The TASC Group

The TASC Group

How Much Should We Give to Nonprofits and Charitable Organizations?

We are often asked how much an individual should give to charitable organizations each year or what formula should be used to determine how much to give. There isn’t one formula or percentage that is right for everyone, but here are some suggestions regarding the history and standards of giving.

1. Set a Goal For Your Charitable Giving Each Year

Short of the mortgage tax return, charitable giving is one of the best tax breaks you have at your disposal. Seek the advice of your accountant or financial advisor when planning your charitable giving for the year. 

It’s good to have a specific goal to reach. As your income increases over the years, so should your annual giving. For those in the upper income brackets, you may want to consider giving away more than 10% of your income. An extraordinarily generous example is Warren Buffet, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, who announced he would give away 85% of his fortune to charities. On the other hand, if you make a more modest salary, you might consider donating 10% of your disposable income. 

2. Think of Giving Like Investing

Another suggestion is to treat your giving just as you might your monthly investment into your 401(k) or a college fund. Set up an automatic payment to be made monthly to a particular organization. This way your giving won’t seem to hurt as much, since it will disappear right out of your checking account before you even see it. 

3. Remember, Everything Helps

Donating any funds you can to a nonprofit organization is critical to their success and ability to impact their communities. But remember that you have so much to offer. Many TASC clients rely just as much on volunteers as they do on donors and seek our support in engaging individuals who can contribute to their goals and serve their constituents. 

In Closing

Think about what talents you have and reach out to organizations you value and believe in to see how you can help. If you’re an expert in PR, maybe you can support their story telling efforts or offer support on social media. At the end of the day, what you can give in money or time can make change possible. To learn about ways that The TASC Group can work with your organization on thought leadership and event planning, please visit our website!

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Strategic Board Development for Nonprofits: A Comprehensive Guide

Crafting a robust board of directors is fundamental to the success of any nonprofit, playing a pivotal role in advancing its mission. To ensure strategic decision-making, it is crucial to carefully construct and manage your board. As a PR firm committed to supporting non-profit clients and mission-driven organizations, we offer pragmatic insights to strategically build an effective board. This guide delves into key considerations for optimizing your board-building process. 

Create a Strategic Board in 4 Steps

1. Set Clear Expectations for Nonprofit Board Excellence

  • To ensure the success of your nonprofit, it’s essential to set clear expectations for your board of directors. 
  • Define the purpose of your board and outline the specific responsibilities of each member. 
  • Consider implementing a “give, get, or get off” program, where board members contribute financially, engage volunteers, or resign if they cannot meet their commitments. 
  • Determine the annual fundraising goal for your board, and communicate it clearly. 

2. Diversify Your Board Strategically

  • Diversity is key to a successful board. Emphasize diversity in age, race, gender, and geographic location. 
  • Identify influential community connectors, ensuring your board is well-connected within the larger community.  
  • Diversify board occupations to maximize outreach and leverage the six degrees of separation. 
  • A diverse board brings a variety of perspectives and ideas, enhancing the overall impact of your nonprofit. 

3. Do Your Homework for Board Recruitment Success

  • Board members hold significant influence over your organization, so thorough research is essential. Once someone joins the board, they essentially become a part “owner” of the organization and will make very important decisions. 
  • Create a shortlist of potential members and interview them to assess their commitment to your mission and organization 
  • Evaluate their skills, ability to collaborate, and their potential to contribute positively to the organization 
  • Choose dynamic members with the right chemistry and expertise to align with your nonprofit’s goals and values. 

4. Emphasize Support and Subcommittees for Board Success

  • Acknowledge that your board of directors will require support and subcommittees to achieve its goals effectively. 
  • Establish subcommittees to efficiently accomplish goals, recognizing the importance of collaboration and delegation and focusing on specific aspects of your nonprofit’s mission. 
  • These subcommittees can help streamline decision-making processes and allocate responsibilities effectively. 

Build Your Nonprofit Board Today

Building a strong and effective board of directors is a vital step in advancing the mission of your nonprofit organization. By setting clear expectations, diversifying your board, conducting thorough research on potential members, and establishing support structures, you can create a board that contributes significantly to your organization’s success. 

For more insights and best practices in nonprofit governance, consider exploring relevant news articles on nonprofit board development and strategic leadership within the sector. 

Remember that the board of directors plays a critical role, but their success depends on the support and commitment of the entire organization. Effective governance and strategic planning are essential to achieve your nonprofit’s mission. To learn more about ways that The TASC Group’s award-winning team can help your organization strengthen its mission to the public, visit our website.

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Optimizing Volunteer Management for Nonprofits and Mission-Driven Organizations

Efficient volunteer management is a crucial component of any successful nonprofit or mission-driven organization. Creating a positive volunteer experience benefits both the organization and the individuals involved. In this guide, we will explore key steps for managing volunteers effectively. 

Key Steps for Managing Volunteers

1. Starting Strong with Training and Orientation 

Begin your volunteer management journey by offering comprehensive training and orientation to new volunteers to make sure they feel like part of the team. A well-structured volunteer training session sets expectations and equips volunteers with the knowledge they need to thrive. 

Develop a volunteer manual that outlines procedures and serves as a training guide and provide volunteers with other helpful materials like brochures and contact lists. 

Introduce volunteers to organizational members, including board members, to foster a sense of belonging. 

2. Creating a Flexible Schedule 

Accommodate volunteers’ availability to prevent scheduling conflicts. Prepare a schedule in advance and post it on the same day every week, prominently within your office. Encourage volunteers to check the schedule regularly and inform them about any changes. Implement block scheduling for consistency. 

3. Handling Contingencies Gracefully 

Recognize that sometimes volunteers may need to miss their shifts. Designate a person or department responsible for resolving scheduling issues. Ensure volunteers know whom to contact when conflicts arise and encourage timely communication. 

4. Keeping Volunteers Engaged 

Effective supervision is essential to ensure volunteers contribute meaningfully. Regularly assess projects and volunteer performance to optimize their efforts. By providing substantive tasks, you can keep volunteers engaged and committed to your mission. According to Indeed, being specific by giving practical ways that people can volunteer for you makes it easy for them to continue participating. 

5. Evaluating for Improvement 

Engage both the administration and volunteers in evaluating your volunteer program. 

Create questionnaires that solicit feedback on program strengths and weaknesses. Allow volunteers to provide anonymous input, which can be valuable for program enhancement. Honest feedback can be extremely helpful for evaluating the program. 

6. Recognizing and Appreciating Volunteers 

Show appreciation for your volunteers’ dedication and time. Recognition fosters volunteer retention and strengthens relationships. Simple gestures such as words of praise and thank-you notes can convey gratitude effectively. 

Create Your Volunteer Team Today

Effective volunteer management fosters a sense of teamwork and helps advance your mission. When organizations invest in well-structured volunteer programs and provide support to all involved, the experience becomes rewarding for everyone. 

TAKE NOTE: This article is part two of a two-part series on best practices for nonprofit organizations implementing volunteer programs. For more information and insights on volunteer management for nonprofit organizations, explore the following news articles: 

Visit The TASC Group’s website to learn more about how the team’s award winning work can help you to strengthen, support and highlight your mission within the communities you serve.

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Crafting an Effective Media List for Nonprofits and Mission-Driven PR Campaigns

When you have a story to share, reaching a wider audience starts with creating a comprehensive media list. Getting your content seen by potential consumers starts with creating a media list of outlets and contacts from those outlets which cater to your target market. 

Six Steps for Creating a Great Media List

1. Define Your PR Pitch 

Start by clearly defining your PR pitch. Whether it’s an executive interview or a product announcement for your non-profit, articulate what you’re offering to the media and why it matters. A well-defined pitch is essential for capturing the attention of journalists and gaining media coverage. Pitch writing consists of persuasion, creative thinking and storytelling. If what you’re sharing is relevant to the journalist, fewer than 200 words and highly readable — think short sentences, bullet points and subheads. 

2. Develop Multiple Angles

Consider multiple angles for your pitch that align with your target media outlets and their audiences. Figure out which approach best aligns with your goals and with those of the journalists. 

3. Choose the Right Timing 

Timing is a critical aspect of successful PR outreach. Determine when you want your content to be seen by your target audience. Quick-turnaround outlets like online platforms, daily newspapers, television, and radio are ideal for immediate exposure. For evergreen content, consider pitching to magazine publications. Evaluate your options and choose the timing that best suits your story.  

4. Thoroughly Research Contacts & Outlets 

Utilize databases and search engines to identify potential media outlets. Start with broad search terms and narrow down your list as you progress. Pay attention to journalists’ beats, cadence of publication and whether they receive pitches or not. Seek assistance from a PR agency if necessary to define your media list effectively. 

5. Understand Media Roles 

Consider the roles of potential contacts within media outlets. Editors-in-chief may focus more on the business aspects of the outlet, while staff writers or assignment editors are often looking for unique stories. Include multiple contacts from one outlet to ensure comprehensive coverage. 

6. Review and Supplement Your List 

After compiling your initial list, review it for any missing outlets or contacts. Use online resources like Google or ChatGPT to identify any overlooked opportunities. Continuously refine your list to ensure it’s comprehensive and up-to-date. 

Build Your Media List Today!

By following these six steps, you can create a robust media list that will enhance your public relations campaign’s success. A carefully curated media list ensures that your content reaches the right audience, increasing your chances of securing valuable media coverage. 

For more insights and expert guidance on PR strategy and media outreach, explore relevant news articles, such as those from A Good Cause and Glue Up.If you have further questions or need assistance with your PR campaign, feel free to reach out to The TASC Group today! Learn more about how The TASC Group’s award winning expertise can help you to strengthen, support and highlight your mission within the communities you serve.

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The Importance of Human Stories in Effective Nonprofit PR

When it comes to PR and communications, human stories are the most powerful tool you have in advancing your organization’s mission. While you must have solid facts and figures at your disposal to give credence to your organization, those facts can feel vague on their own. This is why nonprofit and advocacy organizations often find reporters asking to speak with a member of the community that they serve. A first-person story turns abstract concepts into real, relatable truths.

For example, while the executive director of an environmental justice organization may be able to speak fluently to which policies must be put in place to address high rates of asthma in communities of color, a person living with asthma caused by poor air quality has the lived experience. It is their story which shows a reader why they should care.

Some organizations may understandably feel uneasy asking a member of the community they serve if they would like to speak to press. If you work for an organization dedicated to ending hunger, you know that those who depend on food banks to feed their family can be subject to undeserved judgment or bias. However, many people find power in telling their stories and know that experiencing hardship is nothing to be ashamed of. The most important thing is to make clear that you are inviting them to speak because you believe that their voice is important and that you will continue supporting them regardless of their decision.

A good PR representative will work with you to identify a person who can speak to a given issue and will set parameters ahead of an interview with a reporter. For example, if your organization serves survivors of domestic violence, your PR rep will speak with the potential interviewee to identify what they do and do not feel comfortable disclosing to ensure their safety and will go over options such as aliases. Your PR rep will then convey this to the reporter and have them agree to the parameters ahead of the interview. The overwhelming majority of reporters are grateful for the opportunity to share an impactful story that does not put anyone vulnerable at risk.

When a nonprofit wants to demonstrate the importance of their work, they need look no further than those they serve.

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