Alliance for philanthropy and social investment worldwide

whitePaper | March 25, 2020

In their seminal article, "Nonprofit Starvation Cycle", Ann Goggins Gregory and Dan Howard exhort nonprofit finance professionals to report to funders the real costs of running nonprofit organizations. The authors explain that the popular trend to restrict funding to specific programs without accounting for infrastructure expenses leads to an unintended consequence, a "nonprofit starvation cycle", where charities cease to function because they can't pay for overhead costs, such as administrative employees, computers and electric bills. To break this unhealthy cycle, the article encourages nonprofits to recalibrate funder expectations by providing accurate financial reports and other supporting information to reflect the true costs of nonprofit operations.

whitePaper | December 19, 2019

Our complex, changing world continually challenges leaders to be flexible and innovative. At the heart of efforts to create change, nonprofits, agencies, communities, and funders are working to uncover the roots of some of our greatest social issues, so-called “wicked problems.” At the Center for Creative Leadership, we have had the privilege to work alongside many social sector partners as they invest in improving the health of entire populations, transforming education to serve all, and alleviating persistent, intergenerational poverty. These experiences have led us to an increased understanding of the aspects of leadership that propel these efforts to greater success.

whitePaper | November 30, 2021

The board of directors plays a pivotal role in every organization’s success. These volunteer leaders set a nonprofit’s strategic direction, manage its finances, and provide governance oversight. Not an easy job. Board members also play an invaluable role in an organization’s fundraising efforts. Their support (whether in time or dollars) can affect donor behavior and impacts a development team’s job satisfaction and likelihood for success. But turning a supportive board member into fundraising ally can be challenging, so we’ve compiled tips on how to empower your board and see results.

whitePaper | April 1, 2022

This year there are increasing macroeconomic headwinds on the horizonaltogether. As we continue to operate in an uncertain environment this will undoubtedly increase the importance of the work of charities in our society. In this publication, we consider these headwinds, and the sector risks they present as well as the opportunities and practical considerations for charities. A particular focus will be on climate change and how charities can develop their response in this area. We also review wider developments in the charity world, including in relation to specific risks and external audit, as well as in the areas of tax and VAT.

whitePaper | January 14, 2020

Nonprofit organizations operate in a complex and evolving financial world. As one of the world’s largest investment managers, Vanguard has helped thousands of nonprofit organizations navigate their unique investing, organizational, and governance challenges. We recognize nonprofits differ by size, served market, and sophistication. The chief financial officer of a hospital will likely have different needs from the CFO at a college, while the executive director of a small public charity will have different needs from either

whitePaper | October 10, 2022

In a digital-first world, every organization needs a data management plan. Yet, fewer than 25% of nonprofits report having a plan in place. This means data is infrequently shared across departments and rarely used to make decisions or predict future stakeholder behaviors.