Optimize Your Website

Wild Apricot Blog (April 20, 2010) ...Read More Here

NWA Group Awards $1.68 Million in Grants

Arkansas Business (April 19, 2010) ...Read More Here

Telecommuting and Flexible Work Arrangements

Blue Avocado Newsletter (April 15, 2010) ...Read More Here

Sleeping Mat-ters to Arkansans

Today's THV (April 12, 2010) ...Read More Here

Sam's Club to Distribute $4 Million via Member's and Associates Online Votes

Philanthropy News Digest (April 12, 2010) ....Read More Here

Optimize Your Website

Wild Apricot Blog (April 20, 2010)

What can we do to make our website faster? For a small nonprofit without the tech resources to muck about with website code or server stuff, three key actions come to mind that will help to pep up a sluggish website. ...Read More Here

NWA Group Awards $1.68 Million in Grants

Arkansas Business (April 19, 2010)

The Care Foundation has awarded $1.68 million in grants to several Northwest Arkansas organizations, with intentions of improving education, health, immigration services and capacity building for non-profits, according to a press release. ...Read More Here

Telecommuting and Flexible Work Arrangements

Blue Avocado News (April 15, 2010)

Flexible hours and working from home are benefits that many nonprofits want to implement but are not sure how to do it fairly and in a way that acknowledges the value of having people in the office together. ...Read More Here

Sleeping Mat-ters to Arkansans

Today's THV (April 12, 2010)

What do you do with all your plastic bags? When you're thinking of ways to recycle them, sleeping mats for the homeless may not come to mind, but that's exactly what local church groups are doing. ...Read More Here

Sam's Club to Distribute $4 Million via Member's and Associate's Online Votes

Philanthropy News Digest (April 12, 2010)

Sam's Club has announced the launch of Giving Made Simple, an online voting campaign to determine how the company should allocate $4 million in charitable contributions to organizations dedicated to youth education and entrepreneurship. ...Read More Here

Online Social Networks, CyberRisk and Your Nonprofit: What You Need to Know

Nonprofit Risk Management Center News (March 24, 2010)

Online social networking sites, such as the popular offerings provided by MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and LINKEDIN, offer new ways for nonprofits to connect and interact with key stakeholder groups and the community at-large. Sam's Club has announced the launch of Giving Made Simple, an online voting campaign to determine how the company should allocate $4 million in charitable contributions to organizations dedicated to youth education and entrepreneurship.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of legal tips and issues to consider in connection with using social networking sites or social media either to create/manage content or to send or sponsor content...Read More Here

House Passes Historic Health Care Reform

ACE News (March 24, 2010)

On Sunday night, the House voted 219-212 to approve the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and will send it to President Obama for his signature, which could occure late today or early tomorrow...Read More Here

HIRE Act: Nonprofits Eligible for Payroll Tax Forgiveness for Hiring Unemployed Workers

ACE News (March 18, 2010)

Earlier today President Obama signed into law the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act) that, among other things, includes temporary tax incentives to encourage employers to hire new workers....Read More Here

Attack of the Tax-Exemption Killers

Blue Avocado News (March 14, 2010)

If Congress tried to take away the tax exemption from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, our sector would be united and up in arms. But instead we are besieged with hundreds of local attacks on the tax exemption from cities, counties and states...Read More Here

Congratulations to Kathy Findley and Friendship Community Care, Inc.

Arkansas Business (February 23, 2010)

On Tuesday, February 23rd, Arkansas Business hosted their annual awards dinner to honor Arkansas businesses, nonprofits and executives.

Kathy Findley, who founded Safe Places of Little Rock in 2002, was named the Arkansas Nonprofit Executive of the Year.

Friendship Community Care, Inc. of Russellville, which provides services to the disabled in 20 counties, was named Nonprofit Organization of the Year. ...Read More Here

What to Do When You Really, Really Disagree with a Board Decision

Blue Avocado Newsletter (February 22, 2010)

Most of the time, nonprofit boards work through consensus. But what if you think a serious mistake is being made? Sometimes knowing what to do in advance if such a situation arises can help you understand the situation more clearly as it unfolds. ...Read More Here

Census: Battleground for Money and Justice

Blue Avocado Newsletter (February 17, 2010)

This year, the fight for our communities means fighting to get them counted in the high-stakes battleground of the Census. Rick Cohen's timely analysis shows us why the 2010 Census is so important and what nonprofits can do now to make sure everyone is counted. ...Read More Here

Social Entrepreneurs: Friends of Foes?

Philanthropy News Digest (February 8, 2010)

Is it possible that after all these years a gigantic wall of distrust still exists between nonprofits and companies with a socially responsible mission? Is it possible that wariness of entrepreneurial practices still trumps inventive thinking that has the potential to bring about meaningful social change? ...Read More Here

Exempt Organizations: Status Revoked for Not Filing Annual Return or Notice

IRS (February 5, 2010)

Most tax-exempt organizations, other than churches, must file a yearly return or notice with the IRS. If an organization does not file as required for three consecutive years, the law provides that it automatically loses its tax-exempt status. Loss of exempt status means an organization must file income tax returns and pay income tax, and its contributors will not be able to deduct their donations. ...Read More Here

Charitable Groups Revisit Idea of Pooling Emergency-Relief Contributions

Philanthropy News Digest (February 3, 2010)

With donations to humanitarian and emergency relief organizations working in Haiti now totaling more than $610 million, aid workers and charitable groups are revisiting a fundraising model in which disaster relief donations from across the United States would be pooled and distributed to those in the best position to deliver desperately needed services. ...Read More Here 

Landmark New Study Reveals Unprecedented Number of Americans Seeking Food

Feeding America (February 2, 2010)

A landmark study released from Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 37 million people, one in eight Americans -including 14 million children and nearly 3 million seniors- receive emergency food each year through the nation's network of food banks and the agencies they serve. The findings represent a staggering 46 percent increase since the organization's previously released study in 2006. ...Read More Here

Words for Nonprofits to Avoid in 2010

Big Duck Communications Blog (January 26, 2010)

What words do we nonprofit people overuse or misuse, and what terms are generally useless and shouldn't be used? ...Read More Here

Census Day 2010 is only 72 days away! Is your nonprofit ready?

Nonprofits Count (January 21, 2010)

Attend a free webinar on the Countdown to the 2010 Census: Mobilization Strategies and Messaging for Nonprofits Thursday, January 21st at 1:00 pm CST

In this webinar Bridgette Rongitsch of the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network will be joined by Terri Ann Lowenthal of the Census Project to discuss the best strategies for reaching clients and constituents with effective messaging about the 2010 Census.  Learn what you can do in February and March to ensure and complete and accurate count of your community...Register Here

Social Media, Text Messaging Bring in Record Donations for Haiti Relief Efforts

Philanthropy News Digest (January 16, 2010)

Social media and text messaging campaigns that make it easier for individuals to donate to a cause have helped international aid organizations raise large amounts of money in record time for Haiti earthquake relief efforts, Bloomberg.com reports...Read More

Healthcare Reform and Nonprofits

The NonProfit Times (January 15, 2010)

It could be a good deal for some and not for others.  Healthcare reform might be a double-edged sword for nonprofits, with some organizations left in the cold while a new explosion of groups to handle aspects of the new laws spring up, creating more competition in the marketplace...Read More

Five Internal Controls for the Very Small Nonprofit

Blue Avocado Newsletter (January 6, 2010)

Segregation of duties, checks & balances...difficult to implement in the organization that has perhaps three or fewer staff, or only a few active board members in an all-volunteer organization.  What are the five most important, most do-able controls for small groups?...Read More

IRS Updates, January 2010

Guidestar Newsletter (January 2010)

The IRS has published tables of the due dates for Form 990 and other returns nonprofits must file, released the check sheet that agents will use in exempt organization examinations, and announced the schedule for its spring workshops for 501(c)3 organizations...Read More

Strategic Alliances

The NonProfit Times (January 2010)

In this current economic environment, you must be asking how you can do more with less. Chances are your financial base is not growing as you desire, yet the needs of the people you serve don't decline in a recession. If anything, these needs may increase. One option you should consider is forming strategic alliances...Read More

2010: An Odyssey of Your Own Making

Nonprofit Risk Management Center (December 23, 2009)

2009 was a rough year for the vast majority of organizations that provide vital social services, deliver inspired cultural programs, conduct research and advocacy to eradicate disease and protect and conserve natural resources and the environment.  While most charitable organizations struggled, an unprecedented number of nonprofits were unable to survive declining public and private support...Read More

Congress Agrees to $50-Million for Social Innovation Fund, cuts Volunteer Fund

The Chronicle of Philanthropy (December 9, 2009)

Congressional negotiators have agreed to allocate $50-million in the 2010 fiscal year for the new Social Innovation Fund, which will provide grants to help promising nonprofit groups expand effective programs-the full amount requested by President Obama...Read More

The IRS view of Nonprofit Governance

Guidestar Newsletter (December 2009)

With recent substantial changes to Form 990, the Internal Revenue Service has taken the position that good governance is of paramount importance to nonprofit organizations...Read More