Accountability

What Americans Think About Philanthropy and Nonprofits,” a new study from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, polled about 1,300 Americans over the summer of 2022 to learn more about how the American public perceives philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. 

Nonprofits vary greatly in size and focus, from community organizations that feed the hungry to global institutions protecting the environment. But one thing all nonprofits have in common is the need for stakeholder surveys.

As nonprofits remain a target for bad actors due to their vast amount of data, data security should be at the top of the priority list.

Kevin Scally, chief relationship officer at Charity Navigator, shared that with a shrinking donor population, recurring gifts can both democratize philanthropy and lower the barriers for giving. 

At many nonprofits, volunteers play critical roles, from staffing special events and keeping programs running to serving as directors on boards. They are often the most effective community ambassadors, but, increasingly, nonprofits must consider the risks associated with failing to vet potential volunteers.

The relationship between a nonprofit board and the CEO/executive director is frequently referred to as a partnership. Most governance literature cites that the board and executive partnership is a goal where there is a clear distinction between the roles and a relationship that is equal and balanced.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota nonprofit ThinkTechAct Foundation, as well as its founder/president, a board member and executive director, alleging they ran a sham nonprofit and misused nonprofit funds.

As a nonprofit fundraiser and attorney, I do my due diligence if I support a new nonprofit. Unfortunately, it's an open secret that financial firewalls within some nonprofits can be thin or non-existent. But nonprofits are businesses, and we should treat them as such.

Here are some ways that your organization can build relationships and donor-centric philanthropy.

Charity Navigator unveiled a new website for donors that includes a reinvented search experience and a streamlined design to help donors easily find and support organizations working on causes close to their hearts.