|
 Ringing in the new
Each new year gives us the opportunity to view our lives
and our work with a fresh perspective. We hope this
publication will brighten your day and spark activities
that move your organization forward. |
| Energize your leadership
Adopting and monitoring policy is an important duty of governing boards, but few enjoy the work. We believe that if it is done right, policy work can be a meaningful experience for board members, fueling their passion while helping community benefit organizations limit risk and achieve long-term sustainability. Here are a few tips to make your policy work more enjoyable.
Policies should reflect your organization's values (and not conflict with your mission or vision), so review your mission, vision, and values before developing any policies. If you don't have clear mission, vision and values statements, create them first. (If you need help understanding what they are, or how to develop them, contact us.)
Remember, people cannot follow policies they don't understand. Write your policies so they are concise and to the point. Avoid "legalese" and acronyms. Try to write at an eighth-grade level using simple phrasing and provide examples to help clarify exactly what you mean.
Sample policies can be found online. One great resource we like is www.blueavocado.com, or you can Google a topic. (We have some samples, too, so contact us.) But don't just adopt what you find. Sample policies are meant to spur discussion about what is suitable for your organization, given your mission, vision and values.
Develop policies as you identify the need for them. According to our governance resources, all 501c3 organizations are required to have both a Document Retention and a Whistleblower policy. In the IRS Form 990, organizations are asked if their board has adopted a Conflict of Interest policy. Most organizations also adopt a Confidentiality policy. And many fundraising gaffes would be avoided if more boards had a Gift Acceptance policy.
Once you adopt your policies, put them somewhere they can be easily accessed. We suggest posting them on your organization's website. Then when they are updated, the old version can be pulled and the new one substituted.
Before discussing a related issue, your board and staff should consult current policy. And instead of making exceptions, we recommend changing or modifying the policy.
For more information about policy-setting or other exciting ways to energize your leadership, contact us.
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Ignite community support
An organization's "case for support" is the foundation for all fundraising and communications work. We recommend that our clients keep an electronic file folder of powerful photos, testimonials, and statistics (presented in simple charts or diagrams if possible) that demonstrate both the need for your services and the positive results of your programming. When deciding what to include in your "case for support" folder, always choose quality over quantity. When creating marketing materials, opt to use a few great images and quotes instead of lots of mediocre ones. By taking something powerful and making it BIGGER, it becomes even more stunning! |
