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It’s time to start accounting for nature

WWF recently released Living Planet Report 2016, the latest biennial accounting of the state of the planet. The numbers are sobering. Each year, humans use the biocapacity of 1.6 Earths, consuming resources faster than the planet can replenish them. That’s the ecological equivalent of surviving on credit.
The bigger our footprint, the greater the pressure we place on ecosystems and the creatures they support. Global wildlife populations have shrunk an average of 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012, and if we continue like this, 67 per cent will be lost by 2020. We’re also overstepping the safe thresholds for ecological processes that sustain life on Earth, including with our climate which is no longer stable, with the increased flow of nitrogen and phosphorous into the environment, and through major changes to the forests and oceans that serve as planetary lungs.

Spotlight

Lions Clubs International

Lions meet the needs of our local communities and the world. Over 1.4 million men and women in 210 countries and geographic areas conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, provide help in time of disaster and much more.

OTHER ARTICLES
Nonprofit Management

How to Drive User-Generated Content for Your Nonprofit

Article | July 20, 2022

Eighty-six percent of millennials consider user-generated content as a good gauge of a brand’s overall quality. User-generated content comes from unpaid fans of an organization who share their experiences with that brand through their social media platforms, and can include a variety of content, like videos, photos, tweets, blogs, and reviews. This type of content also serves an organic way for supporters to promote your nonprofit to one another. It’s key to increasing your message’s reach, as 92% of consumers say they trust recommendations from other consumers, even those they don’t know, more than content directly from a brand.

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Fundraising

Marketing Your Nonprofit Organization in 4 Simple Steps

Article | July 15, 2022

It's not difficult to learn how to market your non-profit. Organizations can take a lot of simple steps to get in front of their target audience, inform the public, and win more people on board for their cause. These four stages will help kickstart marketing initiatives and put them on the right track to achieving their company's objectives. The non-profit is missing out on critical chances if its only marketing efforts are to organize an annual benefit event and periodically update its website. For a non-profit to expand and remain active, consistent marketing is just as important as for 'for-profit' enterprises. Without public awareness, even the greatest charitable group will be unable to accomplish anything. To properly carry out its objective, a non-profit needs strong ties with funders, volunteers, the media, and even governmental bodies. In order to retain relationships, attract regular donations, and keep an organization's activities in the public view, continual marketing initiatives are necessary. However, there are still stages that every employee can help with to establish a marketing plan, even if the non-profit doesn't have the funds for a professional marketing team. Choose the Target Market A non-profit must identify its target audience and the actions it wants them to adapt before it can take any steps to advertise its organization. Organizations can adjust their marketing initiatives to reach their target audience and motivate them to act once they are aware of who they are and where to find them. For example, they might find it helpful to look into firms that are comparable to their own to discover how they sell to the same demographic. Set Measurable Objectives Organizations can't determine whether their non-profit marketing is successful without knowing their goals. They are better equipped to assess what is working and what needs to change when they have quantifiable goals. After establishing their objectives, they should plan with their team how they'll gauge their success in achieving them. Curate Marketing Materials Marketing materials are necessary for non-profits whenever they engage with the public. These materials should be customized for their group, exhibit their achievements, offerings, and core principles, and provide information on how to get involved or donate. Build a Database Once the promotional strategies are ready, it's time to put them to use. But before they accomplish that, organizations must create a database of present and potential members. Organizations can use databases to categorize their audience into different groups depending on things like whether or not they've donated in the past, their economic level, or whether they prefer to be reached through email or physical mail. While deploying these above-mentioned steps, non-profit organizations can effectively boost their marketing capabilities that would, in return, aid in achieving their organizational goals.

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Nonprofit Management

Is Your Nonprofit Struggling to Retain Donors?

Article | July 11, 2022

If you gather a group of nonprofit professionals and ask what their biggest fundraising challenges are, many will likely say they don’t retain enough of their donors. Are you one of them? Do you find yourself asking, “why is my nonprofit struggling to retain donors?” It’s no secret that long-term, repeat donors help you raise more money. And we know that the average donor retention rate for nonprofits hovers around 45 percent. But why has this number remained flat for years while nonprofits continue to focus on donor retention? We find there are a few key reasons why nonprofits struggle to retain donors. And you know that no two donors are the same and there is no one-size fits all approach to fundraising. But while the solution for each nonprofit may be different, many are struggling to retain donors for similar reasons.

Read More
Fundraising

The Money Redirect That’s Coming for Donor Wallets

Article | August 10, 2021

I speak to countless people in the nonprofit sector during the year, including many wealthy major gift donors. Throughout my time working with nonprofits, I often get asked and tell others what I see on the horizon. Recently, I wrote about a nonprofit crash that’s on the way. What's next? I see a big governmental money redirect. It’s no secret that zombie philanthropy took root in the sector. According to the National Philanthropic Trust’s "2020 Donor-Advised Fund Report," these funds, also known as DAFs, have approximately $140 billion under management by money managers at institutions such as Fidelity Charitable Trust, Schwab Charitable and Vanguard Charitable. Because these organizations are set up as 501(c)(3) organizations, donors receive immediate tax deductions.

Read More
Nonprofit Management

What Does the Health of Your Nonprofit Website Mean and How Can You Improve It?

Article | July 20, 2022

Eighty-six percent of millennials consider user-generated content as a good gauge of a brand’s overall quality. User-generated content comes from unpaid fans of an organization who share their experiences with that brand through their social media platforms, and can include a variety of content, like videos, photos, tweets, blogs, and reviews. This type of content also serves an organic way for supporters to promote your nonprofit to one another. It’s key to increasing your message’s reach, as 92% of consumers say they trust recommendations from other consumers, even those they don’t know, more than content directly from a brand.

Read More
Fundraising

The Power of Film for Philanthropy

Article | July 15, 2022

It's not difficult to learn how to market your non-profit. Organizations can take a lot of simple steps to get in front of their target audience, inform the public, and win more people on board for their cause. These four stages will help kickstart marketing initiatives and put them on the right track to achieving their company's objectives. The non-profit is missing out on critical chances if its only marketing efforts are to organize an annual benefit event and periodically update its website. For a non-profit to expand and remain active, consistent marketing is just as important as for 'for-profit' enterprises. Without public awareness, even the greatest charitable group will be unable to accomplish anything. To properly carry out its objective, a non-profit needs strong ties with funders, volunteers, the media, and even governmental bodies. In order to retain relationships, attract regular donations, and keep an organization's activities in the public view, continual marketing initiatives are necessary. However, there are still stages that every employee can help with to establish a marketing plan, even if the non-profit doesn't have the funds for a professional marketing team. Choose the Target Market A non-profit must identify its target audience and the actions it wants them to adapt before it can take any steps to advertise its organization. Organizations can adjust their marketing initiatives to reach their target audience and motivate them to act once they are aware of who they are and where to find them. For example, they might find it helpful to look into firms that are comparable to their own to discover how they sell to the same demographic. Set Measurable Objectives Organizations can't determine whether their non-profit marketing is successful without knowing their goals. They are better equipped to assess what is working and what needs to change when they have quantifiable goals. After establishing their objectives, they should plan with their team how they'll gauge their success in achieving them. Curate Marketing Materials Marketing materials are necessary for non-profits whenever they engage with the public. These materials should be customized for their group, exhibit their achievements, offerings, and core principles, and provide information on how to get involved or donate. Build a Database Once the promotional strategies are ready, it's time to put them to use. But before they accomplish that, organizations must create a database of present and potential members. Organizations can use databases to categorize their audience into different groups depending on things like whether or not they've donated in the past, their economic level, or whether they prefer to be reached through email or physical mail. While deploying these above-mentioned steps, non-profit organizations can effectively boost their marketing capabilities that would, in return, aid in achieving their organizational goals.

Read More
Nonprofit Management

Top 5 Trends for Non-Profits in 2022

Article | July 11, 2022

If you gather a group of nonprofit professionals and ask what their biggest fundraising challenges are, many will likely say they don’t retain enough of their donors. Are you one of them? Do you find yourself asking, “why is my nonprofit struggling to retain donors?” It’s no secret that long-term, repeat donors help you raise more money. And we know that the average donor retention rate for nonprofits hovers around 45 percent. But why has this number remained flat for years while nonprofits continue to focus on donor retention? We find there are a few key reasons why nonprofits struggle to retain donors. And you know that no two donors are the same and there is no one-size fits all approach to fundraising. But while the solution for each nonprofit may be different, many are struggling to retain donors for similar reasons.

Read More
Fundraising

The Money Redirect That’s Coming for Donor Wallets

Article | August 10, 2021

I speak to countless people in the nonprofit sector during the year, including many wealthy major gift donors. Throughout my time working with nonprofits, I often get asked and tell others what I see on the horizon. Recently, I wrote about a nonprofit crash that’s on the way. What's next? I see a big governmental money redirect. It’s no secret that zombie philanthropy took root in the sector. According to the National Philanthropic Trust’s "2020 Donor-Advised Fund Report," these funds, also known as DAFs, have approximately $140 billion under management by money managers at institutions such as Fidelity Charitable Trust, Schwab Charitable and Vanguard Charitable. Because these organizations are set up as 501(c)(3) organizations, donors receive immediate tax deductions.

Read More
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Spotlight

Lions Clubs International

Lions meet the needs of our local communities and the world. Over 1.4 million men and women in 210 countries and geographic areas conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, provide help in time of disaster and much more.

Related News

Nonprofit Technology

Aplos Joins ASG to Scale Up Industry-leading Nonprofit Software Platform

ASG | February 24, 2022

ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors that buys and builds vertical SaaS companies, announced that it has acquired Aplos, an industry-leading platform for nonprofits of all kinds, including faith-based organizations, K-12 schools, arts and cultural associations and more. Aplos provides a full suite of SaaS and FinTech tools, including fund accounting, financial reporting, donation tracking and fundraising tools, and people management. Through one unified solution for nonprofit management, Aplos empowers nonprofits to advance their missions and serve their communities. Our goal from day one has always been to meet the software needs of the full nonprofit sector, but to get there we needed to find the right financial partner. I am excited to have found a partner in ASG that believes in the value of serving nonprofits as strongly as I do. This new partnership equips Aplos to ramp up our team, fuel our product development, and invest in the future of this incredible community.” Tim Goetz, Aplos founder Aplos was founded in 2009 in Fresno, Calif. after Goetz couldn’t find a simple, affordable fund accounting software for his church, where he served as executive pastor. Since then, Aplos has grown to a team of over 65 employees who are deeply committed to making an impact with nonprofit organizations. From its initial launch as a web-based fund accounting software, Aplos now includes solutions for church management, donor management, event registration, websites, and fundraising. Today, over 10,000 organizations utilize Aplos to engage over 5 million donors and supporters around the world. Aplos marks the 44th acquisition for ASG and its first in the nonprofit software industry. Aplos will also welcome Anush Vinod as CEO, who was most recently an executive at a high-growth e-commerce business and a member of Alpine Investor’s CEO Program. “Aplos is an exceptional platform, built by innovators who care deeply about serving nonprofits and churches,” said Vinod. “The team’s passion to innovate for their customer is a worthy and inspiring mission. Nowhere is this mission more apparent than in the products, which carry the spirit of this relentless commitment to delivering great technology. For these reasons – and many more – I’m excited to lead Aplos in its next phase of growth.” About Aplos Aplos is a cloud-based system designed specially to serve the needs of nonprofit and church organizations of all sizes. The Aplos all-in-one platform takes the stress out of finances and creating reports, streamline administrative tasks, and make giving faster and more effective. Users can fundraise with the use of online donation tools, custom communication, donor database reports and event registration. Aplos enables organizations to manage all of their financial, donation and donor information in one place. About ASG ASG, backed by Alpine Investors, is a unique and fast-growing software business that buys and builds market-leading vertical SaaS companies. ASG believes deeply in the power of people and data to grow great organizations, and that sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources across its community of businesses drives exponential growth. Founders of leading SaaS companies continue to trust ASG to grow their businesses and build even stronger legacies for the future. About Alpine Investors Alpine Investors is a people-driven private equity firm that is committed to building enduring companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Alpine specializes in investments in middle-market companies in the software and services industries. Its PeopleFirst strategy includes a CEO-in-Residence program which allows Alpine to bring proven leadership to situations where additional or new management is needed post-transaction. Alpine is currently investing out of its $2.25 billion eighth fund.

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BDO updates guide to nonprofit financial statements

BDO USA, LLP | March 13, 2017

BDO USA has released the third edition of its guide to nonprofit financial reporting, updated to include the recent changes by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

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Novogradac & Company LLP Promotes Seven to Partner

Novogradac & Company LLP | January 02, 2017

Novogradac & Company LLP, a national accounting and consulting firm, welcomes Nat Eng, Chris Jones, Andrea Killeen and Angie Taylor of the San Francisco office; Rachel Denton of the Kansas City, Mo., office; Bryan Hung of the Long Beach, Calif., office; and Amanda Read of the Cleveland office to the partnership. The firm, which specializes in affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy tax credits and other areas, has 56 partners in 25 offices nationwide “I am excited to announce that Amanda, Andrea, Angie, Bryan, Chris, Nat and Rachel have been promoted to partner,” said Michael Novogradac, the firm’s managing partner. “Their dedication to the firm and expertise in their respective fields has helped Novogradac & Company continue to be a leader in the tax credit, accounting and valuation industries, while continuing to find new ways to better serve our clients.”

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

Aplos Joins ASG to Scale Up Industry-leading Nonprofit Software Platform

ASG | February 24, 2022

ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors that buys and builds vertical SaaS companies, announced that it has acquired Aplos, an industry-leading platform for nonprofits of all kinds, including faith-based organizations, K-12 schools, arts and cultural associations and more. Aplos provides a full suite of SaaS and FinTech tools, including fund accounting, financial reporting, donation tracking and fundraising tools, and people management. Through one unified solution for nonprofit management, Aplos empowers nonprofits to advance their missions and serve their communities. Our goal from day one has always been to meet the software needs of the full nonprofit sector, but to get there we needed to find the right financial partner. I am excited to have found a partner in ASG that believes in the value of serving nonprofits as strongly as I do. This new partnership equips Aplos to ramp up our team, fuel our product development, and invest in the future of this incredible community.” Tim Goetz, Aplos founder Aplos was founded in 2009 in Fresno, Calif. after Goetz couldn’t find a simple, affordable fund accounting software for his church, where he served as executive pastor. Since then, Aplos has grown to a team of over 65 employees who are deeply committed to making an impact with nonprofit organizations. From its initial launch as a web-based fund accounting software, Aplos now includes solutions for church management, donor management, event registration, websites, and fundraising. Today, over 10,000 organizations utilize Aplos to engage over 5 million donors and supporters around the world. Aplos marks the 44th acquisition for ASG and its first in the nonprofit software industry. Aplos will also welcome Anush Vinod as CEO, who was most recently an executive at a high-growth e-commerce business and a member of Alpine Investor’s CEO Program. “Aplos is an exceptional platform, built by innovators who care deeply about serving nonprofits and churches,” said Vinod. “The team’s passion to innovate for their customer is a worthy and inspiring mission. Nowhere is this mission more apparent than in the products, which carry the spirit of this relentless commitment to delivering great technology. For these reasons – and many more – I’m excited to lead Aplos in its next phase of growth.” About Aplos Aplos is a cloud-based system designed specially to serve the needs of nonprofit and church organizations of all sizes. The Aplos all-in-one platform takes the stress out of finances and creating reports, streamline administrative tasks, and make giving faster and more effective. Users can fundraise with the use of online donation tools, custom communication, donor database reports and event registration. Aplos enables organizations to manage all of their financial, donation and donor information in one place. About ASG ASG, backed by Alpine Investors, is a unique and fast-growing software business that buys and builds market-leading vertical SaaS companies. ASG believes deeply in the power of people and data to grow great organizations, and that sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources across its community of businesses drives exponential growth. Founders of leading SaaS companies continue to trust ASG to grow their businesses and build even stronger legacies for the future. About Alpine Investors Alpine Investors is a people-driven private equity firm that is committed to building enduring companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Alpine specializes in investments in middle-market companies in the software and services industries. Its PeopleFirst strategy includes a CEO-in-Residence program which allows Alpine to bring proven leadership to situations where additional or new management is needed post-transaction. Alpine is currently investing out of its $2.25 billion eighth fund.

Read More

BDO updates guide to nonprofit financial statements

BDO USA, LLP | March 13, 2017

BDO USA has released the third edition of its guide to nonprofit financial reporting, updated to include the recent changes by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Read More

Novogradac & Company LLP Promotes Seven to Partner

Novogradac & Company LLP | January 02, 2017

Novogradac & Company LLP, a national accounting and consulting firm, welcomes Nat Eng, Chris Jones, Andrea Killeen and Angie Taylor of the San Francisco office; Rachel Denton of the Kansas City, Mo., office; Bryan Hung of the Long Beach, Calif., office; and Amanda Read of the Cleveland office to the partnership. The firm, which specializes in affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy tax credits and other areas, has 56 partners in 25 offices nationwide “I am excited to announce that Amanda, Andrea, Angie, Bryan, Chris, Nat and Rachel have been promoted to partner,” said Michael Novogradac, the firm’s managing partner. “Their dedication to the firm and expertise in their respective fields has helped Novogradac & Company continue to be a leader in the tax credit, accounting and valuation industries, while continuing to find new ways to better serve our clients.”

Read More

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