Footnotes

All of us with small/non-existent staffs are in se...

2011-06-20T08:05:53.156-05:00

All of us with small/non-existent staffs are in search of those time-saving mechanisms that don't work til we work 'em. But then they do. So we have to. But when do we sleep?

Thanks Gabi for giving the report such a thorough ...

2011-06-17T15:59:06.252-05:00

Thanks Gabi for giving the report such a thorough examination. You did exactly what we hoped would happen: People would take a look at the findings, ask questions, and then hopefully get a conversation going.

The findings, of course, are interesting. But what do they mean to people who practice communications in foundations? What additional questions do they raise? What opportunities to do things differently do they suggest? And what, even like you ask, requires additional study?

We started the ball rolling. You picked it up and kicked it further down the road.

Who's next?

Great blog carnival round-up! I particularly enjoy...

2011-02-01T09:11:42.906-06:00

Great blog carnival round-up! I particularly enjoyed the post from the Edmonton Social Planning Council. It is so true that we “take for granted the information that we work with every day,” and great to see the ways in which organizations are exploring new ways for sharing information.
Lori Halley, Wild Apricot Blog

Thanks for sharing Liz - especially on the process...

2011-01-31T11:02:16.445-06:00

Thanks for sharing Liz - especially on the process of the 1023 application. This is a perfect example of a topic that has plenty written about it but there is just something different about getting to see someone else go through it. Maybe this speaks to the difference between openness during the process versus reporting on it once its over.

Thanks for curating such a great list! One organi...

2011-01-28T12:27:55.440-06:00

Thanks for curating such a great list!

One organization I work with (as a board member) holds transparency as one of its core values. To that end, Mach 30 does as much of its work as possible in the forums of the website and posts board meeting minutes to the site in (close to) real time.

We are also documenting our experience of the 1023 application process for the benefit of our supporters as well as other people considering starting a nonprofit org. of their own.

http://mach30.org/pub/about-us/public-records/tax-exempt-status-documentation-and-process

Thanks for curating such a great list! One organi...

2011-01-28T12:16:32.097-06:00

Is this the type of example you're looking for...

2011-01-24T11:30:53.278-06:00

Is this the type of example you're looking for?

I started leading a volunteer based tutor/mentor program in 1975 while holding a corporate job. I knew little so reached out to others to create a learning network of local leaders. We learned from each other and begin to build events where we all benefited.

I formalized this in 1993 into the Tutor/Mentor Connection where we host a database of Chicago tutoring/mentoring programs, with links to their web sites. http://tinyurl.com/ChiTM-Program-Links

There are more than 200 links in this list. If someone were to look at each web site to see how well they share what they do, how they do it, etc. or to see how they are working with peers, we'd probably see some great examples and many not-so-great.

However, if you visit http://www.cabriniconnections.net and browse the site you can see that anyone in the world could build their own program borrowing from info on our site.

And, if you visit http://www.tutormentorexchang.net you could borrow our ideas for building collective actions that would help every tutor/mentor program in the Chicago region get the resources each needs continually to grow.

This shares experiences I've learned over 35 years of leading a tutor/mentor program and points to all of the organizations I keep learning from every day.

I wish I could say donors were rewarding this type of information sharing with on-going funding, but that is not yet the case.

Anyone interested in being part of this information sharing network can follow our blogs, subscribe to our newsletter or join us in online forums.

I love how you ALSO did a bolding of the top idea ...

2010-08-06T01:12:40.277-05:00

I love how you ALSO did a bolding of the top idea and top text in each paragraph! This really makes a reader want to go on, suddenly it doesn't seem like TLDR! Well done living the principles that you espouse!

When I was in Lit Critter land back in college, I remember very clearly the day I realized that my teacher wanted me to put more jargon than clear writing into my essays. It struck me as ridiculous that this was what the transfer of knowledge was reduced to, to make people look smarter by the hedge of language they erected around them.

Since that time, I've come back to my senses, and used big words when necessary, but not to keep people out of a place where they want to go.

Sincerely,

Mazarine
http://wildwomanfundraising.com

Thanks for your comment PJ. As much as I agree th...

2010-02-15T10:45:07.650-06:00

Thanks for your comment PJ.

As much as I agree that nonprofits need to be internet savvy and only benefit from learning skills like search engine optimization, I would still argue that disparities in organizational capacity speak to the fact that the playing field is not level. Many nonprofits already have staff wearing so many hats and are stretching resources so thin that SEO is very very low on their list of to-do's.

I am suggesting that we at least recognize that when we talk about whether search results are neutral.

Finally, as long as link popularity is a determinant in whether your web site shows up in search results, even those small organizations (or niche issue organizations) who have tech savvy staff still can't compete with the brand recognition or broad appeal of larger organizations.

Sure, those are some of the realities of how marketing (on or offline) works, but I just think as consumers of information we should be more aware of how and why the information we get is included or excluded from search results and not assume that what we see represents everything that is out there.

The only solution for non-profits is to be as '...

2010-02-12T04:32:39.616-06:00

The only solution for non-profits is to be as 'search savvy' as possible. There are loads of free resources on search engines, optimization of webpages, web marketing etc...

The price that has to be paid for the opportunity to reach a vast audience is that one has to learn how to reach that audience, and keep up with new trends in that regard.

That said, I think its a price well worth giving for the opportunities it presents to non-profits, particularly those who may otherwise be lesser known.

Just as in the for profit field, the internet has levelled the playing field. Its not about how much advertising or marketing dollars you have, its about finding the best ways to get your message out there.

( http://non-profitplace.com )

Thanks Joanne! We're happy to host the Carniva...

2010-01-28T15:08:19.595-06:00

Thanks Joanne! We're happy to host the Carnival anytime!

Nice roundup, Luise! Some good resources on a popu...

2010-01-28T14:46:16.249-06:00

Nice roundup, Luise! Some good resources on a popular topic.

I love this! So sorry I didn't find you earlie...

2010-01-11T10:28:43.220-06:00

I love this! So sorry I didn't find you earlier. However, I strongly disagree with one sentence: "I know it's sort of silly but I kind of think it's worth thinking about and playing around with." I don't think the idea of a nonprofit Onion is silly at all. I think it's crucial for making it in this new world. Will work on titles. Let me know how I can help. I have 30 years experience as a NP CEO and have an abundance of funny stuff to draw from.
Judy Nelson, JD, MSW, Certified Professional Coach

Thank you! This is super.

2009-12-11T16:41:23.174-06:00

Thank you! This is super.

Many institutions limit access to their online inf...

2009-11-17T02:16:40.613-06:00

Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.
Research Papers Writing

Nonprofit Makes Profit, IRS and Senator Grassley t...

2009-10-29T16:26:19.059-05:00

Nonprofit Makes Profit, IRS and Senator Grassley to Investigate

If you're on Twitter please tweet headlines and use hashtag #NPFunnyBiz

Here's an article from The Onion that pokes fu...

2009-10-29T15:56:19.031-05:00

Here's an article from The Onion that pokes fun at the philanthropic sector.

I'm Starting This Foundation So Inner-City Youths Will Have The Pole-Vaulting Opportunities I Never Had

http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/im_starting_this_foundation_so

I agree - I think we really can take ourselves too...

2009-10-29T15:04:17.250-05:00

I agree - I think we really can take ourselves too seriously but maybe some would be too sensitive to accept the satire.

My headline: "Nonprofit committee reviews organizational efficiency, report tied up in process."

I stand corrected - the Chronicle DOES run a regul...

2009-10-29T14:58:24.356-05:00

I stand corrected - the Chronicle DOES run a regular cartoon after all - http://philanthropy.com/cartoons/cartoons.htm Can we convince them to do a limited release gag issue? :)

And from @WorkingLori if librarians can do it, so ...

2009-10-29T14:52:06.899-05:00

And from @WorkingLori if librarians can do it, so can (other) nonprofits! check out the video and song here: http://giv.to/oGBi

Arts Nonprofit exhibits better taste than everyone...

2009-10-29T14:35:37.363-05:00

Arts Nonprofit exhibits better taste than everyone else, again.

Here's one based on something actually spoken ...

2009-10-29T14:23:38.708-05:00

Here's one based on something actually spoken in my office:

"Idealist pleads with IRS: 'How could something that feels so right be so wrong.'"

"How to start widespread panic? Yell, "M...

2009-10-29T13:48:28.370-05:00

"How to start widespread panic? Yell, "Merger!" in a room filled with nonprofit leaders!

Thanks Rachel! :) Here is one from @philaction ...

2009-10-29T12:59:28.544-05:00

Thanks Rachel! :)

Here is one from @philaction

"Foundation President drops kids allowance, blames "inadequate theory of change and proof of impact."

My Onion-Style Headline: "US Govt files for 5...

2009-10-29T12:16:24.836-05:00

My Onion-Style Headline: "US Govt files for 501(c)(3) status; hopes that if paying taxes is tax-deductible, this will increase revenues"