US: Why a Pittsburgh charity is making little hijabs for dolls

When Gisele Fetterman realised her five-year-old daughter didn’t have any dolls that looked like the mothers and grandmothers of so many of her Muslim friends, she decided to do something about it.

Spotlight

The James Madison Institute

Florida’s premier free-market think tank, The James Madison Institute (JMI), was founded in 1987 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organizations. Labeled a “heavy hitter” by Florida Trend, JMI’s work has appeared in every Florida media market, as well as national markets through USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Bloomberg, POLITICO, Newsmax and others.

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Nonprofit Management

The CARES Act Provides Financial Relief for Nonprofits

Article | July 14, 2022

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history with an estimated $2.2 trillion price tag, was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act includes several key relief elements that could prove essential for nonprofit organizations affected by the economic downturn.

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Nonprofit Management

5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Nonprofit's Online Presence

Article | July 15, 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

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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Fundraising

Using Social Media in Peer to Peer Fundraisers

Article | May 25, 2022

Much of the nuts and bolts of fundraising costs money, and expenses can impact your organization’s bottom line. Still, many successful nonprofits have enjoyed robust giving in recent years due to one relatively inexpensive method to exploit: social media. We’ve become much more familiar with the various social media platforms recently; if the pandemic showed us anything, there is connective power to social media platforms. From the comfort of our homes, we can engage with people and organizations in our hometowns and far away places. If you are fundraising for a nonprofit, this connectivity is one way to attract new donors, cultivate current donors, steward your donors, and, ultimately, encourage gifts from friends new and old. Through peer-to-peer social outreach, the most impactful online connections are made, just as in “real life” fundraising. Peer-to-peer fundraising can look a few different ways. One way is by encouraging your supporters to set up their own fundraiser pages. Some fundraising softwares make this easy by allowing a person to set up their own campaign. All of a sudden, their network becomes your network, too! Understanding the Best Platform for your Organization Another way of tapping into peer-to-peer power is through social media. How can social media help attract new donors? First, take an inventory of the social media accounts associated with your organization. Do you have a Facebook page? LinkedIn? Instagram? TikTok or Twitter? Find someone savvy within your nonprofit – or a friendly supporter – to help you determine if all of these (or some of them) are a good fit for your nonprofit’s personality and mission. Do you serve an adult client base? Facebook and Instagram might be good starting platforms for you. Does your organization help teenagers? Post to Instagram and TikTok. Perhaps a professional LinkedIn page is more in line with what you do. If so, make sure it is up to date and that you are interacting with other like-minded organizations! Organizing Campaign Content for Donors Once you have your platforms figured out, pushing organizational content that highlights your group’s work and mission will help you attract new friends and cultivate your loyal supporters. Think about posting entries that highlight the work you do in short sentences and compelling pictures, and think about posting on some kind of schedule. Perhaps you post about programming on Tuesdays and feature a client or member on a Thursday. Mindless posts are not compelling – make them relevant, interesting or clever, and tactical. Overwhelming the social media feed is not the goal – compelling content which drives social media users to your organization to learn more is. Peer-to-peer social media fundraising often begins with peer-to-peer content sharing. Once you have a handle on the kinds of posts your organization will create – and when they’ll be pushed out – you must leverage the power of social media connections to help further your organization and its case for support. Encourage all of your staff and Board members to “friend” you on the various platforms, and encourage them to boost your content by sharing it with their networks. Do you have an event coming up? Be sure to get this out to your social media contacts and ask them to share it. Has a donor been particularly generous, and can you feature them in a social media post? If you can do so, “tagging” the donor will, in many instances, automatically push your content out to their networks. The reach becomes massive with the right connections. Leveraging Peer Audiences Cultivation and stewardship of your nonprofit’s loyal supporters are very easy on social media. Pictures and words of gratitude or recognition are simple to post and can demonstrate your organization’s impact far beyond the reach of any email or mailing list. Finally, social media’s usefulness in fundraising cannot be overstated. Create virtual events that allow friends to RSVP and share them with their networks. Use Instagram to push out the publicity about the fundraiser – any promotional materials you may have or can create – to manufacture some “buzz” about the event. Utilize TikTok to showcase aspects of the fundraiser: perhaps highlight a program that the fundraiser will benefit or a behind-the-scenes of the event planning. There is no need to restrain creativity – give viewers a reason to return to your site, your event, and your nonprofit!

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Spotlight

The James Madison Institute

Florida’s premier free-market think tank, The James Madison Institute (JMI), was founded in 1987 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organizations. Labeled a “heavy hitter” by Florida Trend, JMI’s work has appeared in every Florida media market, as well as national markets through USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Bloomberg, POLITICO, Newsmax and others.

Related News

Nonprofit Management

MB2 Dental Launches Charitable Organization

MB2 Dental | July 15, 2022

The dental partnership organization, MB2 Dental, has launched its own charitable Foundation – The MB2 Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to provide financial assistance to its 5,000 plus employees in the event they experience unforeseen, life-altering hardships such as natural disasters, extended illnesses, injuries, and more. Team members may nominate themselves or others for consideration for a monetary donation. The work of the Foundation will also include providing donations to local charities and organizations at the request of MB2 Dental's doctor partners and employees. The Foundation thrives through the generosity of its team members. Funding for the Foundation will come from MB2 Dental's doctor partners and team members through optional paycheck deductions and other fundraising events. "The number one priority of any family is to take care of each other; this is our dental family, With affiliated practices in over 35 states, supporting our doctor partners and their teams in any way possible is a top priority. The individuals who make up our MB2 family have always been ready to jump into action and help one another without hesitation. The Foundation allows us to streamline this." -Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva CEO and Founder, MB2 Dental. MB2 Dental's previous charitable initiatives include annual doctor-led mission trips and donating to local organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, The Genesis Women's Shelter, and Salvation Army. MB2 Dental also annually conducts The Elves Initiative, a cause led by Dr. Villanueva encouraging MB2 Dental home office employees to nominate coworkers, family, friends, and neighbors for financial assistance around the holidays. The success and growth of the Elves Initiative served as inspiration for the MB2 Family Foundation. About MB2 Dental- Dallas, Texas-based MB2 Dental is a first-of-its-kind Dental Partnership Organization (DPO) founded and led by dentist and entrepreneur CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, with a mission to empower dentists to preserve their profession. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver's seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth. MB2 currently partners with dentists and specialists in more than 35 states.

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Fundraising

Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary fundraising campaign ends a success

Warm Up America! | June 21, 2022

Warm Up America! (WUA!), a national nonprofit that collects hand knitted and crochet items like hats, scarves, and gloves, has long been known for its charitable contributions around both the United States and the world. Founded in 1991 by Evie Rosen, a knitting instructor and philanthropist endorsed by TIME Magazine and Oprah Winfrey, WUA! has since donated over 1.4 million items to people in need made by over 30,000 volunteers. Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary was in 2021 and to celebrate, the organization raised money all year long to continue its mission of providing warmth to people in need. Volunteers who donated $30 or more to the organization were given access to 90 knit and crochet patterns for 7" by 9" blanket sections - WUA!'s prime need. Since its anniversary in 2021, Warm Up America! has raised over $80,000. We are truly speechless at the generous monetary and material donations we've received from our volunteers and corporate partners. We couldn't sustain our organization without their support and we look forward to their continued partnership in helping us fulfill our mission." Jenny Bessonette, executive director of Warm Up America! WUA!'s ambitious volunteers, who set a goal of making 199,130 sections (1991 + 30) by the end of May, exceeded their target by over 10,000 sections. The 210,956 sections they donated are the most ever collected in one year. This number of sections amounts to over 4,300 adult blankets. The blankets made from these sections are going directly into the hands of people who need a dose of warmth and love. All money raised for WUA! goes directly toward operating costs. The biggest expense is shipping - WUA! sends hundreds of boxes a year containing items made by volunteers to organizations helping people in need. As WUA! continues to grow, so do its shipping costs. Monetary donations are the best way to support Warm Up America! in its mission of providing warmth to people in need. About Warm Up America! Started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for people in need, Warm Up America! is a charity that has warmed people's lives since 1991. Founder Evie Rosen came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and others joining them together into blankets, which quickly caught on. Thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country, today Warm Up America! distributes warm blankets, hats and other items to tens of thousands of people in need.

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Nonprofit Management

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation Announces 2022 Charity of Choice

CAPTRUST | June 18, 2022

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation (CCF), an employee-run 501(c)(3), announced its 2022 Charity of Choice, receiving a $100,000 grant: The Green Chair Project. Additionally, five nonprofits were selected to receive CCF national grants of $25,000 each. Founded in 2007, the CCF's mission is to enrich the lives of children in communities we serve. Through the end of 2021, the CCF has awarded over $3.879 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country that help children. Fundraising is primarily via employee payroll deductions that are matched by CAPTRUST. The Green Chair Project will receive a $100,000 grant to support its mission of providing the essentials of home to neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis, or disaster in Wake County, North Carolina. The grant will directly support Green Chair's Sweeter Dreams program, providing beds and cribs to 400 children and babies in Wake County who lack a safe place to sleep. In addition to the funding, Green Chair will receive support from CCF volunteers throughout the year. We are so grateful to be selected as the CAPTRUST Community Foundation's 2022 Charity of Choice. The CCF's trust in our mission ensures that more children in need in Wake County, North Carolina will have a safe and comfortable place to sleep." Jackie Craig, Green Chair's co-founder and chief executive officer In addition to its work with The Green Chair Project, the CCF selected five charities that will receive national grants of $25,000 in 2022. The five recipients are: Communities In Schools of Wake County. CIS Wake surrounds students in Wake County, North Carolina, with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Families Together. Families Together moves families in Wake County, North Carolina, and surrounding counties from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support, and connection to community resources. Kinetic Kids, Inc. A San Antonio, Texas, organization that supports children with special needs and their families through adapted sports, fine arts, and educational programs. Sunrise Day Camps Association. Sunrise supports children with cancer and their siblings nationwide through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive summer day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered free of charge. TABLE. TABLE's mission is to create equitable access to healthy food and provide nutrition education to children in Orange County, North Carolina. "We recognize the immense needs of children across our communities as we all recover from the effects of COVID-19," said Philip D'Unger, president of the CCF and manager, wealth planning, at CAPTRUST. "We are incredibly excited and fortunate to work with this year's Charity of Choice, The Green Chair Project, as well as the national grant recipients, who all do amazing work in their respective communities." About the CAPTRUST Community Foundation The CAPTRUST Community Foundation was organized in 2007 to provide CAPTRUST employees with opportunities to participate as a group in community outreach efforts. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. About CAPTRUST CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance for individuals and families. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis/fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs. With more than 1,100 employees across 70 locations nationwide, CAPTRUST oversees more than $100 billion in assets under management and more than $750 billion in assets under advisement (as of March 31, 2022).

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Nonprofit Management

MB2 Dental Launches Charitable Organization

MB2 Dental | July 15, 2022

The dental partnership organization, MB2 Dental, has launched its own charitable Foundation – The MB2 Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to provide financial assistance to its 5,000 plus employees in the event they experience unforeseen, life-altering hardships such as natural disasters, extended illnesses, injuries, and more. Team members may nominate themselves or others for consideration for a monetary donation. The work of the Foundation will also include providing donations to local charities and organizations at the request of MB2 Dental's doctor partners and employees. The Foundation thrives through the generosity of its team members. Funding for the Foundation will come from MB2 Dental's doctor partners and team members through optional paycheck deductions and other fundraising events. "The number one priority of any family is to take care of each other; this is our dental family, With affiliated practices in over 35 states, supporting our doctor partners and their teams in any way possible is a top priority. The individuals who make up our MB2 family have always been ready to jump into action and help one another without hesitation. The Foundation allows us to streamline this." -Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva CEO and Founder, MB2 Dental. MB2 Dental's previous charitable initiatives include annual doctor-led mission trips and donating to local organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, The Genesis Women's Shelter, and Salvation Army. MB2 Dental also annually conducts The Elves Initiative, a cause led by Dr. Villanueva encouraging MB2 Dental home office employees to nominate coworkers, family, friends, and neighbors for financial assistance around the holidays. The success and growth of the Elves Initiative served as inspiration for the MB2 Family Foundation. About MB2 Dental- Dallas, Texas-based MB2 Dental is a first-of-its-kind Dental Partnership Organization (DPO) founded and led by dentist and entrepreneur CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, with a mission to empower dentists to preserve their profession. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver's seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth. MB2 currently partners with dentists and specialists in more than 35 states.

Read More

Fundraising

Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary fundraising campaign ends a success

Warm Up America! | June 21, 2022

Warm Up America! (WUA!), a national nonprofit that collects hand knitted and crochet items like hats, scarves, and gloves, has long been known for its charitable contributions around both the United States and the world. Founded in 1991 by Evie Rosen, a knitting instructor and philanthropist endorsed by TIME Magazine and Oprah Winfrey, WUA! has since donated over 1.4 million items to people in need made by over 30,000 volunteers. Warm Up America!'s 30th anniversary was in 2021 and to celebrate, the organization raised money all year long to continue its mission of providing warmth to people in need. Volunteers who donated $30 or more to the organization were given access to 90 knit and crochet patterns for 7" by 9" blanket sections - WUA!'s prime need. Since its anniversary in 2021, Warm Up America! has raised over $80,000. We are truly speechless at the generous monetary and material donations we've received from our volunteers and corporate partners. We couldn't sustain our organization without their support and we look forward to their continued partnership in helping us fulfill our mission." Jenny Bessonette, executive director of Warm Up America! WUA!'s ambitious volunteers, who set a goal of making 199,130 sections (1991 + 30) by the end of May, exceeded their target by over 10,000 sections. The 210,956 sections they donated are the most ever collected in one year. This number of sections amounts to over 4,300 adult blankets. The blankets made from these sections are going directly into the hands of people who need a dose of warmth and love. All money raised for WUA! goes directly toward operating costs. The biggest expense is shipping - WUA! sends hundreds of boxes a year containing items made by volunteers to organizations helping people in need. As WUA! continues to grow, so do its shipping costs. Monetary donations are the best way to support Warm Up America! in its mission of providing warmth to people in need. About Warm Up America! Started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for people in need, Warm Up America! is a charity that has warmed people's lives since 1991. Founder Evie Rosen came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and others joining them together into blankets, which quickly caught on. Thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country, today Warm Up America! distributes warm blankets, hats and other items to tens of thousands of people in need.

Read More

Nonprofit Management

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation Announces 2022 Charity of Choice

CAPTRUST | June 18, 2022

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation (CCF), an employee-run 501(c)(3), announced its 2022 Charity of Choice, receiving a $100,000 grant: The Green Chair Project. Additionally, five nonprofits were selected to receive CCF national grants of $25,000 each. Founded in 2007, the CCF's mission is to enrich the lives of children in communities we serve. Through the end of 2021, the CCF has awarded over $3.879 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country that help children. Fundraising is primarily via employee payroll deductions that are matched by CAPTRUST. The Green Chair Project will receive a $100,000 grant to support its mission of providing the essentials of home to neighbors in need facing the challenges of homelessness, crisis, or disaster in Wake County, North Carolina. The grant will directly support Green Chair's Sweeter Dreams program, providing beds and cribs to 400 children and babies in Wake County who lack a safe place to sleep. In addition to the funding, Green Chair will receive support from CCF volunteers throughout the year. We are so grateful to be selected as the CAPTRUST Community Foundation's 2022 Charity of Choice. The CCF's trust in our mission ensures that more children in need in Wake County, North Carolina will have a safe and comfortable place to sleep." Jackie Craig, Green Chair's co-founder and chief executive officer In addition to its work with The Green Chair Project, the CCF selected five charities that will receive national grants of $25,000 in 2022. The five recipients are: Communities In Schools of Wake County. CIS Wake surrounds students in Wake County, North Carolina, with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Families Together. Families Together moves families in Wake County, North Carolina, and surrounding counties from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support, and connection to community resources. Kinetic Kids, Inc. A San Antonio, Texas, organization that supports children with special needs and their families through adapted sports, fine arts, and educational programs. Sunrise Day Camps Association. Sunrise supports children with cancer and their siblings nationwide through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive summer day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered free of charge. TABLE. TABLE's mission is to create equitable access to healthy food and provide nutrition education to children in Orange County, North Carolina. "We recognize the immense needs of children across our communities as we all recover from the effects of COVID-19," said Philip D'Unger, president of the CCF and manager, wealth planning, at CAPTRUST. "We are incredibly excited and fortunate to work with this year's Charity of Choice, The Green Chair Project, as well as the national grant recipients, who all do amazing work in their respective communities." About the CAPTRUST Community Foundation The CAPTRUST Community Foundation was organized in 2007 to provide CAPTRUST employees with opportunities to participate as a group in community outreach efforts. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. About CAPTRUST CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance for individuals and families. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis/fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs. With more than 1,100 employees across 70 locations nationwide, CAPTRUST oversees more than $100 billion in assets under management and more than $750 billion in assets under advisement (as of March 31, 2022).

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Events