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Step By Step Fundraising NewsletterFebruary 2009
Finding professionals to help with your nonprofitRunning a charitable organization has its share of challenges. Many larger nonprofits have staffed departments just like a corporation -- marketing, IT, accounting and legal, just to name a few -- plus development and other fundraising functions. (In fact studies show that the nonprofit sector is one of the growing areas of employment for the future!) On the other hand small nonprofit groups and those just starting out have to find outside help for services. So where do you go to find such assistance? Gabriela Waters of Philanthropic Academy suggested a good first place to start:
I agree, talking with your inner circle of contacts is one of the best places to start. Staying connected in your local community by being a member of service clubs or the Chamber of Commerce comes in handy when the time comes to need professional referrals. Calling your local nonprofit management center is also a great idea, as they may be able to provide information or advice. Finding a good lawyer might be a bit trickier so I asked Don Greissman's advice. He wrote a very informative article on how to find a lawyer for your nonprofit. It includes a lot of great links to sites that can help you find an attorney familiar with laws that pertain to nonprofit organizations. Having someone who's good at numbers on your board of directors can be a great asset. But sometimes you need to hire an outside accountant, for tasks such as an annual review or audit. CPA Carol Tapp give us some ideas on finding an accountant to help your nonprofit. Tony Poderis discusses his take on the world of fundraising consultants. The Association of Fundraising Professionals has a consultants directory where you can search for fundraising professionals. The American Association of Grant Professionals also has searchable list of member consultants. There are several websites that exist to connect nonprofits with service providers and/or volunteers. Here are a few of the best: On Idealist.org you can search for consultants who have already registered with the site. You can also post your projects there too. Business Volunteers Unlimited is a national organization that brings business executives together with nonprofit boards of directors and provides board and management consulting and training services for nonprofits. The HandsOn Network from the Points of Light Institute includes a network of agencies such as 1-800-Volunteer and AmeriCorps. The Taproot Foundation matches nonprofit groups with professional help on a pro bono basis in the metro areas of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC. Do you have experience with using any of these online services? Or if you have other tips or ideas for finding professionals, post a comment here.
Looking for a few good volunteersIf you are looking for those who will make an ongoing commitment to volunteer to your board of directors, current volunteers and supporters is the best place to start. I'd highly recommend the book Board Recruitment & Orientation by Hildy Gottlieb, as it provides a blueprint for this process. Also check out Jim Berigan's latest article, part one of 10 Signs Your Board Members Stink & What to Do About It. If day-to-day volunteer help is more toward your immediate need, there are a variety of websites available to help with that too. Take a look at the volunteers category in the directory for more links. Additionally, here are some articles from our archives on the topic of volunteers: The Myth of the Selfless Volunteer by Tom Welsh Don’t try to Teach Cats to Bark by Tom McKee To Your Continued Fundraising Success,
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Finding professional service providers for your nonprofit
