Posts Tagged ‘Soup Kitchens’

An incorrect but sometimes common stereotype of the non-profit sector is a poorly-funded or maybe even ramshackle group of operations. Yes, you’ll still find those traditional “soup kitchens” out there to this day, supported by local churches or an occasional donation drive, but there is a lot more to this sector than that. Charities can be regional or nationwide, which means they need to market and promote themselves like any other big organization does. Bring on the promotional products!

Take a closer look at large charitable organizations like the Red Cross and you’ll see something that represents a well-oiled machine like any for-profit business. Does this mean that they need to approach promotional products the same way any for-profit business would? Sometimes. Context is always important in marketing; one route doesn’t meet the needs for everyone equally, and this applies to a non-profit organization as much as it would for anything else.

Potentially the difference would be the availability of funds to spend on marketing efforts. A business has things like profit (of course) that can be converted into money to spend on the more ethereal things like marketing and branding. Budgets at non-profits can end up very limited, especially because the reputation of a non-profit can be a huge factor in its success. Some non-profits see it as a priority to keep the amount of money they spend towards “administrative costs” as low as possible. Critical to their reputation, even. In the case of a charity, how likely are you to give if they seem to spend half of their donations on themselves?

That said, the similarities to a normal for-profit business do mean following some of the usual guidelines. If a non-profit is going to be at a trade show and intends to give away corporate gifts to drum up some awareness they’re going to want to keep the giveaways small. No one is going to want to carry them around all day if they’ve been given cumbersome promotional products. Avoid the temptation to just toss money into purchasing any little trinket you can find, either. Giving out an easy to carry but completely useless promotional item is just going to be a waste of money. Money that may more difficult to come by in a non-profit environment!

It can be really important to avoid letting budgetary concerns scare a non-profit from being creative. In fact, less room to maneuver might mean letting those creative juices flow and use promotional items that aren’t entirely obvious or common! Charities can attract a younger and creative group of employees or volunteers, so it is important to tap into that resource. Take advantage of the fact that many people don’t look at non-profits as a business, which can mean more freedom. Picking a promotional item that might not be entirely professional could be a bigger benefit to a brand than a hindrance!

If you are in the promotional products industry, it is important to not write off the non-profit sector as a source of potential clients. They’re out there and they need your help! If you are a non-profit, the promotional items out there could be a critical contribution to getting some awareness out there and some contributions rolling in.

Chris Ellis has been around imprinted promotional items for many years now, and has guided countless successful marketing campaigns. This marketing and author is here to guide you through the many pitfalls of promotional products.

Author: Chris Ellis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There’s no question about it: we are seeing the most challenging economic times since the Great Depression. Every day, we read about lost jobs at this company or that, but when was the last time you heard about lost jobs and closing doors at a non-profit organization?

Well, it’s true; it’s actually happening. The non-profit sector is struggling in a big way. The timing could not be worse: we rely on so many non-profits to provide their services – from soup kitchens to health care – and the prospect of scaling back (or closing their doors) is happening when they are more desperately needed than ever in communities, both large and small, all over the country. As a point of reference, we must remember that an organization receives its IRS non-profit status only after proving its charitable benefit to the constituency it serves.

If we review the series of key events over the past months, several specific issues have combined to form that so-called ‘perfect storm’ – we have just completed the most expensive presidential campaign in the history of our country (and, before Obama could deliver his acceptance speech on election night in Chicago, many people were already very seriously concerned about the economy), state budgets have been squeezed, many of the failing private-sector organizations (even Freddie and Fannie) were large contributors to the non-profit sector, and individual donors have seen their savings drop more than any other time in their lifetime.

Let’s face it; the magnitude of the current financial situation – and its effects on the non-profit sector – is huge.

But, the purpose of this article is to provide some positive steps to help proactive non-profits achieve success (survival?) even during difficult times. True, just as in the for-profit sector, not all non-profits will survive. We cannot change that fact in a capitalistic society. However, we can encourage non-profits to exude excellence and compete successfully among their peers for precious funding dollars.

I received an email on March 26, 2009 from a group, whose information I try to follow, known as “IT Solution Journal.” The subject line read as follows: “Compliance Rules: Tools, Policies and Best Practices That Are Cost Effective”

Wow! That’s the subject near and dear to my heart: non-profit compliance in the areas of ethics, governance, and accountability. As I have stated in previous articles, I believe that pro-active compliance is a sure way for a non-profit, charitable organization to signal its commitment to excellence.

So, in part, here is what that email had to say:

“Organizations of all types and sizes, industries and professions have long been mindful of the need for legal and regulatory compliance. In the current economic environment, however, forward-thinking organizations now are shifting their focus somewhat. Mere adherence to laws and regulations is no longer enough. Thanks to tight economic conditions and a fiercely competitive business environment, proactive managers and executives are committed to implementing strategic email and Hosted Service management…”

The good news: My experience has been that non-profit organizations have been extremely resilient over the years. And, my belief is that non-profit organizations are better-suited to address a number of our most pressing problems than either the government-sector or the private-sector organizations.

And, the bad news: I am concerned that most non-profits have not been as diligent as they should with their regulatory compliance. To date, the critical document for a non-profit, charitable organization has been the IRS Form 990, filed annually. It is my opinion that this will begin to change more and more (as I have mentioned in previous articles regarding the focus that Congress has placed on non-profit compliance and the increased scrutiny it has mandated to the IRS.

Foundations are watching their endowments drop, thereby making the case for less grant funding and their boards struggle with eroding investment portfolios. The same is true with individual donors. So, how does a struggling non-profit gain an edge?

I have five suggestions:

1. Don’t panic. Now is the time for calm, cool, collected thinking.

2. Make necessary changes. If there are board members or staff members who are not serving the organization adequately, replace them. Now is the time to rally your best and brightest minds and your most ardent supporters.

3. Review your IRS compliance requirements. Make sure you have your policies in place – and, make sure you are following them. Ethics, governance, and accountability measures will speak volumes.

4. If you are fortunate to have an endowment, use it. Avoid watching the stock market numbers every day. Keep your mind focused on the future.

5. Talk to your donor base, membership base, and continue to seek grant funds. This time, however, do it from a position of excellence. Don’t be reluctant to tout the professionalism of your organization over your peers.

In conclusion, this is a time of tremendous challenge; however, it is also a time of exciting opportunities. It’s time for non-profits to compete like never before (not in petty terms) but in all things that exude excellence, confidence, and strong business acumen.

Rob Glenn is the founder and president of The Center for Ethics, Governance, and Accountability (CEGA). His organization seeks to provide non-profit organizations with compliance policies that will provide a competitive edge for grant writing, donations, and charitable support. More information about CEGA can be found at http://www.centerega.com

Author: Rob Glenn
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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