And they're what makes all the good work we do possible. But amidst all the cultivation practices, website revamps and key messaging strategies, we sometimes spend so much time creating strategy and talking amongst ourselves, that we miss the mark.         Why aren't we asking donors why they really give? In this multi-part story, we've asked donors to give to a BRAND NEW charity of their choice - and write about it. They come from many backgrounds and sectors, have different passions and experiences, and what they end up finding important may surprise you. (READ MORE)

Fact 1: Roughly 40 states have registration requirements that nonprofit organizations must comply with BEFORE soliciting for money.  Soliciting constitutes any form of requesting money such as direct mail, phone calls, grant proposals, special events, raffles, email, or even websites.  Any guidance or invitation to make a donation is a solicitation and each state has their own guidelines for such activities before their residents are contacted.

Fact 2: Each state has its own penalties for soliciting without a current solicitation license.  These penalties can vary depending on how many solicitations were made, the length of time that the organization was out of compliance, or even how much money the organization received from the solicitations they made.  Penalties may include fines of anywhere from $500 to $50,000, the suspension or revocation of a license, imposing a voluntary compliance agreement, or even requiring that the donations be returned to the donors  (READ MORE)