New IRS final rules guide not-for-profits toward compliance with the 1994 donation-receipt law. Donors must obtain receipts for all donations over $250 if they want to deduct the gift from their taxes. Not-for-profits need to give receipts to donors who give more than $75 and receive goods or services worth $6.60 or more.
The IRS rules were published in the December 16 issue of the Federal Register, pages 65,946 to 65,955. The rules also are available on the IRS' internet site.
[Source: "Final Rules on Receipts for Donors," Vince Stehle, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 9, 1997; P.O. Box 1989, Marion, OH 43305; 800-728-2819.]
Write better -- today! When you write, hit hard right away. Create interest and drama. Don't bury the important stuff. Target information to your particular audience.
Keep it simple. Write in small, manageable bits. Avoid long paragraphs and compound sentences. Use simple words. Avoid technical jargon. Write in a conversational tone.
Pay attention to headlines and subheads; many people read only these. Make the text easy to skim. Use bullets, boxes, numbers, underlines, boldface. But don't go crazy.
For more information, see "Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relations That Last," Simone P. Joyaux, ACFRE, Aspen Publishers, Frederick, MD, 1997; 800-638-8437.
Impress the Press. When talking to reporters, know your agenda. Prepare talking points. Avoid saying "no comment." Don't discuss anything you don't want publicized.
Don't insist that reporters talk to your executive director, public relations manager or lawyer. Choose your most articulate, knowledgeable staffer to represent your organization.
[Source: Presentation by Greg Graze, Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Reported in Nonprofit Board Report, July 1996; 370 Technology Drive, Malvern, PA 19355; 800-220-5000.]
Help kids take a bite out of crime. New materials help teach children to protect themselves. The McGruff Safe Kids Identification Kit includes an educational booklet and a child-fingerprinting kit. More Adventures with Scruff activity book shows how to deal with guns, bullies and drugs. Both feature McGruff the Crime Dog.
For a free copy of the Scruff book, write to SCRUFF-MCGRUFF, Chicago, IL 60652. For information on the identification kit, contact William Pease at the American Legion, 317-630-1212, or Louis Dominguez at the National Crime Prevention Council, 202-466-6272, ext. 116.
[Source: ERC Newsbriefs, April 30, 1996; 1843 Kalomara Road, N.W., P.O. Box 21385, Washington, DC 20009-0885; 202-328-9517.]
Ask gay men and lesbians for charitable bequests. Many live alone and don't have heirs. Some are alienated from their families. Tax advantages include income for a surviving unmarried partner; the bequest only goes to the charity when the partner dies. Capital gains and inheritance taxes are reduced or avoided altogether.
[Source: "A New Constituency for Planned Giving," Bettina Boxall, The Grantsmanship Center Magazine, Summer 1996. Reported in Philanthropy Trends That Count, October 1996; P.O. Box 1453, Alexandria, VA 22313-2053; 800-655-5597.]
Not every grant is worth getting. Assess before you apply. Projects worth funding will fit your organization's:
- stated mission and goals
- current activities and plans for future expansion
- organizational structure
- level of volunteer, alumni and auxiliary involvement
- financial standing
- donor strength
[Source: "Funding Q&A," Laurel Drake-Major, Foundation & Corporate Grants Alert, November 1996; P.O. Box 1453, Alexandria, VA 22313-2053; 800-655-5597.]
Today's teens will volunteer -- if you ask. 93% of teenagers who were asked to volunteer did so. Otherwise, only 24% of teens volunteered.
Most popular volunteer activities for teenagers: working with religious, youth development and environmental organizations.
Three of five teenagers volunteer, working an average of 3.5 hours a week. Teens who regularly attend religious services are more likely to volunteer or donate. Boys and girls are equally likely to volunteer.
[Source: "Volunteering & Giving Among American Teenagers 12 to 17 Years of Age," Independent Sector, 1828 L St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 223-8100. Web address: http://www.indepsec.org. Reported in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 9, 1997; P.O. Box 1989, Marion, OH 43305; 800-728-2819.]
Wealthy donors want more information. Just like other donors, the wealthy need enough information to make decisions about your organization. A recent study says wealthy donors are concerned about charities wasting their money.
Build a relationship before asking wealthy people for donations. Once a relationship is established, communicate briefly and informatively. Wealthy people say they don't have enough time to make decisions, which limits giving.
For a copy of The Philanthropic Initiative's report, "Wealth and Responsibility," contact Kelly Hill, Research Assistant, The Philanthropic Initiative, 77 Franklin St., Boston, MA 02110; 617-338-2590; e-mail: khill@tpi.org
[Source: "Wealthy People in Study Cite Reasons They Don't Give More," Susan Gray, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, February 20, 1997; P.O. Box 1989, Marion, OH 43305; 800-728-2819.]
Joyaux Associates' A Fund Raiser's Newsyletter: Includes links to sites and organizations referenced in the newsletter. Look under News and Tips, or search using keywords "newsy" or "Joyaux".
The Financial Accounting Standards Board: Group issues accounting rules followed by most not-for-profits. Site includes meeting notices and publications.
The Contact Center Network: Links to over 8,000 not-for-profit groups worldwide. Site's "IDEALIST" allows groups to post information on services volunteer opportunities, events and more.
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara (CA) University: Offers a variety of ethical questions that boards can use to facilitate discussions.
Monti, CPA: Site of Rhode Island accounting firm specializing in not-for-profit tax issues.
Strategic Fund Development : Building Profitable Relationships that Last. By Simone P. Joyaux, ACFRE. 192 pages, softcover, $59, #07966. A new standard reference for development professionals, executive directors, and boards. According to Jennifer Stavrou Rodine, assistant director, Smith Hill Center, "Joyaux writes about relationship building in real, practical terms. Too often this can be vague and unplanned. Follow Joyaux's steps and relationship building becomes tangible and strategic. The result is a handbook that every development officer should keep on their desk and refer to frequently." Available from Aspen Publishers, Inc., 7201 MicKinney Circle, Frederick, MD 21704; or call (800) 638-8437.
Connecting America on the Local Level. Kit helps create discussion groups on community problems. Information provided in four easy-to-use guides. Order publication #372 for $10.95 prepaid plus $4.50 shipping and handling from the Points of Light Foundation, Catalog Services, P.O. Box 79110, Baltimore, MD 21279-0110; 800-272-8306.
The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet. How-to information from getting online to conducting Internet fund raising, research, and promotion. $34.95 plus shipping and handling from John Wiley & Sons Sales Office, 7222 Commerce Center Drive, Suite 210, Colorado Springs, CO 80919; 800-753-0655, ext. 4457; e-mail: ecrocken@wiley.com. Ask for Eric Crockenberg, sales representative.
The Nonprofit Board's Guide to Bylaws: Creating a Framework for Effective Governance. Advice on revising bylaws, pros and cons of common bylaw provisions, explanation of role of bylaws in effective governance. Includes a checklist on necessary bylaw elements. $14 prepaid plus $3.50 shipping and handling from the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, 2000 L St., N.W., Suite 510-P, Washington, DC 20036-4907; 800-883-6262, 202-452-6262; fax 202-452-6299. Reference title and publication #128 when ordering.
The NSFRE Fund-Raising Dictionary. Only complete reference of its kind, offering definitions to more than 1,000 essential fund-raising and not-for-profit terms. Fully cross-referenced. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1996. $26.96 for NSFRE members, $29.95 for non-members; plus $5 shipping and handling from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives: 703-684-0410; e-mail: nsfre@nsfre.org, or order through the NSFRE Web site.
Gift Management Systems and Information Needs for Fund Development. Manual with sample fund-raising reports, donor gift histories, and description of information necessary to make your fund-raising decisions. $25 prepaid. To order, contact Joyaux Associates, 10 Johnson Road, Foster, RI 02825; (401) 397-2534.
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Jon Harrison
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