Comments for Nonprofit University Blog

Comment on Start with Why by Jim

Jim — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:39:53 +0000

Amen and thank you.

Comment on Handwriting on the Wall by David M. Patt, CAE

David M. Patt, CAE — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:21:50 +0000

Great post!

I’ve always managed not-for-profits but I’ve never asked for discounts or fee waivers “because we’re a non-profit.” I’ve never shaken down vendors for freebies (that’s “pay to play”) nor demanded that exhibitors donate a gift as a requirement for them to purchase booth or table space at an event.

Sure, we all try to get free services from supporters, but not everybody is a supporter and not everybody will share our passion for our cause.

Donors don’t give money to good causes. They invest money in good causes they think will succeed. We have to demonstrate that we are good investments, not just good causes.

Comment on As Seen from the 52nd Floor by Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:01:03 +0000

Good read. More corporations have to adopt a more socially aware mindset.

Comment on How many is enough? by Wendy Oberlin

Wendy Oberlin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:36:36 +0000

Well said and I agree completely. I also shudder when I hear people say they want to start a nonprofit when I see so much overlap in service and competition for precious donor dollars.

Comment on Executive Excess by Lee Alman

Lee Alman — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:04:52 +0000

Your comments regarding the microscopic scrutiny of nonprofit salaries could not be more accurate. Not only are executive salaries at most charities minuscule by comparison to their for-profit counterparts, but nonprofits’ executive salaries are public record, obtainable by anyone who visits Guidestar.com and downloads the organization’s tax forms. Most nonprofits go even further, posting their independent audits on their own websites, making it easy to determine exactly what percentage of their operating budget gets spent on this compensation.

In The Doe Fund’s case, our CEO’s salary is less than 1% of our budget. Moreover, our record for transparency is flawless, meeting all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s Standards for Charity Accountability. And yet it still happens that, like some of our sister organizations of similar size and complexity, we are sometimes accused of falling short of some unspoken standard by failing to force our executives to take vows of poverty. I suspect even that wouldn’t be enough for the cynics.

Comment on Money Talks, Ethics Walk by Kate Judge

Kate Judge — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:54:27 +0000

Indeed! And instead of focusing on these examples of ethical conflicts, the public outcry is about non-profit CEO salaries (how nicely this blog ties into your 9/9/11 post).

Comment on Money Talks, Ethics Walk by Helen Gym

Helen Gym — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:51:24 +0000

Thanks for this piece and your insightful comments in the Inquirer. Whether or not ethical breaches are more common in our sector, it’s important for other non-profits to condemn this behavior as violating the fundamental mission of the non-profit status and purpose.

Comment on Value, don’t Punish by Peter Rittenhouse

Peter Rittenhouse — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:45:50 +0000

I could not (ever) have said it so well myself. As city, county and state governmental budgets dry up , it is the small non profit organizations who have had to absorb the load. Unfortunately, seniors and those least ablee to advocate for themselves are often the losers in these hard times.

With unprecedented low interest rates , donors are less willing or able to support their community resources. Not a good time for non profit service providers.

Thanks for your thoughts and advocacty for those of us in the trenches.

Comment on Getting Extra Credit by Anthony Demangone

Anthony Demangone — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:20:43 +0000

Thanks for the thought-provoking salary. Here’s a thought, though, concerning the idea of pay increases. Once you increase a salary, it is difficult to reverse that decision. Bonuses are an efficient way to tie an income-based incentive for the work that has actually been completed. Otherwise, you might have a system where base salaries become a bit unpredictable.

Comment on IRS Form 990 Regulations – Compliance Schmompliance by Michael

Michael — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 04:30:04 +0000

Why does the IRS ask for all of these different policies that they do not require to see on the 990 form?