Guiding Resources
Recommended Links
Below you will find links to third-party resources grouped according to the nine principles within Together SC's Guiding Principles & Best Practices:
Download Guiding Principles Workbook
If you have a favorite resource that's not included in the list, please let us know.
- Candid
Financial information on nonprofit organizations - IRS Public Charities Page
Information for nonprofits from the Internal Revenue Service - Life Cycle of a Nonprofit
Describes the various stages of development of a nonprofit - National Council of Nonprofits
General guidance and sample documents for nonprofit management - SC Nonprofit Corporation Act
SC law that governs nonprofits - SC Secretary of State's Office
All SC public charities are required to file annually with the Secretary of State
Everyday Advocacy - National Council of Nonprofits
Can We Also Lobby? - Bolder Advocacy & Alliance for Justice
A Guide for Nonprofit Advocacy & Lobbying - Bolder Advocacy & Alliance for Justice
What is lobbying? - SC Ethics Commission
What is lobbying? Part Two - SC Ethics Commission
Find out who's lobbying! - SC Ethics Commission
The Board's Role in Advocacy - Stand For Your Mission
Measuring Lobbying: Substantial Part Test
The IRS considers many factors when determining whether an organization’s attempts to influence legislation, i.e., lobbying, constitute a substantial part of its overall activities.
Communications Strategy
Communications Network Strategic communications, messaging, storytelling, research, and learning resources for nonprofit communicators.
Communications Strategy Planning Guide Learn how to develop a communications plan with clear goals, audiences, key messages, tactics, and evaluation.
Branding & Storytelling
The Role of Brand in the Nonprofit Sector (Stanford Social Innovation Review) Explore the Nonprofit Brand IDEA Framework and learn how to build an authentic, mission-driven nonprofit brand.
Digital.gov Plain Language Guide Practical guidance for writing clear, concise, and accessible communications.
Candid Learning Free learning resources on nonprofit storytelling, communications, fundraising, and marketing.
Email Marketing
Mailchimp Learning Center Best practices for email marketing, newsletters, audience engagement, and automation.
Social Media & Digital Marketing
Nonprofit Tech for Good Articles, webinars, and guides covering nonprofit social media, digital marketing, websites, fundraising, AI, and technology.
LinkedIn for Nonprofits Resources for using LinkedIn to recruit volunteers, engage supporters, build thought leadership, and grow your nonprofit’s network.
Graphic Design & Visual Content
Canva for Nonprofits Free design platform and nonprofit program for creating graphics, presentations, reports, and marketing materials.
Unsplash Free, high-quality stock photography.
Pexels Free stock photos and videos for nonprofit communications.
iStock Professional stock photography, illustrations, and video.
Accessibility
WebAIM Best practices for creating accessible websites, PDFs, emails, and digital communications.
Analytics & Measurement
Google Analytics Academy Learn how to measure website traffic, understand audience behavior, and improve digital communications through Google’s analytics training resources.
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI Academy Learn practical ways to use AI for brainstorming, drafting, editing, content planning, and productivity while maintaining your organization’s authentic voice.
Google Tools for Nonprofits
Google for Nonprofits Access Google Ad Grants, Workspace, YouTube, Analytics, and other tools designed to help nonprofits expand their impact.
- Evaluating Advocacy
Being aware of incremental progress is key to measuring progress in the advocacy arena. - The Power of Association
“Collective Impact” describes an intentional way of working together and sharing information for the purpose of solving a complex problem. - Community of Practice
Could structuring peer-to-peer learning as a community of practice be useful for advancing learning in nonprofits? - Evaluation and Measurement of Outcomes
Nonprofits, grantmakers, and government partners, are focusing on outcomes vs. "outputs." - Organizational Self-Assessments
Self-assessments are often the first step in an organization’s journey towards effective outcomes. - Self-Assessments for Nonprofit Boards
Tips and examples for assessing board efficacy - Why Evaluation is Important for Your Nonprofit
Done well, a simple, yet relevant, evaluation practice can significantly improve a program's effectiveness.
- (Mis)Understanding Overhead
How to enlighten donors and grantmakers on administrative costs and their necessity in keeping charitable nonprofits financially sustainable. - Executive Director's Guide to Financial Leadership
Guiding your organization to financial stability. - Financial Management
Boards of directors have a fiduciary duty to ensure that the assets of a charitable nonprofit are used in accordance with donors’ intent, and in support of the charitable mission. - IRS Tax Basics for Exempt Organizations
A virtual workshop from the Internal Revenue Service. - Nonprofit Accounting Basics
General nonprofit financial information. - Nonprofit Finance Fund
Technical assistance and loans for nonprofit organizations undertaking capital projects and facility improvements. - Sarbanes-Oxley for Nonprofits
Article explaining the ramifications of Sarbanes-Oxley on public charities. - Template for Nonprofit Financial Procedure Manual
A template for creating a financial procedure manual. - What To Look For When Reviewing the IRS Form 990 Before Filing
A guide for your entire board of directors to reference as they review your organization’s draft IRS Form 990.
- Demographics For Fundraising
Together SC is a demographics partner with Candid. Claim and update your demographic data with Candid to help funders access your info all in one place. - Ethical Fundraising
Beyond what the law requires, nonprofits can demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices by being entirely transparent with financial information and fundraising practices. - Fundraising FAQs
National Council of Nonprofits Fundraising FAQs. - Giving USA
Publication with data and trends about charitable giving. - How to Create a Strategic Fundraising Plan That You’ll Actually Stick To
Fundraising without a strategy is like playing a soccer game with a sprained ankle, you’re at a major disadvantage. - Running a Sponsorship Campaign
A highly successful sponsorship campaign requires leadership and coordination of a network of people. - The Chronicle of Philanthropy
The charity sector's leading publication. - The Foundation Center
A source for information on private philanthropy in the United States. - Donor management software reviews by CapTerra
- Sample Bequest Language - Alan Cantor Consulting
- Board Roles and Responsibilities
Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission. - Boards and Governance
The board is legally responsible for the operation of the nonprofit organization for which it serves. In fact, individual members can even be held personally liable for improper conduct if they breach their duties. - Code of Ethics for Nonprofits
It's useful to adopt a set of principles to guide a nonprofit organization’s decision-making and activities, as well as the behavior of its employees, volunteers, and board members. - Diversity on Nonprofit Boards
Having a board with diverse perspectives is critically important. Each person will bring his or her own personal and professional contacts and life experiences to their service on a nonprofit board. - Effective Board Meetings: Ten Tips
The best meetings leave you focused and energized: the goal of the meeting is clear; our team is motivated; and the process is smooth. - Good Governance for Nonprofits
Five Basic Good Governance Practices. - Nonprofit Corporate Governance: The Board’s Role
Exploration of how substituting a charitable purpose for shareholders’ interests affects the board’s role. - Policy Governance in a Nutshell
Summary article on "Carver Governance" by John Carver. - Succession Planning for Nonprofits - Managing Leadership Transitions
Nonprofits that are serious about their own sustainability will also be serious about planning for smooth and thoughtful transitions of leadership. - The Roles and Responsibilities of the Board Chair and Executive Director
Yes, the board does have the ability to hire and fire the CEO or Executive Director. But the best run nonprofits run like a twin-engine jet with the ED and board chair acting as co-pilots. Leadership is shared. - Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, 3rd edition
- 12 Reasons Why You Should Gracefully Resign from a Nonprofit Board
Are you a valuable and valued board member of a nonprofit? If not, a graceful resignation and reassignment may be good for you and the organization.
- How To Hire A Great Executive Director
Here’s what you need to do to find your next great Executive Director. - Executive Compensation
A guide for the board of directors when hiring and establishing the compensation of the executive director/CEO. - Evaluating Your Executive Director
Ten things every board member needs to know about evaluating their ED. - How to Volunteer as a Senior
Millions of elderly people—those 65 and older—volunteer every year, but given this population is higher than 48 million (and projected to reach 80 million by 2050), there is plenty of room for growth. - Making Founder Successions Work
Conventional wisdom suggests that a ‘clean break’ is the best way to transition a founder. But many nonprofits actually benefit when they carefully plan an extended role for founders who step down. - Managing Nonprofit Employees
General guidance for employee management. - Nonprofit Hiring Toolkit
The Nonprofit Hiring Toolkit explores important steps to the hiring process that, when done well and thoroughly, will help you find and hire the best talent for your open positions. - A Better Way to Develop and Retain Top Talent
Nonprofit organizations are most successful when they employ talented and dedicated individuals. - Succession Planning for Nonprofits - Managing Leadership Transitions
Nonprofits that are serious about their own sustainability will also be serious about planning for smooth and thoughtful transitions of leadership - as well as making sure their nonprofit is prepared for unexpected departures. - Tips to Motivate Your Volunteers and Keep Them Coming Back
Volunteers are valuable in themselves, and keep in mind that a committed volunteer could mean a committed donor, so keep them coming back. - Valuing Volunteer Time
Guide for determining the value of volunteer time. - Why Defining Your Nonprofit’s Culture Will Be the Most Important Thing You Do This Year
Company culture isn’t just for startups or corporations, it’s a vital and deep-seated part of each nonprofit’s DNA. - Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matters for Nonprofits
Identify how to build the core values of diversity, inclusion, and equity into all of your nonprofit’s operations. - Breaking Down Your Nonprofit's Obligation to Pay Overtime
The federal rules on overtime pay have been in flux since 2015, and new regulations could be proposed in 2018.
-
- Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Cod
- South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act
- Conflict of Interest Policy
A sample from the National Council of Nonprofits. - Document Retention and Destruction Policies
Guidelines from the National Council of Nonprofits. - Ethics and Accountability for Nonprofits
It is of utmost importance that charitable nonprofits continuously earn the public’s trust through their commitment to ethical principles. - Financial Transparency
As tax-exempt “public charities," charitable nonprofits embrace the values of accountability and transparency as a matter of ethical leadership and legal compliance. - SC's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
SC Press Association's FAQ shares everything from how to file a FOIA request to how to respond to a request and everything in between.
- Gift Acceptance Policies
Samples from the National Council of Nonprofits. - Heavy Lifting: Ongoing Reporting and Compliance
Even after you have received your determination letter from the IRS, many states and local governments will require you to complete additional filings to receive recognition as tax-exempt from those institutions. - Nonprofit Annual Reports
Annual reports can be used to highlight a nonprofit’s mission and impact, thank volunteers and supporters, and make a case for donating to the organization. - Whistleblower Protection Policies
A sample from the National Council of Nonprofits.
- What is Overhead?
What is Overhead?...and why does it matter? This set of FAQs provides a brief introduction to the topic and the controversy. - Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals
How to create: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely goals. - Dashboards for Nonprofits
Guidance on developing and using dashboards for program evaluation. - Global NGO Online Technology Report
Report on how NGO's are using technology for communication and fundraising. - Idealware - Helping Nonprofits Make Smart Software Choices
Impartial and accessible resources to help nonprofits make smart technology decisions. - Nonprofit Job Description Toolkit
This toolkit features a wide range of sample job descriptions for senior nonprofit leadership roles, including CEO/executive director, COO, CFO, board member and more. - Nten - Nonprofit Technology Network
Help for nonprofits in the use of technology. - Project Management for Nonprofits
Guidance for managing projects. - Techsoup - Donated Software
Product comparison, training and donation of hardware/software for small administrative fee. - Using Logic Models
Guidelines for developing program logic models.
- 10 Keys for Successful Strategic Planning
General guidelines for planning mission and direction. - 30 Example Vision Statements
Wisdom on creating effective vision statements. - 50 Example Mission Statements
Examples of creative and effective mission statements. - Strategic Planning for Nonprofits
A strategic planning process identifies strategies so that a nonprofit will achieve its mission. - Strengthen Your Nonprofit with a Strategic Partnership
Strategic nonprofit partnerships can offer a slew of attractive benefits.