End of Year Charitable Donations

End of Year Donations

Julianne Shenk

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

19 December 2015

“Where should I donate?” What charity should I donate to?” “Who in our community needs help?” “How can I get a deduction for this year?”

First, thank you for donating your time and/or hard earned money to someone in need. It truly is the greatest gift you can give.

Second, a special thank you for considering donating during the holiday season when everyone is a little light in the wallet.

Third, consider making it a twice a year or quarterly gesture…and feel free to check back here or get in touch with me directly for worthy charities/organizations that need your help.

I have compiled a small list of local (Austin, Texas and surrounding areas) as well as national organizations. These are just a few organizations you may consider donating to before the end of the year.  **Important tax information follows the list.

Local:

1.     The Texas Stars Foundation.  I have worked with and for this organization. My love of hockey and passion for nonprofits made this a perfect match. I have personally seen where the money goes. Monies go straight back into our community. The TSF recognition of the local community as well as our military members and their families is truly awesome. Please take a minute to peruse their website and discover all of the wonderful things the foundation does and where their donations have gone.  

To make a donation contact Texas Stars Foundation Director, Danielle Barone at: foundation@texasstarshockey.com  Website: http://www.texasstars.com/foundation

2.     Giving UT Texas. Those of you that know me personally know that I bleed burnt orange (with a teeny-tiny stripe of maroon). The UT giving initiative allows you to donate to the University directly for overall need or a designated campaign. Explore the website and see if your interests match up to a campaign in need. Website: http://giving.utexas.edu/

3.     Longhorns Pancakes for Parkinson’s. Longhorn students, faculty and staff honor Dr. James Vick, former VP for Student Affairs and a current Professor of Mathematics, and ALL OF THOSE who have Parkinson’s disease at the University of Texas. Put on by the Texas Round Table every spring. Please visit: http://www.longhornsp4p.com/ for details to participate or make a donation.  ** I personally support this event. My son Kiefer, a recent UT graduate from the McCombs School of Business, ran this event last year. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Vick. It is a great event that the whole campus looks forward to every year. The event is run in conjunction with the Michael J Fox Foundation.

National:

1.     Fisher House Foundation. This is also an organization that I have had the pleasure to work for and with. The FHF is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.  Admin costs (6.6%) and fundraising costs (2.4%) are low, with 91% of funds going straight to the programs (FYE 2014). Please visit their webpage for more information and details as to how to donate. Website: https://www.fisherhouse.org/

2.     Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Not as well known as another “very pink” charity, The BCRF spends very little on admin costs (2.4%) and 92% on its programs and services (FYE June 2014). The BCRF is working hard for a cure rather than spending funds on advertising, sponsorship and merchandise development.  Website: http://www.bcrfcure.org/

3.     LIVESTRONG Foundation. Albeit, this may be a controversial choice, but I will give you my personal backstory as to why I continue to support the LF. My son interned here for two years and was involved with fundraising. The people he met, both supporters and survivors, moved him. Additionally, last year my youngest brother was diagnosed with cancer in his eye and received support from the Livestrong Foundation.  The admin costs (6.2%) and fundraising costs (6.8%) take into account that the organization had to go through a bit of rebranding, rebuilding, and rebirth (FYE December 2013). Please visit their website for more details and testimonials. Website: http://www.livestrong.org/   

 

ATTENTION: To be eligible for deductions from this year’s taxes (2015) donations must be made by 11:59PM 31 December 2015. Donations made after this time will be counted on your 2016 taxes. As always, refer to the individual organization’s tax deduction policy to affirm that your donations are indeed tax-deductible.

Stakeholders: What is a Stakeholder? What is the Role of a Nonprofit Stakeholder?

What is a Stakeholder? What is the Role of a Nonprofit Stakeholder?

Julianne Shenk

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

November 13, 2015

What is a stakeholder?

In the nonprofit context, a stakeholder is someone who has an interest, investment, or share in an organization and its work/mission.

Who is a stakeholder? Stakeholders are donors, clients, volunteers, employees, board members, partner organizations, and federal/state/county/local agencies. Another important category of stakeholders; the community. The community can contain one or more of the preceding, or be interpreted as the literal community that the nonprofit services.

After identifying your stakeholders, it is recommended to breakdown the groups in to subgroups or subcategories. Subgroups/categories can range from specific interests and priorities, engagement possibilities to stakeholder expectations and contribution (not just monetary contribution).  There are endless subgroups to identify your stakeholders and it is heavily dependent on the type of organization.

The Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Project created a worksheet to breakdown the subgroups of stakeholders into Internal Stakeholders and External Stakeholders. Internal stakeholders are already committed to serving your organization as members (i.e., board members, staff, volunteers, donors). External stakeholders are impacted by your work as clients and/or constituents, community partners, et al.

Internal v External Stakeholders

Instructions:

Mark the groups whose perspectives you think will be useful for creating an inclusiveness plan.

Internal Stakeholders

___ Board members

___ Former board members

___ Staff members

___ Former staff members

___ Volunteers

___ Former Volunteers

___ Donors

___ Other

___ Other

External Stakeholders

___ Clients

___ Community partners

___ Members of groups served by our organization who are not accessing our services

___ Leaders of color from nonprofit, public, or private sectors  

___ Other

___ Other [1]

I suggest using the worksheet as an exercise with your board. Identifying the stakeholders of your organization is so very important to your mission’s success. This worksheet can be “tweaked” to fit your organization. Use any/all of the categories mentioned previously in the article. Not every organization is the same, tailor your worksheet to your agency and identify and get to know your stakeholders.

What is the Role of a Nonprofit Stakeholder?

The role of a stakeholder in a nonprofit organization is an important one. Mainly, your stakeholders want your organization to success. Stakeholders are “vital to the development and sustainment of your organization”. [2]

According to Madison Hawthorne, there are three roles for nonprofit stakeholders. One stakeholder can play one or more roles.

·      Support the Nonprofit Organization: This may be by providing a quality service that results in seeing a change. Stakeholders may also contribute to the overall movement of a nonprofit organization by leading or supporting publicity/marketing/advertising campaigns.

·      Influence the Nonprofit Organization

·      Clientele and Volunteers[3]

Stakeholders are an important part of any nonprofit organization. Discover who your organization’s stakeholders are and develop a plan to foster the relationship to make you organization successful!

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[1] Nonprofitinclusiveness.org. The Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Project. “Identifying Internal and External Stakeholders”. Denver, CO.

[2] smallbusiness.chron.com. Hawthorne, Madison. Demand Media

[3] Ibid.

Nonprofit v Tax-Exempt. What is the Difference?

Nonprofit v Tax-Exempt. What is the Difference?

Julianne Shenk

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

1 October 2015

“I see you run a nonprofit organization. Is it tax-exempt?”

“Yes, all nonprofits are.”

No.

No.

No.

You may have done the homework, applied and have been granted nonprofit status via your state agency, but there is an additional step that few people realize that they MUST do to become tax-exempt in the eyes of the IRS. It is a matter of filing a form; a simple step, but one that nonprofits overlook all too often.

First, here are a few facts:

1.     Nonprofit status indicates the status of your organization under your state’s law.

2.     Tax-exempt status refers to an organization’s tax-exempt status from federal income under IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Code.

According to the IRS website:

“Nonprofit status is a state law concept.  Nonprofit status may make an organization eligible for certain benefits, such as state sales, property and income tax exemptions.  Although most federal tax-exempt organizations are nonprofit organizations, organizing as a nonprofit organization at the state level does not automatically grant the organization exemption from federal income tax.  To qualify as exempt from federal income tax, an organization must meet requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code.” [1]

To break it down further:

Nonprofits are structured around a cause or community need. Most nonprofit organizations actually the preponderance of npos,[2] are organized to serve a public need.

Tax-exempt status exempts the nonprofit organization from paying income tax on income produced from activities that are substantially/significantly related to the purposes for which the organization was founded/organized.  

The IRS provides clear guidelines for nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations.

Ask questions, do your research and/or call a professional. A lot of my job is helping those looking to start nonprofits. If you need help, feel free to get in touch. If you use the code: OCTBLOG in your email, I will offer 50% off of consultation fees for the month of October 2015.

JBS Nonprofit Consulting EMAIL

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[1] www.irs.gov  Last updated 04 March 2015

[2] NPO/NPOs Nonprofit organization(s)

Why Should I Volunteer?

Why Should I Volunteer?

Julianne Shenk

JBS Nonprofit Consulting

10 September 2015

Are you thinking about volunteering? Do it.

There are countless reasons to volunteer, but my initial reaction to anyone expressing a desire to volunteer…Do it! We need volunteers. Every nonprofit organization needs volunteers. Do it.

A common problem that plagues many nonprofits is a lack of or shortage of volunteers. In almost every blog I post, consult I do or conversation I have, the phrase “Volunteers are the backbone of a successful nonprofit” leaves my lips.

So why should you volunteer? Here are just a FEW reasons:

1.     Volunteering strengthens the community. Whether helping in a school, community garden, or homeless shelter, you are helping strengthen the community.

2.     Volunteering brings people together.

3.     Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose. You are helping others, feel good about that. Volunteering gives you a reason to get out of bed and do something good for someone in need.

4.     Volunteering helps you make new friends and establish new relationships. Volunteering helps strengthen those relationships.

5.     Volunteering helps you network.

6.     Volunteering promotes personal growth, and enhances social, personal, professional and relationship skills.

7.     Volunteering allows you to gain professional experience, learn new skills, and learn in general.

8.     Volunteering encourages civic/community responsibility. Volunteers that have worked hard take pride in their endeavor and instill pride in the community all the while gaining some pride in themselves and the work that they have done.

9.     Volunteering is good for society.

10. Volunteers save resources. Volunteers help take off some of the financial burden of the nonprofit. The estimated value of a volunteer’s time in 2014 was $23.07 per hour.[1]

11. Volunteering is good for you. Volunteering helps combat depression, helps in staying physically healthy, and increases self-confidence.[2] Volunteers live longer and are healthier; In fact volunteering later in life has significant benefits![3]

12. Volunteering allows you to give back. Many volunteers are people that have benefited from the programs and services previously. Who better to volunteer?

13. And the most important reason…You make a difference.

You make a difference.

Volunteer.

Do it.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in the Austin/Cedar Park/Fort Hood area, please, shoot me an email. I would love to match you up with a worthy, in need nonprofit organization.

jbsnonprofitconsulting@gmail.com

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[1] Per http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/Nonprofit-Management/Employment-Volunteering/monetary-value-of-volunteer-time

[2] Per http://www.helpguide.org

[3] http://www.nationalservice.gov/