by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jan 15, 2021 | SWOT Analysis
In a SWOT analysis (of Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) nonprofit board members and staff participants brainstorm about both internal realities of their organization and existent or potential external factors. To the extent that change can be anticipated,...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Nov 13, 2020 | Fundraising
As the pandemic marches forward, we can find silver linings for the nonprofit sector, especially for those organizations already investing time in cultivating relationships. Slow and steady wins the race, as board members, staff, and volunteers engage in authentic...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Sep 9, 2020 | Uncategorized
While the country has pressed pause on so many things, perhaps this is actually a great time to rethink strategic planning. Some reasons: Pre-pandemic life was moving at such an accelerated pace that a five-year plan seemed ancient by year three; The time investment...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jul 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
In times of crisis, human nature is to retreat and reassess, which is exacerbated by a pandemic that restricts physical gatherings. Even when adverse impacts are minimal for a given individual, disruption of routines can cause one to press pause on voluntary...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | May 5, 2020 | Capacity Building
Many solid articles from the past few months address how nonprofits can and should respond in a crisis. As nonprofits scramble to rethink fundraising events, apply for loans, engage board and major stakeholders through online meetings and phone calls, handle direct...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Feb 25, 2020 | Uncategorized
You must maintain the trust of your donors, which takes devoted time and attention. Nonprofits doing great work can be understandably laser-focused on meeting current needs for mission accomplishment as well as anticipating future needs. Decisions and pivots made in...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Dec 17, 2019 | Own Your Message
In the world of philanthropy, all participants must own their message. Whether a nonprofit organization, a philanthropic donor, or a business with a budget for giving, all must understand and internalize their own logic model and develop appropriate messaging. What is...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Oct 19, 2019 | Tax Law
As nonprofit organizations look to end of tax year giving campaigns, whether an annual campaign or participating in an umbrella effort (e.g., “I live here, I give here”) it is prudent to take stock of donor giving history. Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Aug 27, 2019 | Personal Connections
Stakeholders—from donors to service recipients to volunteers—have increasingly come to expect a more personal connection. While the nonprofit sector has made significant strides in the past decade, there still is insufficient attention to the personalization theme,...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jul 5, 2019 | Linkages
A foundational marketing principle that tends to get lost in the bells and whistles of technological advances is the concept of personally identifying and developing ever-widening circles of potential support. This unfortunate yet easily corrected oversight on the...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | May 18, 2019 | Continued Learning
Typically, a nonprofit is birthed because a group of passionate people believes it can fill a societal void. That passion and infusion of time and talent will carry a nonprofit quite far through the infancy stage. However, the context for the nonprofit sector is...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Mar 19, 2019 | Nonprofit Life Cycle
There are over 1.5 million nonprofits registered with the IRS and each one is functioning in a different phase of its life cycle. Each would benefit from analyzing foundational principles associated with its current chapter. Too often, multiple spinning plates of...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jan 2, 2019 | Logic Models
Logic Models used to be a discussion for academia, or for larger foundations. Now, the term is used across sectors and sizes of organizations. The diffusion is an excellent sign of the times, as Logic Model development will strengthen every single aspect of an...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Oct 8, 2018 | Board
While it seems commonsensical that a cohesive board is more effective than a board that is not, the term is both misunderstood and not given the weight warranted in the nonprofit sector. Cohesion is often mischaracterized as unified in perspective, with thoughts in...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jul 30, 2018 | Fundraising
July launched a new fiscal year for many nonprofits. Hopefully, plans have been formulated about how to approach fundraising for the next year, including benefit packages, goals, and communication strategies. One reason why consultants can be helpful for facilitating...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jun 1, 2018 | Strategic Planning
Life is so busy. Why should a group of professionals, already volunteering their time as board members, dedicate an entire day to strategic planning? A block of time is needed for big-picture, roll-up-your-sleeves brainstorming that allows everyone to see the forest...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Mar 29, 2018 | Nonprofit Sector
The mantra that trust is the “lifeblood” of the nonprofit sector has been consistent through the last few decades. There are many facets to this trust and if one of them is breached, then all of them might as well have been breached. The damage is done. As previously...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Jan 29, 2018 | Tax Code Change
As predicted in late fall 2017, the changes to the US tax code are substantial and the nonprofit sector is significantly impacted. The National Council of Nonprofits has a helpful checklist to apprise nonprofit organizations of the largest issues of which they need to...
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Nov 30, 2017 | Charitable Giving
The end of a calendar year is a time of increased focus on charitable giving as well as planning for the upcoming fiscal year. When a donor’s primary objective is leveraging donations for the greatest benefit, rather than simply a tax deduction, research is in order....
by Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick | Sep 27, 2017 | Paying
When to Pay for Expertise? Despite the quest to keep operating expenses low, it is often best to avoid the inherent risk of utilizing key services of companies/individuals who are not licensed in their field. Time, expense, and even litigation can result from...
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