Wednesday Tip: Microsoft Software Donation Program

If your nonprofit organization is looking to purchase Microsoft software, check first to see if you qualify for a donation. Microsoft software donations are made in response to the requests of individual nonprofits to meet their organizational needs. All software donation requests are handled by Microsoft's nonprofit partner TechSoup. Eligible organizations may make one donation request each year. There is no membership fee for access to TechSoup, but there is a small administrative fee.
 
For more guidelines and more information, visit the website at: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/softwaredonation.mspx

Budget fudge-it!

 About two years ago, my husband and I realized that our spending had gotten completely out of control. We didn’t have a handle on our finances, and it was very stressful. At one point, we had close to $300 in insufficient funds fees all from not keeping an eye on our account. Today we have a budget, a very detailed one that we review every week.

The budget is a crucial component for all businesses. This is the one area where you really should sit down and take your time developing. You even need to me clear about whether or not you want to operate a cash based business, meaning only get what you can absolutely pay for without getting loans.

As for starting a nonprofit, budget creation is essential. (Revisit an old post.) You’ll want to be careful not to exaggerate the budget, but to stick to actual figures. The reason for this, nonprofit funders are looking carefully at your budget. For the most part, they want to know what will become of their investment. Also, you have to be ready to share itemized expense reports with your funders. Funders/contributors are very skeptical, as they should be, about where their funding dollars are going. So, be clear, and detailed about your financial needs.

It is a great idea to revisit your overall budget quarterly, and a monthly check up to ensure that you are keeping an eye of your bottom line is essential for a healthy business.

Member networks

Nonprofit organizations are only as strong as their members. So, questions you should ask yourself as you start your nonprofit: Who’s benefiting from your organization’s mission? How do you keep lines of communication open among your members? What questions do they have that others may be able to answer? Consider creating an environment, such as a community portal, to give your members a way to communicate and support one another.

Just creating a listserv these days will not suffice. You need to have more functionality and flexibility to relay information in several formats. You can use AWeber, Constant Contact, and Vertical Response, just to name a few, to create marketing materials to send to your entire membership.

You can create a presence on Facebook or Twitter where your members can post comments and participate in group discussions. These social networks also allow the members an opportunity to really get to know one another. Don’t forget to investigate creating forums for your website where members can share information, ask questions, and find support with your organization being the catalyst for this one-stop-shop.

There are various tools to help us establish relationships, make connections both business and personal, and to become a little more real to people, who in this day and age are looking for authenticity. Study your market, and get a feel for the various ways they are reaching out to each other now; then use that as a starting point to build your member network.

Funding resources toolbox

Finding a funding source is made fairly easy with online resources. Here are two sources you should add to your bookmark list.

1. GuideStar - This is a member site for nonprofit organizations. GuideStar houses information about nonprofit organizations for public review. To quote the site, their “database is broad and deep.” You can even find funding tips and resources on this site.

2. Foundation Center - There are several tools available to you at the Foundation Center. They not only offer a database you can search online for funders, but they also after you literature to read to assist you with making proper choices when selecting your funder. There are classes you can take as well to ensure that you complete your paperwork effectively.

If you do an online search you’ll find books, websites, and other options for investigating funding sources. Your local library is another great resource to check out.

A visit to your local library just may land you a nice grant

The local library should be the first place a new Executive Director makes a second home. There you have access to knowledgeable individuals and a plethora of resources at your finger tips. All for the low cost of FREE.

Visit your local library and start researching grants for your organizations type. If you are not sure start, ask the librarian. Librarians are trained to help draw you out in order to get you to the best resources for your needs.

Happy researching!