Adam Gant is a committed philanthropist

Tag: nonprofit

Understanding Finances For A Non Profit

Running a nonprofit comes with more complications than a standard business, especially on the financial side. For one thing, all nonprofit organizations must deal with increased oversight.

There are certain ways that the finances for a nonprofit must be handled, from creating a plan to comparing results against a budget and everything in between. The whole process may feel like a headache at times, but overall it is a worthwhile endeavor that will ultimately result in success.

Additional Challenges

There are additional challenges that come with managing the finances for a nonprofit organization. There are the above concerns (oversight, tracking, etc.), but there are concerns such as taxes, paperwork, transparency, donor involvement, and expectations. Not to mention dealing with the public trust.

Financial Policies

Nonprofit organizations have a board of directors, and in turn, they have a fiduciary duty to ensure how the money is used within the organization. That is to say; they have to ensure that the promises made by the organization are kept.

One way that a board of directors will ensure this is by creating one (or several) policies. These policies will create a rule and description for how the money is handled, invested, or distributed.

An example of a nonprofit financial policy would be a conflict of interest policy. A conflict of interest policy protects the nonprofit in a variety of ways. For one, it would require those with a conflict of interest to take a step back or otherwise disclose the conflict. In turn, this protects the nonprofit from penalties while hoarding the board accountable.

The Council of Nonprofits has a list of possible financial policies for nonprofits, including gift acceptance policies, best practices for reimbursement, annual review of executive compensation, nonprofit Fiscal policies and procedures, and more.

Tools and Resources

When looking for tools and resources for a nonprofit, the National Council of Nonprofits is one of the first tools to approach. On top of making documents readily available, they actively work to keep up-to-date information for all nonprofit organizations.

Another available resource is the Financial Management Associates Insitute. Through them, nonprofits can find financial management courses—everything from excel basics to full accounting classes.

The Basics

Every nonprofit organization will need to have a plan for the basic parts of their financial planning. They will need a bookkeeping solution (one that is friendly to nonprofits and easily accessed for audits). On that note, they will also need to find the right accounting software or plan and work out the funding for it. Once that is established, immediately begin tracking all donations that come through. This may require some level of customization.

If the nonprofit doesn’t have a bank account, now is the time to get one. Once that is done, get bank reconciliations going. Finally, any nonprofit will need to learn how to create (and analyze) financial statements and reports.

How To Help Charities Without Donating Money Adam Gant

How to Help a Charity Without Donating Money

For those with generous hearts, supporting a cause or organization they support and believe in is fulfilling and rewarding. However, not everyone is always able to provide considerable monetary donations to charities they endorse. Naturally, there are ways to help a charity without simply giving them money, and these methods are as valuable as financial aid. Below are a few ways you can benefit your favorite charities beyond granting them donations.

 

Donate Time

Perhaps the most common and popular option, volunteering with a charity is a great way to get involved and benefit the organization. Charities that operate soup kitchens, for example, are often in need of volunteers to serve the food. Homeless shelters, too, require volunteers to maintain and manage the living quarters. Many organizations that provide public services or resources require volunteers to help facilitate their work. Other charities could benefit from individuals with expertise in areas such as marketing or Information Technology (IT). Your skills and free time can be used to benefit charitable organizations, and while you may need to expend time, energy, and gas to do so, you won’t be directly financing the organization’s operations.

 

Donate Goods

Even if your financial status limits your ability to donate money, you may still be able to donate other items. Things like clothes, shoes, books, food, and paper products are typically welcomed in a number of organizations. If you have old, functional electronics, used vehicles, or furniture you no longer use, some charities accept these items, as well. Donating these items to a charity shop or distribution center can help those organizations provide valuable resources to those in need.

 

Donate Blood

Organizations like the Red Cross are always in need of blood and plasma donors. Donating blood costs nothing and is used to save lives. Most people are capable of donating blood, and the process usually lasts less than half an hour. For those who are able, donating platelets is also a great way to give back; platelets are necessary for individuals undergoing chemotherapy or receiving organ transplants, so they are especially valuable.

 

Helping charitable organizations doesn’t need to entail a financial contribution. Instead, you can consider donating your blood, time, and unwanted goods to those in need. Doing so limits the strain on your budget while also enabling you to benefit your community.

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3 Ways Charitable Giving Is Likely to Change in 2019

 

Humanitarian crises, natural disasters, disease outbreaks – the needs today as pressing as ever, but the way we give is evolving. Thanks to tax law and technology, along with changing consciousness and shifting social mores, philanthropy experts say there are notable shifts in where, when and how Americans open their wallets to charitable causes.

 

Below is what to expect in charitable giving trends in 2019.

 

Giving bigger donations, but less frequently.

 

Charities and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, are watching carefully to see if the doubling of the standard deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changes how – and how much – we give.

 

Our potential change is that people could switch to giving every other or every the third year instead of annually, a tactic called “bunching” that would let them itemize in their giving years to get the deduction and take the standard deduction in other years.

 

Using technology to mobilize support

 

If you feel like you’ve seen more notifications in your Facebook feed that someone is raising money for a good cause to celebrate a birthday or other milestone, you’re probably right.

 

This growth is a confluence of two trends. The desire of donors to personalize their giving, and advances in technology that makes giving, or asking others to give on your behalf, as easy as typing up a heartfelt message and hitting “enter.”

 

The growing clout of big donors (for better or worse)

 

People are going to top one-half of 1% will be giving about 30% of all charitable dollars. Although there is a drawback in that funding is funneled to a smaller pool of recipients or causes. This, combined with the proliferation of charities at the grassroots level, may leave smaller non-profits feeling pinched. Charities at these local levels are going to feel that they’re facing greater financial challenges in their fundraising, and the reason is that the number of charities continues to expand dramatically. The total amount of dollars can be given to any local charities still, and furthermore, they can be divided up more.

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American Immigrants Are a Force of Giving

The United States has immigrants from many different world countries. Some were raised in poverty-stricken situations and were seeking political asylum. Others came from affluent families and arrived to attend an American college or university. Young and old come to the states for a variety of different reasons. However, not many are aware that a number of immigrants who made the U.S. their home have demonstrated great generosity as philanthropists.

 

Successful Immigrants

 

There is insufficient evidence to determine the total number of dollars that the migrated Americans have donated. However, in the last two decades, the number of foundations established in the United States by Chinese-Americans increased in number by 400 percent. One of these Asian Americans was Cyrus Tang who founded the Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Tang came to the country in 1950 from Hong Kong and attended college in Philadelphia. He eventually became a giant in the industry. He donated more than $50 million to his former colleagues.

 

Other influential immigrants include George Soros, who hailed from Hungary. The private foundation that he established is second in size to the organization established by Bill Gates. Some of the top American immigrants who took part in the “Giving Pledge” include Elon Musk, who was originally from South Africa. Hamdi Ulukaya is from Turkey. He founded Chobani. Jorge Perez is from Argentina and became a billionaire due to real estate.

 

Like any other philanthropist, the American immigrants donate funds to their college alma maters, charities in which they believe or in order to further education in a particular field. They might also start a charitable organization.

 

Low-Key Investors

 

Many of the philanthropists prefer to keep their generous endeavors below the media radar. Tang’s foundation in Los Angeles, for example, is one of the largest ever created by an Asian American. Yet, few were aware of his involvement.

 

The need for anonymity commonly comes from an individual’s cultural background. Asians are often quiet, reserved people. Latin Americans view public acknowledgment of charitable contributions as classless. For some from violent countries, allowing their wealth to become public fodder makes them a target for kidnapping and other criminal acts.

 

However, as Tang once explained, he wanted to find a way to demonstrate that America was his home. He was grateful for the opportunity to come here and found a way to express his gratitude.

Kids Girl Pencil Drawing 159823

Michelle Obama’s Program to Help Adolescent Girls Through Education

Thursday, October 11, 2018, was the International Day of the Girl. Michelle Obama, our former first lady, chose that specific day to announce on NBC’s “Today” show that the Obama Foundation was proud and thrilled to launch the Global Girls Alliance. That is a program to use education to empower adolescent girls all around the world.

 

The goal of the Alliance is to support over 1,500 grassroots organizations that combat the many challenges that girls encounter in their communities, stress the strategies needed to overcome those challenges, and clear away the hurdles that many girls face. Featured will be fundraising to inspire and accomplish the efforts and to drive public awareness to encourage involvement and action.

 

Created has been an online network that connects leaders so they can share ideas, resources, and best practices. In addition, GoFundMe has launched the Global Girls Alliance Fund that will directly support leaders who work on education for girls.

 

Over 98 million adolescent girls worldwide do not go to school, and this new program will offer ways for the public to support its mission. When girls have gone to school, families become stronger, poverty in the community goes down, GDPs go up, babies are born healthier, and the whole world gets better.

 

October 11 has been designated as the International Day of the Girl since 2012. António Guterre, the UN Secretary-General, said that we should recommit to the support of every girl in developing her skills, be able to enter the workforce on equal terms, expand her learning opportunities and new pathways, and be able to reach her full potential and empowerment.

 

Girls of today are being faced with preparing to enter a work world that is being transformed by automation and innovation that make skilled workers in great demand. However, approximately 25 percent of young people, mostly female, are presently not employed nor in training or education. Of the 600 million adolescent girls, out of the existing one billion young people who will enter the workforce in the coming decade, over 90 percent living in developing countries will be employed in the sector where no or low pay and exploitation are all too common.

 

The Alliance has marked the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together advocates who will draw attention and investment to the opportunities for girls to attain the necessary skills to adequately prepare them for a successful transition into the work world.

Kat Yukawa 754726 Unsplash

Why it Feels Good to Give

Day in and day out, humans mostly focus on themselves. Whether it’s how much money they’re making or how they can make themselves happy, more often than not, their days are spent selfishly. When people break that norm and choose to dedicate their time to give back, they find that the act of giving others happiness makes them feel fulfilled. Read on to learn why giving back just feels so good.

 

1. Giving Back Connects People with Their Passions

 

Finding a cause to give back to is one of the best ways to discover something outside of work that one is passionate about. While altruistic, it also helps point people to work towards something bigger than themselves. For example, someone may have a job working in marketing, but partnering with a local charity outside of work is a way to tap into their passion for helping others.

 

2. Helping Others Uplifts the Soul

 

Whether someone is giving their time reading to local children or donating money to an organization, giving back just does something uplifting to the soul. It empowers the human spirit to see others encouraged and uplifted. With all the negativity in the world, finding a way to help others is essential for staying grounded and positive.

 

3. People in Need Really Deserve Something Good

 

Sometimes it just feels good to give because people in need really need something good to happen to them. Most people never realize how truly fortunate they are or how much they have compared to others. By taking the time to recognize one’s blessings and give back to those that aren’t in the same situation, one will see just how grateful others are for their gift.

 

4. Positivity Breeds Contentment

 

In life, so many people are on the hunt for happiness. By focusing one’s life on giving back, positivity and happiness are sure to follow. By doing good for others and the world, those that donate their time and money will automatically have a more positive outlook on life. Regardless of how much one does for themselves, it doesn’t have the same effect as being able to support others. As social creatures, humans inherently find happiness in the happiness of others.

 

When giving back, one learns that there is far more to happiness than making money and climbing the corporate ladder. Taking a moment out of the solitary lives most people lead to help a stranger will work to change the lives of both people for the better.

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