With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the time for nonprofit agencies to begin planning the most effective ways for securing the needed donations that often help carry agencies far into the new year. In this month's newsletter, we share with you our thoughts on the benefits of national accreditation and how this will set you apart, as well as the importance of and ways to most effectively thank and build long-lasting relationships with your donors.
Here's to helping you Prepare for Greatness as the upcoming season of giving approaches!
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 Does National Accreditation Really Matter?
Does becoming nationally accredited truly make a difference? Those nonprofit organizations that have gone through the process and have experienced the benefits of national accreditation will offer a resounding yes! Becoming nationally accredited provides nonprofits with a unique opportunity to join an elite group of service providers that operate with the highest standards as set by their selected accrediting agency.
The accreditation process takes an agency through a thoughtful, focused process of evaluating organizational performance and identifying trends and opportunities to make long-lasting, positive improvements internally that ultimately make a positive difference for those who receive its services. Focus areas include risk management, emphasis on the health and safety of staff and clients, ethical practices and governance and financial controls, among other key areas.
National accreditation is one sure way to help your nonprofit Prepare for Greatness! Click here to read more.
Training Courses & Conferences
Thank you for joining us at this year's 2014 Alliance National Conference, hosted by the Alliance for Children and Families (now the "Alliance for Strong Families & Communities"), in Pittsburgh, PA. This year's conference was better than ever! The Alliance did an outstanding job of focusing on the specific needs of the attendees and providing an exceptional networking opportunity with key leaders in the Alliance's national network. A special thank you to all who visited our booth, it is always a pleasure to build new relationships with nonprofit agencies that share our passion for improving the lives of those in need across the country. See our pic posted on Facebook.
UPCOMING in November
Jennifer will be speaking at National Philanthropy Day, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), on November 7th in Tarrytown, NY. She will be sharing her expertise on how to "Develop and Maintain an Engaged Nonprofit Board of Directors" - an area that is vital to successfully fulfilling the mission of every nonprofit organization.
For additional information and to register for the event, please visit the AFP Westchester website.
Nonprofit Fundraising Tip of the Month
Appropriately supporting and appreciating the essential nonprofit donor.
Nonprofit organizations put forth much effort, and often invest significant resources, into soliciting and maintaining a steady stream of contributions from committed donors. However, once the donations are received, what many nonprofits often overlook is the necessary practice of appropriately showing appreciation for and valuing the donors themselves. By overlooking this key component, nonprofits are depriving themselves of an important perspective. As public agencies dependent upon external donations, the better we understand and meet the needs of our public stakeholders, the more likely our chances of establishing the long-term donor relationships that are paramount to the successes of our organizations.
When a donor decides to contribute to your organization and its mission, it is often because he or she feels that the services you provide are helping to fill an essential gap in the community or perhaps there is a more personal connection to the services you provide. Whatever the reason, the donor specifically chose to support your agency. Therefore, donors want to feel a personal connection with the clients that were and continue to be aided by your organization.
First, it is important to take a close look at how your agency currently thanks its donors for their contributions and how it goes about fostering donor relationships to keep them dedicated to your organization's mission for the long-term. Staggering statistics from the 2012 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey have reported that for every $100 of new funds raised, $100 was lost due to downgraded or lapsed gifts. Further, for every new 100 donors secured, nonprofits lost 107 donors through attrition. Appropriate and thoughtful action is required on behalf of the nonprofit agency to stay way ahead of this astounding trend.
Click here for the remainder of this article...
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Thank you for a wonderful 5 years!!
Jennifer Flowers, President
Accreditation Guru, Inc.
212.945.8504
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