Home > Charity Chat > Archives > helpful info category
helpful info
November 23, 2010
T-Day recipes by Meals on Wheels
Thanksgiving is pretty predictable: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce. Add a couple of side dishes, some pecan/pumpkin pies and you’re good to go.
But if you’re looking to add something new to your T-Day feast and want to make sure you’ve got some healthy options on the table, check out the holiday recipes on the Meals on Wheels and More blog. The nonprofit’s nutritionists are offering up their recipes for dishes including creamy pumpkin brown rice, pumpkin custard, roasted pumpkin soup and roasted rosemary nuts.
Suddenly, I am very, very hungry.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
May 12, 2010
Board members: Do you know your nonprofit's staff?
Seeds for Change Consulting, an Austin company that works with nonprofits, has a good exercise for board members.
They suggest board members take out a blank piece of paper and write down the names of their nonprofit’s top five donors. Then they should write down the last thing they did to personally connect those donors to the charity (personal email, visit, phone call, etc) and how long ago that happened.
The idea is to get board members thinking about their responsibilities and relationships with major donors. Obviously this can be hugely important to a nonprofit’s financial success.
I’ve got an idea of my own. Maybe board members should sit down and name some of their nonprofit’s employees. I’m not talking about the executive director or senior staffers. I mean front-line people out there getting the job done.
I’ve heard from quite a few nonprofit employees lately and have noticed a recurring theme. Many staffers have never seen their board members. They’ve never met them. They couldn’t tell you their names without looking it up.
No one wants a busybody board that micromanages everything from galas to office supplies. But as we recently learned from the Family Connections mess, nonprofit staffers are directly affected by the actions of their boards of directors. It might be good for them to at least know each other.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
April 17, 2010
Ways to improve nonprofit accountability
In reponse to the ongoing Family Connections debacle, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success has posted a blog entry called “5 Steps to Improve Nonprofit Financial Accountability.”
Greenlights’ Executive Director Matt Kouri — whose agency provides management and training services to charities — wrote in his post that “Greenlights has received many questions about steps nonprofits can take to prevent a similar situation. Before offering tips on that topic, it is important to note that no amount of safeguarding can completely prevent a creative criminal from carrying out financial fraud.
The situation highlights, however, that the Board of Directors of a nonprofit organization is ultimately responsible for ensuring appropriate controls and safeguards are in place that protect the financial health of the agency. Transparent accounting and business processes and internal controls are essential for any nonprofit, regardless of size or mission.”
Among Greenlights’ suggestions:
Establish clear “checks and balances” in bookkeeping and accounting. Conduct an annual external audit each year. Empower the board as fiduciary overseer.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
March 20, 2010
Guidestar: Not the only option
I love Guidestar as much as the next person. Not only does the site provide free 990s for any 501(c)(3) that files a tax form with the IRS, but it’s also got articles, research tools and tons of data. All good stuff.
Some of the information is free, some you have to pay for. For a free subscription, you get, among other things, three years of 990s for nonprofits.
When it comes to 990s, though, I kind of prefer Economic Research Institute . It’s free, you don’t have to register and you get more than three years of 990s. One nonprofit I looked up had at least 10 years of documents. Easy peasy.
If you know of a good resource, feel free to share.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
November 10, 2009
Give wisely to Fort Hood charities
This is an interesting press release from the Better Business Bureau in Austin. It offers some good tips on how to avoid getting scammed, but also places you can give. Definitely worth a read.
Individuals across the country are looking for ways to help support the victims and families affected by last week’s tragedy at Fort Hood. Initially, supporters were encouraged to donate blood to help victims. As options for monetary donations in support of victims and their families become available, it is important to understand exactly where and how your funds will be used.
BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas reminds consumers that while there are many opportunities to provide support, there may be misleading or malicious solicitors seeking to take advantage of national headlines and generous individuals. BBB offers the following tips for give wise giving:
Be cautious of appeals that are long on emotion, but short on describing what the charity will do.
If you contribute, do not give cash. Make a check or money order out to the name of the charitable organization, not to the individual collecting the donation.
Watch out for excessive pressure for on-the-spot donations or requests to send a “runner” to pick up your donation.
Be wary of charities that are reluctant to answer reasonable questions about their operations, finances and programs.
Ask how much of your gift will be used for the activity mentioned in the appeal and how much will go toward other programs and administrative and fundraising costs. BBB’s Charity Resources Web site provides additional information and tips to help donors give wisely.
Officials at Fort Hood have announced the following opportunities for the public to donate to various agencies on the installation honoring the Soldiers and family members affected by the mass shooting on post last week: Fort Hood Chaplain’s Fund
Checks can be mailed to: Chaplain’s Fund Office Bldg 44, 761st Tank Battalion Avenue Fort Hood, TX 76544-5000
Checks should be made payable to “CTOF” (Chapel’s Tithes and Offerings Fund) with a note on the memo line stating “Nov. 5 Tragedy.”
Fort Hood Fisher House
Fisher House Bldg 36015 Fisher Lane Ft Hood Texas 76544 Call (254) 286-7927 or (254)286-7929 for more information.
Local Chapter - American Red Cross
Killeen Red Cross 208 W. Ave. A, Killeen, Texas 76541 Phone (254) 200-4400 or visit their website: www.waco.redcross.org here.
USO Fort Hood
USO Fort Hood Building # 1871, 50th St. Fort Hood, Texas, 76544 Phone: (254) 768-2771 or visit their website at www.uso.org
To check the reliability of a charity or business, visit www.bbb.org.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
November 19, 2008
Are your charity employees happy?
Greenlights for Nonprofits — a nonprofit that helps other charities — knows it’s ugly out there. The bad economy is making everyone miserable and nonprofit employees are no exception.
So how do you keep staffers happy in tough times? Greenlights has a few ideas. Check them out:
1. Treat your nonprofit staff to Tiff’s Treats (or any other goodie to indulge their sweet tooth) for no good reason. Even better, have your kids deliver Halloween treats to them à la Greenlights ED Matt Kouri.
Institute a half-day on Fridays. Encourage staff not to schedule meetings on Fridays and to leave once they have completed their immediate assignments.
Organize a White Elephant re-gift exchange. Have everyone bring the worst gifts they’ve received and let them unload them on their coworkers! Note that this activity should not be limited strictly to the holiday season.
Do an arts & crafts project together. You can even turn this into a team-building exercise. One example of this would be to break into groups and, using only items found in your recycling bin and aids from your supply closet, see which team could build the tallest and most supportive structure.
Have an office competition based around something current going on. For example, in an election year people could guess the number of electoral votes each candidate will get, or during March Madness you could do a basketball bracket (just no gambling, please!). Award prizes, such as chair massages or an afternoon off, to the top finishers.
Ask trivia questions at staff meetings (related to your work or not), and give out small prizes to the first person who answers each correctly. Pick up some little goodies at the Dollar Store or Walgreens (hint: edible treats are always popular).
Once a month, schedule an office lunch out together where everyone goes.
Purchase a subscription to a daily newspaper, such as the Austin-American Statesman or the New York Times (or anything with a crossword puzzle) for staff to read during lunch or on their breaks. This also encourages everyone to stay current on the news, which is never a bad thing.
Put up a corkboard in your breakroom or kitchen where people can put up pictures of their families or announce special occasions (such as weddings or new babies). It’s a good way to show people’s personal lives and commitments are important and valued.
Do like Greenlights does, and have everyone offer Joys & Kudos at the beginning of each staff meeting. You could even go a step further and have a “trophy” (think a spray-painted shoe or old t-ball trophy) that gets passed around and is given by the staff member who last won it.
Implement an Employee of the Month Award, but make sure some concrete value is associated with it. This may differ for each work place - for example, if your organization is in a building with limited parking, award that employee with a good parking spot. If a half-day off work would be highly valued at your nonprofit, make that the reward.
You know how you’ve been meaning to clean up your desk or finally put away those files, but it just keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list? Encourage seasonal fall and spring cleanings. On those days, no one is allowed to schedule meetings or check e-mail; instead, take the day to organize your workspace and files. Oh, and order lunch for everyone to share!
You can also see this information here.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
August 11, 2008
Bye bye, charity gal
Beloved Readers:
I’m on vacation. For two weeks!
I know this hurts you. I’d say it hurts me, but, well, you know. It doesn’t.
But because I care — truly care — about your charity needs, I’ll be checking in during this break to give you the latest and greatest nonprofit news.
Let’s start off with this press release concerning an event with U.S. Rep. John Carter.
WHAT: Congressman Carter reading to a waiting room full of children in support of Reach Out and Read, a program that that trains medical providers to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give free books to children at check-ups from 6 months to 5 years.
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 14th, at 9 a.m.
WHERE: Lone Star Circle of Care’s Round Rock Health Clinic, 2120 North Mays Street, Ste. 430 (in the same parking lot as Fuddruckers)
.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
July 29, 2008
Love Thy Competitor
I know some journalists refuse to promote a “competitor’s” work, but I gotta tell you — I’m really loving this site.
The lovely folks at Good Cause put together a terrific blog detailing nonprofit activities, charity trends, volunteering and so on. The founders are also planning a philanthropy magazine, though the first issue has yet to be published.
More to the point: I don’t see Good Cause as competition. I see it as a great resource for anyone looking for on-the-ground reporting of the local charity scene.
So really, check it out. I think you’ll like what you see.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
July 2, 2008
July 4 pet safety
Independence Day can be rough on pets.
A few years ago, I wrote a story about Sally, a six-month-old German shorthaired pointer who ran away from home while fireworks popped and cracked in her neighborhood. Sally ran into traffic, was hit by a car and died.
Sally’s owners were heartbroken. It was incredibly sad.
Each year, the Austin Humane Society warns holiday revelers to keep their animals safe during the festivities. Here are some of their tips:
Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestion, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestion can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.
Keep your pet indoors, with curtains and windows shut. Turn on the radio or TV to help camouflage the noise of the fireworks. Give your pet a blanket, bed, or crate, to burrow inside for safety. The best situation for your pet is to be at home with you. If your holiday plans take you elsewhere, it is best to leave your pet inside the house.
Do not leave an animal in the back yard, even if it normally stays there and shows no inclination to climb the fence or dig its way out. “If they’re left outside in the yard, some will chew through chain link, or jump a fence that they’ve never even tried to do before.”
Panicked animals have even been known to break through windows, in their desire to bolt to perceived safety. If your pet normally has access to a dog door, make sure it is securely locked.
Be sure your pets have water - if stressed, they will probably want to drink - and be sure they have gone to the bathroom before you leave.
Do not take pets to fireworks shows. There are too many strangers, too many strange things, too much noise, all making it too easy for your pet to panic and bolt; no matter how tight a hold you think you have on its leash.
Do not leave pets in a car. Cracked windows are useless in the cause of letting fresh air in, and a panicked pet could break through a window or severely injure itself trying. If you have an animal that is nervous or predisposed to stress, you might want to consult with your veterinarian about having tranquilizers on hand during the July 4 holiday.
Crate-trained animals should be allowed to be loose in part of the house. Crates offer a great sense of security for many pets, but some animals can get hurt trying to escape their crate.
*Make sure your pets are wearing proper identification. Tags are great and should always be worn, but a microchip is better. While collars can come off, chips, which are embedded beneath the skin, cannot. Shelters and veterinarians carry scanners that will read a chip, along with its identifying information, enabling them to be reunited with their people. Cats should always wear break-away collars with ID tags that will allow them to get free if the collar gets caught on something.
*Should your pet get lost, begin a search immediately. Contact Town Lake Animal Center, and local veterinarian offices. Post flyers with a good, current picture of your pet throughout your neighborhood. Offer a reward if possible - it will get people paying more attention than they normally would. Pet owners should call local veterinarian offices and go to their local animal shelters daily - it is much easier for an owner to identify their own pet, rather than rely on a description.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: helpful info
