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May 2007
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Welcome to our Ventures in Philanthropy E-Newsletter
 
Getting Ready for Fundraising
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE

Is your organization ready to do fundraising? Many organizations take the Ready! Fire! Aim! Approach and do not carefully think through some of the basic steps they need to do before they start a fundraising appeal or campaign. For example:

• Does the organization have a strategic plan?
• Is there a strong, capable board of directors in place?
• Does the organization have the needed infrastructure in place?

You may want to take this quick survey to assess your organization’s commitment to philanthropy.
Philanthropic Assessment
 
  1. Does the organization have a Development Office?
  2. Do experienced professionals staff the Development Office?
  3. Does the development budget include money for professional development (membership in professional organizations, conferences and workshops, books and periodicals, etc. for the development staff?
  4. Has the organization allocated a budget for a donor software system to manage fundraising activities?
  5. Do the organization’s staff members understand the importance of the development function? Do staff members support the development office’s efforts?
  6. Does the organization seek to hire development professionals that are certified (CFRE or ACFRE, FAHP, etc.) or assist current staff in obtaining credentials?
  7. Does the Chief Development Officer attend board meetings?
  8. Is the board committed to development (do they give and get money for the organization)?
  9. Is there a Development Committee on the Board?
  10. Does a development officer staff this committee?
  11. Is there clerical support for the Chief Development Officer?
  12. Does the development staff act and look professional?
  13. Is the Development Office in a prominent location and does it have a professional appearance?
  14. Does the organization support the Donor Bill of Rights?
  15. Is the organization aware of and supportive of the AFP Code of Ethical Standards?
  16. Does the organization understand the importance of donor centered fundraising?
  17. Does the organization understand that it takes time to establish a development program, and that building relationships with donors is the key role of the development office?
  18. Is the organization committed to work with consultants when it is appropriate to do so, and not expect staff to manage major efforts such as a capital campaign?
  19. Is the CEO involved in fundraising?
  20. Are there volunteers involved in fundraising?

Give your organization 5 points for each “Yes” answer!
How to Trim your Unemployment Insurance Costs
In your State, as in all States, a Nonprofit has two options for Unemployment Insurance while a For Profit Corporation only has one. Typically, a Nonprofit and For Profit pay for unemployment claims through State Unemployment Insurance tax (SUI). But unlike their counterparts, Nonprofits have an alternative choice – to become a reimbursing employer. This means that it can pay the state only for claims paid out to former employees.

Because the SUI tax rate method varies, a Nonprofit could end up paying more than if it had used the reimbursement method. Many Nonprofits however don’t realize they are eligible for this method and continue to pay into the State’s Unemployment Tax System.

For example: A Nonprofit that had $20,000 in claims for a given year, but was paying the State $40,000 in SUI, would find itself overpaying by $20,000 a year! By becoming a reimbursing employer, that money that was being wasted in Taxes could be used for other expenses such as fundraising, office supplies, or even hiring more employees. Imagine what your Nonprofit could do with that extra money.
Reimbursement Method
Under the reimbursement method, a Nonprofit reimburses the state unemployment compensation fund for the amount of unemployment compensation benefits actually paid to former employees.

This method works best for agencies that have stable employment and low unemployment claims. Nonprofits with fewer than 8 employees may not be the best candidates for reimbursement status. A Nonprofit with an annual gross payroll of $500,000 or more, however, likely can realize substantial savings.

In the end, the goal of reimbursing is to save money. And isn’t that what we all want?

For more information, or to find out how much your Nonprofit is overpaying into the State’s Unemployment Tax System, please contact Woody Clark with the 501 (c) Agencies Trust (A Nonprofit Trust) at (800) 442-4867 or wclark@501c.com . Or download the questionnaire here and email the completed form to Woody at the email address above.
News From the Road
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE recently presented a workshop, Capital Campaigns, for Junior Achievement Worldwide Development Officers Roundtable in Fort Worth, TX. Linda also presented at the AFP International Conference in Dallas, TX Writer’s Workshop, with Margaret Guellich, CFRE, CFRE Review Course Capital Campaigns, and The Fundraising Feasibility Study—It’s Not About the Money, with Martin Novom, CFRE.

Linda also conducted a book signing at the AFP Conference for her new book, The Development Plan, published by Wiley Press. Be sure to order your copy today. Linda is also a contributing author to another of Wiley’s new books, The Fundraising Feasibility Study—It’s Not About the Money.
 
 
 
 
 
     
You may order both books, as well as Recruiting and Training Fundraising Volunteers, and learn more about all of these books by visiting our website: www.cvfundraising.com/resources/cvbooks.

Speaking of training, CAPITAL VENTURE has developed a Training Catalogue, which is available by email. We offer a wide variety of workshops for groups such as AFP chapters, statewide associations, national organizations, Dioceses, United Ways and Centers for Nonprofits. If you would like to receive a copy of our offerings, please contact cvlinda@cox.net.
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
May 8, 2007
Variety International
The Development Plan
Palm Springs, CA
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE
  
Watch for more information about our upcoming Webinars through Affinity Seminars—Fundraising Volunteers—Worth Their Weight in Gold coming in August 2007 and in January & February 2008, Affinity Seminars will launch a brand new concept in online training/consulting, featuring Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE facilitating a six-session course in Capital Campaigns.
 
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CONTACT U S
CAPITAL VENTURE
Advancing Philanthropy through Consulting and Training for Nonprofits
Offices in Nevada, Pennsylvania & Virginia

Corporate Office:
P O Box 731
Reading, PA 19607
877-540-2896 toll free

 Philadelphia Office:
P.O. Box 2001
Jenkintown, PA 19046-2001
215-938-1140 voice
215-938-1150 fax
Lehigh Valley Office:
1870 Franklin Way
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-1116 voice/fax 		Virginia Office:
P.O. Box 151
New Hope, VA 24469
540-363-0188 voice/fax

Nevada Office:
10245 S. Maryland Pkwy., Ste. 1188
 Las Vegas, NV 89123
866-539-9990 toll free
702-892-0955 voice
702-892-0655 fax

         
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