CLUB AWARDS TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH EDUCATION GRANTS

Two high school students in Sturgeon Falls are recipients of cash awards to make their post-secondary pursuits a little easier.  Both were given $250 during the celebration of La Francophonie in Sturgeon Falls.  Renee Lecuyer, who attends Ecole Secondaire Publique Northern was humbled to be one of the recipients.   Lecuyer will pursue the assistant physiotherapy program at College Boreal.

Spotlight

GiveWell Community Foundation

For the past 20 years, the GiveWell Community Foundation and its fundholders have been investing in the future of our communities through impactful charitable giving. Charitable funds can be established by individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, organizations, and municipalities to serve a wide variety of charitable causes.

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Nonprofit Management

What Your Non-profit Should Know About Accepting Cryptocurrency Donations?

Article | July 20, 2022

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're undoubtedly aware that cryptocurrency is now trending. That doesn't imply you understand everything about it and how it pertains to your non-profit. After all, that's why you're here. But chances are, your curiosity has been stirred. There are several questions around cryptocurrencies, which we will address. But, before we get into the specifics, consider why it's important. Why Your Non-profit Should Accept Cryptocurrency? The rising popularity of bitcoin makes it an appealing payment option for charitable contributions. Because it is a digital money, it is simple to collect online donations. Accepting bitcoin is a reasonable next step after online donating has risen in recent years. Furthermore, it looks that bitcoin users are a charitable lot. According to Fidelity Charitable, 45% of bitcoin owners will have contributed $1000 or more in 2020, compared to 33% of traditional investors. Accepting cryptocurrency may appeal to younger contributors because it is popular among Millennials. One in every three Millennials owns cryptocurrencies, which is more than double the typical investor's rate. Millennials are notably kind and charitable, maybe because they entered adulthood during the Great Recession. Risks and Considerations to Accepting Cryptocurrency: While block chain and encryption make cryptocurrencies harder to hack or forge, this does not mean they are risk-free. Most cryptocurrencies, for example, are stored in digital wallets that need a key and password to access the assets. However, hackers may attack digital wallets. In the worst-case scenario, owners may misplace the key and passwords required to access the funds. When bitcoin is lost, it is gone forever. It is anticipated that $4 million in Bitcoin may be lost. On the dark web,cryptocurrency is also utilized for transactions. The anonymity of cryptocurrencies and the obscuring of transaction data appeals to individuals with less than noble intents. Furthermore, the IRS considers cryptocurrencies to be property and taxes it accordingly. Depending on the circumstances, it may also be deemed capital gains. Is Cryptocurrency Right for Your Non-profit? While accepting cryptocurrencies for donations has advantages, such as attracting new contributors, it also has drawbacks. Whatever you pick, it appears that we are entering a wild new world of digital cash.

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Nonprofit Management

What Are the Top Five Lessons for Your Non-Profit This Year?

Article | July 28, 2022

It is crucial to keep a keen eye on what the significant figures imply for NGO’s and how they affect their operations. Learn more in detail in the 5 key lessons! It's alluring to concentrate just on the significant figures that affect the non-profit industry as a whole. However, it's equally crucial to concentrate on what those significant figures imply for certain NGOs and how they may affect your day-to-day operations. The report can be used to learn the following five key lessons. Lesson One: Small-Dollar Donors Are Being Left Behind Around 84.1% of contributors give less than $500 yearly to the organisations they support, and just 19% of new donors are retained over time, according to the most recent Fundraising Effectiveness Project data. This indicates that the great majority of small-dollar donors are leaving non-profit organizations. Lesson Two: There are Winners and Losers by Mission Type Donors change the emphasis they give to certain missions every year. Donors' giving priorities clearly reflect the legacy of COVID-19 as well as the enduring influence of racial and social justice movements. The number of non-profits with missions in the arts, culture, or healthcare increased significantly in 2020. Non-profits with an emphasis on foreign affairs, human services, and education, on the other hand, had slow growth or reductions in 2021. Lesson Three: Corporate Giving is a Distraction It will become more crucial to engage with people instead of concentrating on corporate ties as businesses modify their philanthropic alliances and employees try to support their preferred causes outside of their workplace's giving program. Lesson Four: It’s Time to Modernize Bequest Giving A warning sign that NGOs are not investing in highlighting the opportunities available with legacy gifts is the decline in bequests during 2021. Although any donor can establish a contribution through their estate to a non-profit they are passionate about, there is a frequent misconception that bequests must be customized for significant donors. Lesson Five: Retention and Acquisition Benchmarks Are Critical For its key revenue figures, the Giving USA report heavily depends on IRS 990 information. When examining giving trends throughout the sector, that data is helpful, but it is less helpful when attempting to comprehend the behavior of all donors. It is reassuring to see that when discussing contributors' ongoing support of NGOs, the Fundraising Effectiveness Project's data on acquisition and retention of individual donors was recognised as the primary source. It's crucial to comprehend donor behaviour, and you can achieve this by comparing the donor behaviour of your own organization to benchmarks from the ‘Fundraising Effectiveness Project.’

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Nonprofit Management

5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Nonprofit's Online Presence

Article | July 14, 2022

Marketing is often the last thing most organizations think about when starting off. It makes sense that the most important things to do are develop a business plan, determine your service/product offering, get all your legal and financial ducks in a row, and find a way to go-to-market. However, for non-profit and for-purpose organizations just getting off the ground, one of the most important things to establish is your online image. Things that can be extremely influential in how quickly and effectively you can gain traction digitally are branding, social presence, and content curation.

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Nonprofit Management

Proactive Asset Maintenance for Nonprofits

Article | May 28, 2021

For small nonprofits struggling to keep pace with day-to-day work, planning ahead can seem like a luxury. Especially when it comes to IT asset maintenance: If everything is functioning well right now, why mess with it? But a little work now can save a lot of work in the future. It can also prevent downtime, security incidents, and other issues that can hurt your organization.

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Spotlight

GiveWell Community Foundation

For the past 20 years, the GiveWell Community Foundation and its fundholders have been investing in the future of our communities through impactful charitable giving. Charitable funds can be established by individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, organizations, and municipalities to serve a wide variety of charitable causes.

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Fundraising

Quility Raises $164k for Make-A-Wish Foundation During Annual Virtual Auction

Make-A-Wish | November 18, 2022

Quility, an award-winning insurtech company, held its third annual virtual fundraising event, "Storybook of Wishes," benefiting Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina on November 16, 2022. In just one hour, the virtual auction raised $164,600 for Make-A-Wish, granting more than 20 wishes to kids. "At Quility, our purpose is everyday impact for everyone we serve, Events like this bring our mission to life. It is the most authentic expression of who we are and why we exist. We are grateful for the connections we have made with Make-A-Wish and that we work with an organization that makes it so easy to be our authentic selves." -Whit Zeh, Senior Director of Corporate Well-Being and Community Outreach. As part of the virtual event, Quility collaborated with the Sing Me a Story Foundation to sponsor the story of Olivia and to weave a short story she and her sister created into a song. Sing Me a Story gives children in need the opportunity to write and illustrate stories of their own, which are then turned into illustrated songs by professional songwriters. "Though Olivia has spent most of her life in a hospital, she and her family are full of joy and hope. It's a privilege to get to share her and her family's story and to give her and her sisters this opportunity, Olivia and her sister's story alone is worth hearing, but the song inspired by their story does something that words can't do. It's only through the power of music that we get a little closer to seeing the world the way Olivia does." -Tom Chester, Director of Production and Programs at Sing Me a Story. Quility's network of life insurance agents engage in various fundraisers and service projects every year to support communities and organizations, and the annual virtual auction is a culmination of these efforts as the agent force and corporate office come together to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. About Quility:   Quility uses innovative and proprietary technology to modernize the process of qualifying for and purchasing life insurance. The Quility digital platform offers clients the option to apply for life insurance online through a 10-minute application or with the support of a licensed insurance agent.

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Fundraising, Nonprofit Technology

Dominion Energy Announces $1.2 Million in Nonprofit Grants to Serve Critical Community Needs

Dominion Energy | October 12, 2022

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has awarded $1.2 million in philanthropic grants to 185 nonprofit organizations across eight states, including nearly $450,000 for 68 organizations in Virginia. The grants will support essential human services, including housing, health care and food security. This is the seventh year the company has donated more than $1 million to meet critical community needs. "There are no more basic human needs than access to food, shelter and medical care, We're very grateful for the organizations in our communities that are helping to meet these basic needs. We're proud to support them and the positive impact they're having on people's lives." -Hunter A. Applewhite, President of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Grant applications were open to eligible organizations in states across Dominion Energy's footprint. A few examples of this year's Virginia grant recipients include: Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Verona, Virginia) to help provide more than 1 million pounds of food to 37,000 people in the Blue Ridge region. PathForward (Arlington, Virginia) to build the capacity of its Mobile Medical Program which provides healthcare equity and access to unsheltered individuals in Arlington. Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging (Farmville, Virginia) that will support senior citizen services and medical care transportation needs for more residents in Cumberland, Nottoway, Amelia, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Buckingham and Lunenburg Counties. Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless (Portsmouth, Virginia) that will provide temporary shelter for Portsmouth's homeless population, as well as other essential needs such as access to mail, restrooms, and physical and emotional support. "Gifts like this help us continue our mission to ensure that everyone has enough to eat, It's only with the continued support of generous donors and loyal partners like Dominion Energy that we are able to serve our community through the Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantries." -Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. With support from Dominion Energy, we will be able to improve the health outlook and quality of life for our clients who are experiencing street homelessness in our community, said Betsy Frantz, President and CEO of PathForward. We are incredibly appreciative of this generous support. Everyone in our community deserves access to safe shelter, showers and emotional support," said Darlene Washington, Executive Director for the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless. "Dominion Energy's grant funding will allow us to continue delivering these vital services to those who depend on us the most. About the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation: About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $50 million in 2021 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality.

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Nonprofit Technology

CD&R Foundation Makes Inaugural Grants to Non-Profit Organizations

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice | June 15, 2022

Clayton Dubilier & Rice announced that the CD&R Foundation, which launched last year to meaningfully expand the Firm's philanthropic, service, and educational efforts, has made inaugural grants totaling approximately $3 million to nine non-profit organizations in New York City. These diverse organizations, identified as CD&R's Talent Solution Partners (TSP), align with the Foundation's goal of supporting "Equity through Opportunity" by offering underserved and underestimated talent in CD&R's local communities access to job training, high-quality jobs, and ongoing professional development opportunities throughout their career journey. Each organization focuses on the Foundation's key levers for change, which include: Equity: Promoting equitable access to employment and advancement that is inclusive of all facets of diversity—with a focus on historically excluded talent Growth: Supporting economic growth efforts in CD&R's two local communities – New York City and London Skills: Strengthening and amplifying best-in-class job skills training and upskilling practices for underserved and underestimated talent across industries Systems: Building capacity and filling gaps in the local workforce development ecosystem to increase opportunity pathways and eliminate barriers faced by marginalized communities CD&R will work alongside the TSPs to strengthen these efforts throughout New York City. CD&R recognizes that the pool of talent in our communities is overflowing, but their access to opportunity is shallow. These nine non-profit organizations were selected based on a myriad of factors, including their vision/mission, leadership, and commitment to an equitable future. These represent some of the traits and goals that we believe are critical to creating greater economic opportunity and employment for people of all backgrounds. Moving forward, we look forward to continuing to identify other potential partners that share our mission and values." Randy Moore, President of the CD&R Foundation "Over the past 44 years, CD&R has built a reputation for driving positive impact and innovation throughout our portfolio and in our local communities," said Don Gogel, Chairman of both CD&R and the CD&R Foundation. "The CD&R Foundation meaningfully expands these efforts, and we look forward to working with our TSPs to move the needle on inclusive employment and advancement practices." Braven: Its mission is to empower promising, underrepresented young people with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs. The City University of New York: The largest public urban university in the country, serving 260,000 degree seeking students and 185,000 continuing education students. The CUNY Office of Careers and Industry Partnerships sits at the intersection of industry and higher education, building partnerships between employers and the university to align CUNY's academic preparation with in-demand jobs in growth industries. Genesys Works: This organization provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Grace Institute: The institute empowers low-income women in the New York area to achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency by providing job-skills training, counseling, placement services and continuous learning opportunities. Henry Street Settlement: The organization's mission is to create opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers with over 50 programs located in 18 program sites across four core divisions, including employment and education. The Marcy Lab School: This institution provides free technical training, leadership development, and direct access to high-growth technology careers for young adults from underestimated backgrounds.  Per Scholas: Its mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled underrepresented talent to leading businesses. STRIVE: A nonprofit agency headquartered in East Harlem that provides a pathway to life-changing careers and opportunities through comprehensive professional training, intensive personal support and self-empowerment for those who face societal barriers to advancement. Upwardly Global: Its mission is to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and advance the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy through innovative skill-building and networking programs. About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with a strategy predicated on building stronger, more profitable businesses primarily in five industry sectors, including Industrials, Healthcare, Consumer, Technology and Financial Services. The CD&R Foundation was established with the goal of enabling "Equity through Opportunity" by strengthening the workforce development ecosystem at the local community, portfolio network, and employer level.

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Fundraising

Quility Raises $164k for Make-A-Wish Foundation During Annual Virtual Auction

Make-A-Wish | November 18, 2022

Quility, an award-winning insurtech company, held its third annual virtual fundraising event, "Storybook of Wishes," benefiting Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina on November 16, 2022. In just one hour, the virtual auction raised $164,600 for Make-A-Wish, granting more than 20 wishes to kids. "At Quility, our purpose is everyday impact for everyone we serve, Events like this bring our mission to life. It is the most authentic expression of who we are and why we exist. We are grateful for the connections we have made with Make-A-Wish and that we work with an organization that makes it so easy to be our authentic selves." -Whit Zeh, Senior Director of Corporate Well-Being and Community Outreach. As part of the virtual event, Quility collaborated with the Sing Me a Story Foundation to sponsor the story of Olivia and to weave a short story she and her sister created into a song. Sing Me a Story gives children in need the opportunity to write and illustrate stories of their own, which are then turned into illustrated songs by professional songwriters. "Though Olivia has spent most of her life in a hospital, she and her family are full of joy and hope. It's a privilege to get to share her and her family's story and to give her and her sisters this opportunity, Olivia and her sister's story alone is worth hearing, but the song inspired by their story does something that words can't do. It's only through the power of music that we get a little closer to seeing the world the way Olivia does." -Tom Chester, Director of Production and Programs at Sing Me a Story. Quility's network of life insurance agents engage in various fundraisers and service projects every year to support communities and organizations, and the annual virtual auction is a culmination of these efforts as the agent force and corporate office come together to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. About Quility:   Quility uses innovative and proprietary technology to modernize the process of qualifying for and purchasing life insurance. The Quility digital platform offers clients the option to apply for life insurance online through a 10-minute application or with the support of a licensed insurance agent.

Read More

Fundraising, Nonprofit Technology

Dominion Energy Announces $1.2 Million in Nonprofit Grants to Serve Critical Community Needs

Dominion Energy | October 12, 2022

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has awarded $1.2 million in philanthropic grants to 185 nonprofit organizations across eight states, including nearly $450,000 for 68 organizations in Virginia. The grants will support essential human services, including housing, health care and food security. This is the seventh year the company has donated more than $1 million to meet critical community needs. "There are no more basic human needs than access to food, shelter and medical care, We're very grateful for the organizations in our communities that are helping to meet these basic needs. We're proud to support them and the positive impact they're having on people's lives." -Hunter A. Applewhite, President of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Grant applications were open to eligible organizations in states across Dominion Energy's footprint. A few examples of this year's Virginia grant recipients include: Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (Verona, Virginia) to help provide more than 1 million pounds of food to 37,000 people in the Blue Ridge region. PathForward (Arlington, Virginia) to build the capacity of its Mobile Medical Program which provides healthcare equity and access to unsheltered individuals in Arlington. Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging (Farmville, Virginia) that will support senior citizen services and medical care transportation needs for more residents in Cumberland, Nottoway, Amelia, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Buckingham and Lunenburg Counties. Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless (Portsmouth, Virginia) that will provide temporary shelter for Portsmouth's homeless population, as well as other essential needs such as access to mail, restrooms, and physical and emotional support. "Gifts like this help us continue our mission to ensure that everyone has enough to eat, It's only with the continued support of generous donors and loyal partners like Dominion Energy that we are able to serve our community through the Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantries." -Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. With support from Dominion Energy, we will be able to improve the health outlook and quality of life for our clients who are experiencing street homelessness in our community, said Betsy Frantz, President and CEO of PathForward. We are incredibly appreciative of this generous support. Everyone in our community deserves access to safe shelter, showers and emotional support," said Darlene Washington, Executive Director for the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless. "Dominion Energy's grant funding will allow us to continue delivering these vital services to those who depend on us the most. About the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation: About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $50 million in 2021 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality.

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

CD&R Foundation Makes Inaugural Grants to Non-Profit Organizations

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice | June 15, 2022

Clayton Dubilier & Rice announced that the CD&R Foundation, which launched last year to meaningfully expand the Firm's philanthropic, service, and educational efforts, has made inaugural grants totaling approximately $3 million to nine non-profit organizations in New York City. These diverse organizations, identified as CD&R's Talent Solution Partners (TSP), align with the Foundation's goal of supporting "Equity through Opportunity" by offering underserved and underestimated talent in CD&R's local communities access to job training, high-quality jobs, and ongoing professional development opportunities throughout their career journey. Each organization focuses on the Foundation's key levers for change, which include: Equity: Promoting equitable access to employment and advancement that is inclusive of all facets of diversity—with a focus on historically excluded talent Growth: Supporting economic growth efforts in CD&R's two local communities – New York City and London Skills: Strengthening and amplifying best-in-class job skills training and upskilling practices for underserved and underestimated talent across industries Systems: Building capacity and filling gaps in the local workforce development ecosystem to increase opportunity pathways and eliminate barriers faced by marginalized communities CD&R will work alongside the TSPs to strengthen these efforts throughout New York City. CD&R recognizes that the pool of talent in our communities is overflowing, but their access to opportunity is shallow. These nine non-profit organizations were selected based on a myriad of factors, including their vision/mission, leadership, and commitment to an equitable future. These represent some of the traits and goals that we believe are critical to creating greater economic opportunity and employment for people of all backgrounds. Moving forward, we look forward to continuing to identify other potential partners that share our mission and values." Randy Moore, President of the CD&R Foundation "Over the past 44 years, CD&R has built a reputation for driving positive impact and innovation throughout our portfolio and in our local communities," said Don Gogel, Chairman of both CD&R and the CD&R Foundation. "The CD&R Foundation meaningfully expands these efforts, and we look forward to working with our TSPs to move the needle on inclusive employment and advancement practices." Braven: Its mission is to empower promising, underrepresented young people with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs. The City University of New York: The largest public urban university in the country, serving 260,000 degree seeking students and 185,000 continuing education students. The CUNY Office of Careers and Industry Partnerships sits at the intersection of industry and higher education, building partnerships between employers and the university to align CUNY's academic preparation with in-demand jobs in growth industries. Genesys Works: This organization provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Grace Institute: The institute empowers low-income women in the New York area to achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency by providing job-skills training, counseling, placement services and continuous learning opportunities. Henry Street Settlement: The organization's mission is to create opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers with over 50 programs located in 18 program sites across four core divisions, including employment and education. The Marcy Lab School: This institution provides free technical training, leadership development, and direct access to high-growth technology careers for young adults from underestimated backgrounds.  Per Scholas: Its mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled underrepresented talent to leading businesses. STRIVE: A nonprofit agency headquartered in East Harlem that provides a pathway to life-changing careers and opportunities through comprehensive professional training, intensive personal support and self-empowerment for those who face societal barriers to advancement. Upwardly Global: Its mission is to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and advance the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy through innovative skill-building and networking programs. About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with a strategy predicated on building stronger, more profitable businesses primarily in five industry sectors, including Industrials, Healthcare, Consumer, Technology and Financial Services. The CD&R Foundation was established with the goal of enabling "Equity through Opportunity" by strengthening the workforce development ecosystem at the local community, portfolio network, and employer level.

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