Resources

Guiding Principle 1 - Governance

• 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 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.
• Think Integrating Clients Onto Your Board is Impossible? Think Again!
  The idea of including current or former clients on the Board of Directors might seem like an out-of-reach gold standard, but join our webinar on April 17th to hear how an organization did just that.
• 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 for a nonprofit? If not, a graceful resignation and reassignment may be good for you and the organization.

Guiding Principle 2 - Strategic Direction and Partnerships

• 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.
• Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
  The mission, vision, and values statements for an organization are far more than slogans on a wall – they should be sincerely held beliefs that guide the organization’s path.
• Partnerships and Collaboration
  Partnerships and collaboration are strategic alliances between nonprofits that are intended to achieve greater impact than any organization could generate on its own.
• 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.
• Values in Your Organization and What They Have to Do with Raising Money: Part 1
  Shared values are the most critical element for building your organization as a community.
• Values in Your Organization and What They Have to Do with Raising Money: Part 2
  Effective organizations possess clearly articulated values and behave in accordance with these values.

Guiding Principle 3 - Leadership & Organizational Culture

• 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.
• Recruiting and Retaining Exceptional Talent for Nonprofit Organizations
  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, Inclusion, and Equity Matter 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.

Guiding Principle 4 - Advocacy

• Creating Positive Change Through Board Advocacy
  In times of change, board members must advocate.
• Everyday Advocacy
  Every single day nonprofits engage in advocacy that advances their missions.
• How to Take a Public Policy Stand
  Sample criteria for an organization looking to take an official stand on a public policy issue.
• Knowledge Base: Can Nonprofits Engage in Advocacy or Lobbying Efforts?
  A list of resources explaining lobbying, advocacy, and the rules for nonprofits.
• Lobbying - Know the Rules
  The prohibition against political campaign activity (defined as “supporting or opposing a candidate for public office”) is SEPARATE from lobbying or legislative activities, which charitable nonprofits ARE permitted to engage in, however knowing the rules is important.
• 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.
• Nonprofit Advocacy Rules & Regulations
  Learn how nonprofits can use advocacy to their advantage.
• Why Should Your Nonprofit Advocate?
  Learn how advocacy can help your nonprofit meet its mission.

Guiding Principle 4 cont. - Communications

• 5 Tips for Maximizing Your Nonprofit on LinkedIn
  How to use LinkedIn to promote your nonprofit.
• Communications Consortium Media Center
  Helping nonprofit organizations use media and new technologies for public education and policy change.
• How Nonprofits Use Social Media to Engage with Communities
  Nonprofits overwhelmingly reported that their most important communication tools were email and their websites, even though 97% of nonprofits are on Facebook.
• How to Use Hashtags
  Suggestions for using hashtags to promote your cause.
• iStock Photos
  Stock images.
• Mail Chimp
  E-Newsletter guide.
• NP Tech for Good
  Social media, mobile, and web resources.
• Planning a Communications Strategy
  This in-depth worksheet will take you through the process of developing an effective strategic communications plan.

Guiding Principle 5 - Legal Accountability and Transparency

• 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.
• Guiding Principles & Best Practices for South Carolina Nonprofits: 4TH EDITION, Issued by Together SC
  We hope you find this document an effective tool for facilitating healthy dialogue, encouraging continuous learning and promoting informed decision-making.
• 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.
• Learn How Charity Navigator Rates Charities' Accountability and Transparency
  Accountability is an obligation or willingness by a charity to explain its actions to its stakeholders, while transparency is an obligation or willingness by a charity to publish and make available critical data about the organization.
• 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.

Guiding Principle 6 - Financial Management and Stewardship

• #OwnYourOwnCosts
  Understanding a nonprofit’s costs is necessary in order for charitable nonprofits to be financially sustainable.
• (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.

Guiding Principle 7 - Fundraising

• Association of Fundraising Professionals
  The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.
• 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

Guiding Principle 8 - Operations and Planning

• 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.

Guiding Principle 9 - Evaluation

• Evaluating Advocacy
  Being aware of incremental progress is key to measuring progress in the advocacy arena.
• Collective Impact
  “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.