Everyone is Served: A Fundraising Message

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Fundraising messages should be carefully planned to appeal to the motivations of your donors and your unique characteristics. Those messages should appeal to both the heart (through stories) and the head (through impact and results information).

One phrase I've often heard growing up and living around the Fire Service is your don't get to choose your victims. Calls can range from including combative drunks to heart attack victims to someone trapped by a fire, with almost endless possibilities in between. No matter what the contributing circumstances, you do your best to help.

Put another way for fundraising messages, everyone is served through your emergency response efforts. There are no income or enrollment qualifications. Your resources simply spring into action in response to anyone's 911 call in your coverage area. 

You continuously train and stand ready to respond when the 911 call comes. You try to be at your best when your victim and his or her loved ones are having the worst day of their lives. Thank you for that! 

Emergency response is a special calling where everyone is served. Try bringing that theme out more in your fundraising communications and see how the community responds. 

Share your experiences with and thoughts on this theme in the comments section below.

Want Better Fundraising Results? Elevate!

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Would you like to increase your organization's fundraising effectiveness? One small change can help increase your results. Elevate primary responsibility for fundraising activities to an officer and/or board position.


What kind of person would be a good candidate for this leadership role?

1. Someone who is particularly fond of interactions with and connections with others
2. Someone who likes making people happy and showing appreciation 
3. Someone who is organized and can be counted on for follow through 
4. Someone who is motivated by seeing results
5. Someone who enjoys recruiting others 

Once you find the right fit for this position, you may find it beneficial  to keep someone in the position for more than one year for continuity. 

Once this position is established, include a report on fundraising strategies, activities and goals at each of your business meetings.  This will help keep fundraising top of mind in every member's minds. These reports might include:

1. Encouragement to members to help thank your supporters. This may be as simple as having members sign thank you notes to the donor who gave in kind support to your community meal
2. Gathering of ideas for ongoing development outreach

What's working well at your organization in terms of fundraising responsibilities? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

The Trends in Donors' Hearts: Part II

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As recently reported by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the company Russ Reid conducted a detailed survey on donor motivations. This Part II post examines what makes an organization a favorite of donors. You may sign up for your own copy of the report's executive summary here.

The most important factor to donors in selecting their favorite causes to donate to is trustworthiness. This is followed by the type of work an organization does, and whether or not a donor identifies with the mission. Additional factors include:

1. The organization's financial efficiency
2. Donors' seeing the results of the organization for themselves
3. The people the organization serves
4. Effective communication with donors
5. How the organization's work affects the donor or someone the donor knows 

Want to raise your organization to favorite status among your donors? Consider the following ideas:

1. Host 1-2 small social events during the year where your volunteers and your willing patients/service recipients share the impact your organization has on their lives and their safety.
2. Make sure your public communication demonstrates the efforts you make to spend every dollar like it's $10. Donors and taxpayers expect nothing less these days.
3. Develop and implement a communication plan with your donors that ensures at least three personalized outreaches per year. 
4. When a donation is graciously made to your mission, personally acknowledge the donation within 48 hours

What are your donors who already have you as one of their favorite organizations sharing with you? Share the inspiration in the comments section below. 

The Trends in Donors' Hearts: Part I

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As recently reported by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the company Russ Reid conducted a detailed survey on donor motivations, with a particular focus on why donors make more than one gift. You may sign up for your own copy of the report's executive summary here. 

The report includes reasons donors cited for giving a second gift to a nonprofit they donated to for the first time:

1. The organization explained its specific mission to me.
2. The organization made me feel that my gift really made a difference.
3. The organization gave me information about exactly what my gift helped accomplish.

If you haven't already done so, take a moment to gather all the information about donors to your organization for at least the last three years into one central location. Discuss how you might apply these principles with your current donor base. You might:

1. Call donors 1-2 times per year just to say thank you and give the information cited above.
2. Send a personal note to donors 1-2 times per year covering the same info.
3. Send a card at thanksgiving indicating your gratitude for your donor's generosity.

Applying these principles might inspire the great honor of a second gift from your incredible base of donors. 

What's working well on these principles at your organization? Share your experiences below.

Fundraising Costs: Some Thoughts on Percentages

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There may come a time when your department, community or another nonprofit you're connected to may need to hire a professional fundraiser on retainer to coordinate a fundraising campaign. How should that person be paid?

The international Association of Professional Fundraisers, (AFP) includes 28,000 members across the world. Their members are prohibited from accepting percentage-based compensation or finder's fees. The reasons why include:

1. IRS-recognized 501 (c ) (3) nonprofits are prohibited by law from operating for any private benefit. Having a fundraiser's pay directly to the amount raised could be construed as undue benefit for that employee or contractor.

2. As explained in the 2001 AFP Ethics Committee position paper on the topic,  "Charitable organizations rely on donations voluntarily given. There is no comparable exchange in the business world. In a commercial transaction, tangible value passes directly from one party to the other for a stated price.... The motivating factor in charitable behavior is social benefit. What may be proper motivation in commerce is inappropriate in the nonprofit sector."

3. Because the primary motivation of charitable behavior is social benefit, it's reasonable to expect the best possible work from any fundraiser you hire regardless of his or her direct personal stake in the outcome. 

4. Hiring fundraisers for your campaign based on a clearly-outlined monthly retainer, project or hourly fee ensures the focus remains where it should be: on your donors and volunteers who make your progress and mission work possible. 

5. Effective, committed fundraisers know their real role is to help you and your organization "open" gifts from donors connection to your mission, not employ commercial sales tactics and put his or her own interests first. 

The bottom line:  If hiring a fundraiser for a campaign, project or any other reason is in your future, do not agreed to compensation that based on a percentage of the funds raised.


Do you have any experience in this area you would like to share? Please add them to your comments below.

Supporter Acknowledgement Tools: Are They Part of Your SOPs?

 

What happens right now when your department or organization receives a check from a donor?

Having a supply of some kind of notes to show appreciation for your supporters should be part of your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's). For details on the importance of thank you notes from from a previous FlashPoint blog post, click here. 

At Coggon Fire & Rescue, Treasurer Lee Oksendahl and the team have a supply of the cards above ready to go when a donation comes in. When they receive a check or can otherwise verify the source of the donation, they fill out the card shown above and specify the amount given.

This acknowledgement arrived personalized  in the mail three days after the donor sent a small donation to the Coggon team. This prompt, personal thank you demonstrated respect and appreciation for the donor in a way that is relatively rare anymore among the busy realities of volunteer-driven nonprofits.

Want to follow Coggon's example? They found their cards at www.lynncard.com. In addition to checking out that website, here are some options for your own thank-you card supply:

1. Consider ordering from an area printer. This could be a printer you are either aware of or perhaps one of your members works there.

2. If you don't have the skill set among your volunteers or their families, work with a local business or high school class to design the card. 

3. If you have a connection with someone who has a color printer in their home, consider offering print cartridges to help with the cost of printing a nice, basic piece to show proper appreciation to your donors.

Have you added a prompt acknowledgement to your supporters to your SOP's yet? 

What's working well for your department in terms of showing appreciation to your donors? 

Milking: A Strategic Approach to Effective Fundraising

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Harold J. "Si" Seymour published an early mainstream fundraising bible of sorts, Designs for Fundraising (Amazon affiliate link)  in 1966 and dedicated a legendary 50-year career to philanthropy. He is also well known for his quote about one of the pivotal truths about fundraising, as recounted in the book "Asking" by Jerold Panos:

You won't get milk from a cow by sending a letter. 

You won't get milk from a cow by calling on the phone. 

The only way to get milk from a cow is to sit beside it and milk it. 

For the full details on how you might benefit from "Asking," click here.

Mr. Seymour uses a vivid analogy to help illustrate:

1. No communication approach in the world matches the value of a face to face visit.

2. The best way to care for your donors and be able to realize the full potential of their support is to make a regular habit of visiting with them face to face.

How can you apply these lessons?

1. Review historic giving to your organization. Who are your top five to ten supporters? (or insert your own appropriate number here)

2. Will you visit these supporters at least twice a year? If your top five supporters include people who have made bequests, would it be possible to visit their descendants?

3. On the initial visit, thank them for their legacy of supporting your mission and ask their input on your current operations.

4. Follow up each visit promptly with a phone call or note of appreciation for their time. Record the basics of each visit in fundraising software or other tracking means at your organization.

5. When you sense the time is right in future visits, be ready to discuss your organization's unfunded opportunities to move your mission forward. 

By making face to face visits a priority with your top supporters, you will be amazed at the number of opportunities you will uncover to open opportunities to connect amazing donors with your good work.

What stories do you have to share of how face to face visits have worked with your organization?

Tips to Move On From the Grrr of Creating a Website for Your Department

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In travels across Iowa learning from hundreds of volunteer firefighters, I've been surprised how relatively uncommon it is for a department to have its own website. I think that's because starting can make you say, "Grrr" and can feel feel frustrating.  An important part of the process that is fundraising is making basic information about the good work you do available to your communities through such vehicles as websites.  

Today's post focuses on starting tips, resources and ideas for those of you who don't have your own department website.

Ideas to increase your online presence:

1. Consider creating a Facebook page for your department. This previous FlashPoint post links you to steps on how to do so. Facebook represents the widest potential social media connection point for your department. It's important to remember it will not catch everyone in your community.

2. Discuss with your City Clerk, Councilperson or other governing body contact whether there are existing or planned online resources/websites to which you might add your department's information.This might be as simple as adding a fire department page to an existing city website.

3.You may setup a website to provide occasional posts on your training, community meals and other activities like this blog through www.blogger.com and other online blog services, many of which are free.

To create your department's own dedicated website: 

1. Figure out what you want your domain name to be. The domain name is what people will type in to visit your website. Keep this as simple as possible.

2. Determine whether your preferred domain name is available through any of the following or your own preferred domain registration site:

• www.GoDaddy.com
• www.InMotionHosting.com 
• www.NetworkSolutions.com

3. Register your preferred and available domain name. A good budget number to use for the cost of this registration is $100-$120 per year. This is based on registering one domain (i.e. www.NAMEfire.com OR www.NAMEfire.org, but not both). 

4. Make sure the name and email connected to your domain registration is someone on your department who will follow through on any communication received from your domain registrant.

5. Consider purchasing website hosting services from your domain registration company for simplicity. There are various packages available.  Purchase small. You can always upgrade down the road. Most have tools to help you build your website. A good budget number for website hosting and email address purchase would be $75/year. 

6. Work with an interested member or qualified volunteer to design and develop your site using the tutorials available through your hosting service. The template process available through these serves makes website setup much simpler than it used to be.

7. You may also hire someone to design the site for you. Possible resources for hiring include (or just Google services for your area):

• http://cyberinnovation.com/
• www.iowagraphicsdesigner.com 
• http://www.websitestoimpress.com/
  

 8. Find a contact or two willing to take on the responsibility of occasional updates to your website.


9. Launch your website and celebrate another way you are reaching the community. 




Community resources or those on your department proficient in computer skills may be able to launch a site for you with little to no design costs. Future blog posts will explore example fire department websites.


What has your experience been with websites? Please share in the comments below.

Your Support Helps Us Be at Our Best

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Recently, I attended the 100 Great Iowa Nurses recognition ceremony in Des Moines in support of an amazing family member who was born to provide quality care and connections to her patients and her colleagues. 

As I listened to the inspiring stories, I got to thinking about the similarities between health care professionals and you: the men and women of the Iowa Fire Service who were born to respond as effectively as possible to whatever the 911 call brings. How can that point be more clearly communicated in your fundraising communications?

Whether it's a fundraising letter to your current donors and/or your coverage base, a letter to the editor, remarks on your local radio station or materials at your community meal, see if your community relates to this message:

When our pagers sound, your NAME department will do everything possible to support those impacted by the emergency. For us, 911 calls represent an important job to do. For the victims of the emergency, the call likely represents one their most vulnerable moments. Your donation helps us be at our best for your friends and neighbors who may be having the worst day of their lives. 

What fundraising messages are working well for your department? Share your experiences below.

She's My Customer. I Better Listen.

Recently, a few of us organized a surprise belated birthday gathering for one of my closest friends. The gathering took place at locally and family owned Don Jose Restaurant in Decorah, Iowa. Everything blended perfectly. A spot around the corner in the back hid all the guests perfectly. Authentic Mexican food and warm service was perfectly shared. Don Jose loaned their birthday sombrero for a photo to remember the occasion.

As we were departing, the guest of honor, a regular Don Jose patron, shared feedback with one of the owners. I was struck by the passion of his response to her feedback. "She's my customer. I better listen." 

The experience reminded me of the infinite value of listening for more effective fundraising. Wondering where to focus your efforts? Curious why your last campaign came in under goal?

Consider hosting listening sessions at your department where only open ended questions are asked. Don't ask for donations in these listening sessions. Groups worthy of consideration for an invite include:
1. Your customers - your service recipients and your city council or fire board
2. Your service recipients 
3. Your current donors
4. Your current members and their significant others
5. Your retired members and their families


Questions asked during the session may include:
1. What one thing do you think we do best/most effectively? 
2. What one thing do you think most needs improvement in the way we serve the community?
3. How do you feel overall about our department?
4. Why do you feel that way? 
5. What do you think the impact would be if our department didn't exist?


Having a facilitator for each discussion is a good way to keep the conversation on target. Smaller groups are best. The answers your customers share with you will be critical insight for even more effective fundraising.

Making the Case for Training Funds in Your Fundraising

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Would donations towards training this year make your department, your members and your community response stronger? If so, consider a fundraising appeal earmarked for the a goal amount that will move your mission forward. 

The book To the Rescue: Stories From Healthcare Workers at the Scenes of Disasters, edited by Nancy Leigh Harless and Kerry-Ann Morris (Amazon Affiliate link) includes a brief story succinct description of the critical nature of training to today's fire and EMS departments:

 "In a crisis, with expectations changing constantly, how you adapt to your circumstances and the trust you have in your skill sets will ultimately determine your success or failure."

How might this point sound in your fundraising  appeal (which is where your focus should shift to your donor)?

Of course, the strongest appeals are personalized for each of your donors. 

Thank you for enabling your community to be as safe as possible with your support of DEPARTMENT NAME. You make our progress possible.

This year, we need to [Do a brief explanation of your training needs here. Do you have members who want to take the bridge course with the pending changes in EMS certifications in Iowa, as just one example?]

Your gift enables your fire/EMS  department to be as ready as we can be for whatever is at the other end of our pager call. Your support of our training needs makes it possible for us to do everything possible in response to each emergency.

Your gift supports:

[Give two or three examples here of gift amounts and what they support. For example, $X supports the cost of a X class, or a portion of the class if the amount is high. Work in, if you can, the amount of time a volunteer devotes to training each year.]

Your time and consideration of enabling your fire/EMS department members to be as prepared as possible for each pager call is truly appreciated!

What is working well for you on need-specific fundraising for your department? Share your experience below. 

Take a Trip Down Story Road

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Julie** saw a woman approach her at the department's community meal. "You all have no idea what you mean to me " was the  sincere praise the meal guest wanted to share with Julie and her colleagues during the meal. Julie thought the woman looked familiar, just couldn't quite place her.

The meal guest went on to share what it had meant a few months prior. Early one morning, her infant  became seriously ill.  This mom's world was turned on end on one of the worst days of her life as she worried for her family's safety. This mom joined her infant for the transport to the hospital for further care. What about her two older children?

At that point, Julie and a colleague, among the first to respond to the scene, assured the worried mom her older children would be fine. Julie and her colleague fed the children and took them to school. Thanks to Julie and her colleague, this grateful mom had a little less stress on one of the worst days of her life. 

For Julie and the team on her department, this is all in a day's work when you're connected to the Fire and EMS Service. For a worried mom, the level of service she received in dialing 911 went way beyond her highest hopes in a time of greatest need.

Consider the following action in response to this grateful mom's story:

1. Make it a priority to take a trip down Story Road in your department by the end of the summer.

2. Brainstorm members and grateful patients/service recipients that have a story to tell, keeping HIPPA close in mind.

3. Try to record two or three stories. They don't have to be any longer than the example above.

4. Share these stories at your fundraising events and in your fundraising campaigns to demonstrate the forever impact you have on your community through your commitment to emergency response.

**Names and exact details changed to protect someone who wanted to share her story to inspire others.

What stories are you using to communicate your impact? Share yours in the comments below.

Tips for Your Next Community Meal

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The many yummy meals hosted by your department, as well fire and EMS organizations across the country provide important budget support. They create stronger connections with members of the community. How might these events become even better?

1. The 2010 Charity Event Research Report contains detailed input from 850 prospective donors nationwide on how to make fundraising events more effective. The report includes one finding particularly relevant to these meals: Let someone your organization serves give the speech. If you have some sort of presentation(s) during your meal, consider whether a grateful victim might share his or her perspective on what your emergency services mean from firsthand experience. 

2. A wide array of research reports indicate that donors respond most generously when maximum choice is given to them to direct their support. If you're not already doing so, consider making your meal cost a free will donation. Departments who have made this transition have seen their average proceeds from the meal increase.

3. Clearly communicate at your meal the specific investment you will make with the generous event proceeds to further the mission of your department. Report what you did with last year's proceeds. If possible, make this part interactive. For example, if you're planning on or purchased a thermal imaging camera, demonstrate through a display the difference the camera makes in spotting fire and victims. 
 
These are three ideas. What's working well at your community meal? How are you thanking the incredible donors who allow you to move your mission forward with their support? Please share your perspective through the comments section below.  

Good News for 2011: Donor Intentions

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Recently, Cygnus Research and Penelope Burk completed their Cygnus Donor Survey...Where Philanthropy is Headed in 2011 study of more than 22,000 donors. Their survey was conducted in February 2011. 

The study generated several pieces of good news, including:

1. 79% plan to give the same or more in 2011 as they gave in 2010 to charitable causes.

2. 33% plan to give more in 2011 to charitable causes.

3. Donors with the highest incomes, at least one post-secondary degree in the family and those who define themselves as "actively religious" are among those most likely to give more to charitable causes this year.

4. 39% of respondents under the age of 35 plan to give more to charitable causes in 2011, compared with only 20% of older donors.


Among the valuable donor insight shared in this survey was this comment:

My wallet opens up for specific projects that excite me. I guess that means I'm more inclined to be generous for specific projects; when it comes to regular unrestricted giving, I'm consistent -- but I don't break the bank.

What lessons might you take back to your departments from this survey?

1. Donors of every age matter. Promptly thank every donor personally and share the impact their support has on your efforts to keep your community safe.

2. If you're not already doing so, start tracking the names, contact info and giving history of those who are supporting your department through verifiable means (known to you, writing a check, etc.). If you are doing so, congratulations! Your efforts to check the accuracy of this information at least once a year will be worthwhile.

3.When you host fundraising meals and ask for your community support, provide specific information on what you plan to do with the community support you receive. 


What do you think? 
Share your comments below.

Annual Reports: An Opportunity to Demonstrate the Value of Investments with Your Department

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Although full-color, expensive reports mailed out to the world aren't commonplace anymore, the information in an annual report is still relevant to your taxpayers and donors. In a world of limited resources, think of an annual report as a way to demonstrate how effective you and your fellow members are at maximizing community safety through your department's budget.

An online example of an annual report from the Iowa City Fire Department may be found here. It breaks down operational areas and quantifies information for taxpayers. One such example may be found in the Training and Equipment section from Iowa City Fire. 

For volunteer departments, you may find more information on how to quantify the value of volunteers' time here. 

How promptly an annual report is made available is as important as the exact content that goes into it. What are some baselines to consider including in your annual report? 

• Number and types of calls and time involved 
• Training time completed
• Community and education time completed (event support, fire prevention, etc.)
• Member certification levels
• One to two stories from the year from members and/or grateful victims/service recipients

Before finalizing your annual report, take these steps:

1. Review your statistics and consider how you could make them more relevant to the general reader. For example, the 2958 hours of training cited in the Iowa City Fire Department annual report may "hit home" more when expressed as "more than 120 continuous days of training" or "1/3 of a year." This was determined by taking 2958 hours and dividing by 24).
2. Make sure your appreciation for taxpayer and donor support shines through.
3. Ask yourself: What are the three most relevant statistics or stories included in your report? Use this information in your community conversations throughout the year. 

Your annual report may be posted online and/or in a brief printed version. If you're tracking the contact info of your donors, consider notifying them when your annual report is available.  

Want to get into more detail? Visit Tom Ahearn's Better Annual Reports blog here. 


Does your department produce an annual report? If so, how do you share it?

Preparing for Your Department's Raffle

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Is your department or association planning a raffle with your next community meal or as a stand alone fundraiser?

In Iowa, to make sure your raffle is compliant with state laws, you will need:
1. A sales tax permit
2. A gambling license

A full explanation of the details involved may be found on the Iowa Department of Revenue website. These rules apply equally whether the raffle is being conducted through your city, fire board, or 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization/association. Your group will also be responsible for withholding for any prizes of more than $600. 

Most organizations include the Iowa sales tax in the cost of the raffle ticket. If your locality has a local option sales tax, that must be planned for as well. The details of how frequently you will have to file the sales tax from your raffle program can be found here.  

More information on raffle regulations for the state of Missouri may be found here. 


A link to the permit application for the state of Nebraska may be found here. Additional information may be found at this link.


What have your experiences been with raffles as fundraisers for your department? Share your thoughts and questions below.

Your Area Service Clubs: Collaboration Opportunity?

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Think about how much more effective you want your department to be in the next one to three years. What will it take to get there?

One idea to help move your mission forward is to have a conversation with the service clubs in your area. There may be emerging community needs you could work together to positively address. 

Try brainstorming at an upcoming department meeting the people who are involved in area service clubs. Call them up or schedule a meeting to discuss ideas. 

Ask if these service organizations ever allow speakers in to their meetings to talk about volunteer opportunities in the area. If they do, schedule a time to share your passion for the Fire Service. You may recruit new members in the process. 

If you need them, here are links to common area service groups that may be active in your area:

American Legion: www.legion.org

Elks Clubs: www.elks.org

Kiwanis Clubs: www.kiwanis.org

Lions Clubs: www.lionsclubs.org

Rotary Clubs: www.rotary.org

What collaborations with service organizations are working well in your community? Share your experiences in the commends below.

Flip the M in Me Upside Down. We Works Much Better!

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Recently, an Iowa Volunteer Fire Chief's Workshop was hosted by the Iowa Fire Chiefs Association and the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau. Among the speakers was Chiefs Association board member Wayne Schipper, retired Chief of the Le Mars Fire Department.

At the beginning of his remarks, Wayne encouraged the officers in attendance to think of ways they could "flip the M in me upside down since WE is so much better for everyone on your department and in your community." 

How might you apply this point to your fundraising efforts? 

A few ideas:

1. Everyone can make contributions to an effective fundraising program. Some people might ask for support. Some might ensure proper thanks are given to your donors. Ask your members and supporters how they want to help move your mission forward.

2.  When communicating with your donors and supporters, make sure you focus on their impact and how their support strengthened your community's safety and emergency preparedness.

3.  Keep your mission in mind when selecting your budget priorities each year. As cool as the latest technology may be to you, communicate how your budget investments improve the quality of life and response for those you serve.

How are you flipping the M in me upside down in your work? Share your experiences in the comments section.

Thanks for all you do to make your community safer and stronger! 

May 15 Form 990 Filing Deadline Approaching for 501 (c ) (3) Organizations

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Is your department or association a 501 (c) (3)?

Did you end your fiscal year on December 31, 2010? 

If the answer to both of those questions is yes, your 2010 Form 990 is due to the IRS by May 15, 2011, approximately two months from today.

If your organization is a 501 (c) (3) and you run your fiscal year in line with your city or fire board year of July 1, your 2011 Form 990 will be due to the IRS by November 15, 2011. 

Below are several links to IRS website sections to help with the details of your filing:

• IRS Form 990 Resources and Tools for Exempt Organizations
• If your 2010 gross receipts were under $50,000, you may be able to file your Form-990N electronically. Click here for details
• If you're able to use the Form-990N, click here for the eight pieces of information you will need to complete this requirement
• If you're not able to use the Form-990N, you may find this detailed 990 preparation checklist helpful
• Also if you're not able to use the Form-990N, you may find a detailed list of other 990 related forms here
• If you're interested in detailed IRS training on how to complete your Form 990, you may find it here

If you're feeling stuck, contact a local CPA or other tax professional for more information and details on the cost of hiring outside assistance to prepare your Form 990. 

This blog is provided as an informational resource only and should not be considered to be tax advice. For such needs, consult your tax professional.

Are you ready for tax season to be over yet?

Iowa Nonprofit Excellence Training Coming Your Way

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Your department's commitment to excellence shines through in your deep investment in training. You use internal and external resources, classroom time and drills to do your best to be prepared for the many scenarios the 911 call can bring. 

How do your apply that same commitment to excellence to the overall management of your nonprofit operations? One of the best resources in Iowa to help you with that need is the Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center.

This spring, the Resource Center is taking their Principles and Practices of Nonprofit Excellence training on the road with daily sessions running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The training is  free with only registration required due to space limitations. The spring schedule is: 

1. Thursday, March 10 in Fort Madison
2. Tuesday, March 22 in Vinton
3. Friday, April 1 in Creston
4. Tuesday, April 26 in Des Moines
5. Tuesday, May 10 in Pocahontas 

Among those presenting at each session are Willard L. "Sandy" Boyd, Richard Koontz and Jude West, three of the most knowledgeable, passionate and genuine nonprofit professionals in any state. 

 

The exact location and registration details may be found at the following link:

http://nonprofit.law.uiowa.edu/updates/2011/P&PFormSpring2011v3.pdf

If the trainings don't work for your schedule, you may download the Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence publication here.  This 30-page publication is a worthwhile read for everyone involved in your department.

Your department/association may adopt the Iowa Principles and Practices of Nonprofit Excellence via resolution to register for the Principles and Practices Register of Accountability.

Have you taken the Principles and Practices class? Are you planning to? Share your thoughts below.