Monday, May 16, 2016

The AFP Resource Center receives many queries about consulting. Some relate to how and why to hire a consultant; others relate to how to become a consultant. In this Hot Topic paper we will address both. Much of the material herein is from AFP’s Information Exchange paper "Thinking About Becoming a Consultant?" by Linda Lysakowski and AFP’s Ready Reference guide "So You Want to Be a Consultant."

Nonprofit Communication Plans

Here is some material we’ve seen on Communication strategies and plans. I hope you find them useful as a starting point.
Nonprofit Communication Plan template
https://upleaf.com/nonprofit-resources/strategy-design/communication-plan-template
Developing a communications strategy — Knowhow Nonprofit
https://knowhownonprofit.org/campaigns/communications/effective-communications-1/communications-strategy
Communications toolkit
http://www.coloradononprofits.org/wp-content/uploads/communications-toolkit_pt.-1.pdf
How new donor communication plans can improve donor retention
https://bloomerang.co/blog/how-new-donor-communication-plans-can-improve-donor-retention/
Kickstart Yourself with a Communications Grid
http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2014/03/26/kick-start-yourself-with-a-communications-grid/
Getting started with Communications Planning

http://www.wildapricot.com/articles/communication-planning

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Donor Advised Funds

Definition from the AFP Fundraising Dictionary http://www.afpnet.org/ResourceCenter/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3380 This link requires AFP membership to access. Cut and paste of the definition is below.

donor-advised fund,

a fund in which the donor exercises the privilege of making

nonbinding recommendations to the governing body as to which public charity or

charities should receive grant money from this fund. See other

fund phrases at FUND.

From the IRA

http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Donor-Advised-Funds

https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/New-Requirements-for-Donor-Advised-Funds

http://www.nptrust.org/donor-advised-funds/faq/

http://www.nptrust.org/daf-report/index.html

A variety of material via our blogs

http://afprc7.blogspot.com/search/label/NPDonorAdvisedFunds

Here is some material on Donor Advised Funds from Grantspace.org ( A service of the Foundation Center)

http://grantspace.org/Tools/Knowledge-Base/Funding-Resources/General/Donor-advised-funds

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http://www.ecfa.org/Content/TopicDAFUsedToPayPledge

http://www.gcfdn.org/StartGiving/ChoosingaCharitableFund/DonorAdvisedFundFAQs/tabid/250/Default.aspx

I want to fulfill a pledge/commitment to a specific charity through my fund. Can I do that?

No. By law, GCF may not issue grant checks to fulfill a pledge or commitment. (See above “What are the restrictions on grantmaking?”) If a donor were permitted to use an advised fund to fulfill a legal obligation or pledge, it would be clear that the donor never truly ceded control of his or her gift to GCF. For this reason, GCF cannot satisfy a donor’s pledge or obligation, even if the commitment is to a qualified public charity. If GCF is made aware that your grant suggestion relates to a pledge or commitment, the Board must deny your request.

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http://www.cfburkecounty.org/faqs.html#q02

Can I fulfill my pledges with a donor-advised fund?

Many times donor advisors include "pledge" language in their recommendations to CFBC for their donor advised funds. In accordance with the Treasury Department regulations, grants awarded from CFBC funds may not be used to fulfill personal pledges or a financial obligation of a donor.

CFBC cannot pay pledges that were pre-existing personal commitments. We suggest that instead of completing a pledge card indicating a legally binding commitment, you communicate with the charity your intent to recommend a grant from your fund at CFBC. This is not a legally binding commitment. We will not honor recommendations that reference a pledge or copies of invoices.

We recommend for both your convenience and the convenience of a charity who will receive funds through a donor advised fund, that you include special instructions such as "capital campaign" or "general support" when you make your recommendation. Space is provided for these instructions on the donor recommendation form