Should Nonprofits Increase Their Focus on Advocacy?

tiffany brown asked:

The explosive growth of nonprofit advocacy and public policy groups in the last thirty years has coincided with the expansion of government. There are currently more than 1000 nonprofit organizations classified by the IRS as working to change public opinion and public policy. Three-fourths of the 1,200 public policy research organizations were founded after 1970 emphasizes Johnson (2007). They perform an invaluable role. Nonprofits operate with “non-distributional restraint” offers donors and the public confidence that their dollars support the activities they intend, rather than benefiting individuals. (Johnson, 2007)

Urban Institute (2006) researched nonprofit advocacy in Nonprofit Organizations’ Advocacy Activities: Association Participation and Responsibility. Advocacy in the most general sense has long been part of the mission of nonprofit organizations. Efforts to address poverty, disease, and despair by direct assistance to those suffering from them, constituted advocacy in the insistence that no person should have to suffer such conditions. This kind of philanthropic advocacy focuses on socio-economic conditions and advocates their improvement through the voluntary efforts of private persons. (Urban Institute, 2006)

Today, the role of nonprofits is as vital as ever: some would say even more so. Yet, we live in times of diminishing nonprofit and foundation resources, government spending cuts and increasing community needs stress Neighborhood Funders Group (2002). If left unchecked, public policy will serve the biggest and strongest interests, which too often means those with financial influence. Enabling nonprofit organizations to participate in the public policy arena is the most effective way to give voice to people who often go unheard, help nonprofits and foundations fulfill their missions and bring about lasting change. (Neighborhood Funders Group, 2002)

Unless we as a sector start significantly engaging in public policy, we’ll continue to lose resources. What can we do to change this? How can we become more involved? How do we mobilize our constituencies and members to support our clients, members and ourselves? Richard Male (2005) ponders these questions.

References

Johnson, J. (2007). Nonprofit Advocacy. Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Available online: http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=40

Neighborhood Funders Group, (2002). Funding Nonprofit Advocacy: The Increasing Role of Foundations. NFG REPORTS 3:9 Available online: http://www.nfg.org/reports/93increasingrole.htm

Urban Institute. (2006) Nonprofit Organizations’ Advocacy Activities:

Association, Participation and Representation. Urban Institute. Available online: http://www.urban.org/advocacyresearch/background_paper.html#advocacy

Nine Conditions For Selecting A New Member Of A Nonprofit Board Of Trustees

Jim Gould asked:

Many nonprofit organizations contain term limits in their by-laws for members of their Boards of Trustees. Some of the Boards on which I have served have different provisions. One provided for three year terms, with no more than three consecutive terms before the member was required to take at least one year off the Board. Another provided for annual terms, with no more than five years on the Board. Another allowed a Board member to serve for no more than a total of three terms of two years each.

There are a number of good reasons for these provisions. They encourage new points of view, different mixes of ideas at the table, and expose the organization to more individuals within the community. However, there are also challenges that must be addressed when there are term limits, most having to do with the ongoing process of nominating qualified people to the Board. If nonprofits use the checklist below, they will make the job of replacing Board members more efficient and more beneficial to fulfilling the mission of the organization.

1. Form a nominating committee. When there are too many people contributing to the selection, the process becomes encumbered. It is much more efficient to select three Board members to prepare a list of candidates to the entire Board for their selection.

2. Look for talents that are missing on the Board. Think about selecting an attorney, or an accountant, for example, to be able to have their expertise as part of the Board decision-making process.

3. Look for diversity. Every nonprofit Board must account for the makeup of its constituency, and provide adequate representation on the Board. Select on the basis of fulfilling gaps in gender, race, age, economic circumstances, and geographic location.

4. Find people who are truly committed to the success of your organization. There are a lot of people who compile a list of their Board positions as if they were applying for a job. Make sure your candidate has a proven record in supporting the purpose of your nonprofit.

5. You must decide on whether you want to have a “rubber stamp” Board, or one that thrives on acrimony. There are places for both, and one is not necessarily preferable over the other. It is a matter of evaluating the strength of your Executive Director, and deciding whether you want to provide support for their policies, or give them the benefit of contending with alternate points of view.

6. There are some good arguments for selecting people who will likely become or are significant financial contributors to the organization. However, selection on the basis of honoring their support is no substitute for evaluating their potential contributions to the decision-making process.

7. There should always be an “A” list and a “B” list. The “B” list should be arranged in order of preference. It is used to provide alternates in case any of the invitations to the “A” list are not accepted.

8. Institute an orientation program for new Board trustees. It is a daunting task for someone to acclimate themselves to the culture of your Board, and giving them the opportunity to become familiar with your history, your facilities, your staff, and your current issues, will be very beneficial for them and make them productive in shorter time.

9. When inviting a person to come on your Board, be very clear that yours, like most nonprofits, consider fundraising an essential function of each Board member.

If you adhere to these nine points, you will fulfill your nonprofit fiduciary obligations, as well as keeping your Board vital, active, and effective.

13 Marketing And Advertising Reasons Small Nonprofit Groups Should Use Paid And Unpaid Advertising

Gregory Burrus asked:

To make better use of your nonprofit’s organization’s resources; you need to put all your members on the same track to elicit maximum support from your community. You need to help your members understand why every meeting or event that occurs in front of the public is important. Simply put it is a chance to get the word out and build support for your organization’s causes.

To help move the organization along here are 12 reasons to always make the most of each event.

1. Potential Exposure – your nonprofit organization gets your message out to your immediate area and to

those not specifically concerned with your message.

2. Newspaper Credibility – A widely read and well respected newspaper circulation is usually in the

thousands and sometimes hundred of thousands and gets you great pr in one example when say starting a

nonprofit.

3. Guaranteed Inclusion – when you pay, you know exactly where and when the press release will be

released. This helps you increase the effects of your advertising campaign.

4. Competitive Advertising – If there is competition for your nonprofit mission or dollars you can be

highly visible at another organizations highest visibility time.

5. Branding – Allows your group to differentiate and clearly establish your own brand.

6. Membership Drive – Launch your membership campaign and gain additional members.

7. Newsletter Announcement – perfect timing to announce your nonprofits upcoming scheduled newsletter on a

wider scale.

Near Term Advertising Usage and Benefits

8. Special Target or Related Market Inserts – sometimes a magazine or newspaper has special inserts that

talk to your specific group’s mission or a related market. This will help you reach your targeted market with

an affinity message.

9. Advertiser and In Kind services support demonstrate to your potential or existing advertisers, business

owners, vendor partners ad supporters that they should partner with your organization.

Long Term Usage and Benefits

10. Ongoing Local Exposure – Press releases stay on the local newspapers websites for a long time in most

cases and this means an additional how many eyeballs will read it and get your message.

11. Continued Regional Exposure -once a press release is on the newspaper web site, you get to use it to

market your organization from the prestige of the newspapers’ name.

12. Extended National Exposure – Press releases found half way around the world get read by someone who

lived near your cause but has moved far away. They will still support your nonprofit mission from a far because

they care.

13. Your Nonprofit’s Website – You get to capture a major article and use it on your website to promote

your nonprofit mission which gives your website more credibility with your targeted readers.

So can one press release and advertisement help your nonprofit mission? Can it support all that is listed for a

small fee per eyeball? The answer is an emphatic yes.

Federal Tax Law 2005 – Exclusively For Nonprofit Organizations

Abhishek Agarwal asked:

Federal tax law allows tax exempt status to nonprofit organizations. The status has many advantages but it is important that those setting up nonprofit organizations understand federal tax law if they are to get the most out of this status and avoid running into trouble. Getting to know the ins and outs of the law will pay off in the long run.

It is something to consider at the very outset because only certain kinds of organizations qualify for tax exempt status under the Federal Tax Law of 2005. First of all it is necessary to understand what kind of organizations can be classified as nonprofit.

Non profit organizations include a wide range of organizations such as schools, hospitals, public charities, volunteer agencies, legal aid organizations, political organizations, churches, labor unions and professional bodies, research institutions and some government bodies. Under the federal tax law of 2005 these organizations do not have to pay tax. But those who run them still need to understand how the federal tax law applies to them if they are to protect their tax exempt status.

The Federal Tax Law of 2005 defines a nonprofit organization as “group organized for purposes other than generating profit and in which no part of the organization’s income is distributed to its members,directors, or officers.” They can also be called “non stock organizations.”

A nonprofit organization must be declared a nonprofit organization when it is set up in order to qualify for tax exempt status under the Federal Tax Law of 2005. A nonprofit organization must be established for a religious, charitable, scientific, public safety, literary, or educational, purposes, to prevent cruelty to children or animals, or to develop sport, whether on a national or international level. The statutes of the organization must clearly state that it is for no other purpose than those that are allowed for tax exempt status.

Nonprofit organizations are also exempt from social security tax. For an organization that is run entirely by volunteers this may be a useful factor. Volunteers will benefit from social security contributions made through their regular employment. But organizations that employ salaried staff usually opt to pay social security taxes because their employees would be disadvantaged otherwise. About 80% of nonprofit bodies pay social security tax despite the exemption.This is something to consider when setting up a nonprofit organization.

When a nonprofit organization is set up it must apply to the IRS for 501c3 status. This is the technical term that means it has tax exempt status under the 2005 Federal Tax Law. This special tax status allows the organization to receive tax deductible donations. Donors to the organization can then deduct their donation from their own tax return. Tax exemption is therefore a major benefit for any nonprofit organization since it provides an incentive to donors and maintains the organization’s income stream.

Tax exempt status does not mean that a nonprofit organization does not have to keep financial records. Effectively, a nonprofit organization has to keep the same records as though it were going to submit a tax return. In order to maintain its 501c3 status a nonprofit organization must keep a record of all its revenue from donations, grants, sponsorships and so on. The IRS can demand that a nonprofit organization files information about its income.

Understanding how the federal tax law applies to nonprofit organizations will help you to run a successful organization.

Free Nonprofit Debt Consolidation Quote is Very Useful

Apurva Shree asked:

If you are sunken in debt and are searching for debt counseling advice, chances are that you will come across many companies that offer free nonprofit debt consolidation quote. What they do is that they ask for some general details from you and go over your credit history. Then a free quote is given to you that entails the loan details and rates of interest levied, term period, etc. giving you an overview of your consolidated loan payment.

At times, people are unable to decide between various debt consolidation companies and paying many times for quotes is not possible. Free nonprofit debt consolidation quote is very useful here as it gives you many options without paying a cent. These nonprofit companies are set up precisely for the reason that they help people and their employees are specially trained to deal with such scenarios.

Difference Between Debt Consolidation Credit Help And Credit Card Debt Consolidation Help

Both the terms sound similar – yet they are different. Debt consolidation credit help refers to the help that is offered to people with a bad credit record. It is a sure shot way to redeem yourself in the market and change your status to a good credit record holder. Credit card debt consolidation help refers to the help rendered to individuals who have overspent on their credit cards.

Points To Remember

Before deciding on which company to take assistance from, it is better to research the company’s background well. Ensure that:

The debt consolidation company is legitimate.

Ideally, it should be belong to national associations or organizations that monitor the practices.

Your interests do not conflict with the company’s interests.

Your account with them is not neglected.

Always check out for companies that offer free nonprofit debt consolidation quote as they are generally legitimate.

Avoid companies that ask too many personal questions and details.

The company’s records hold no or negligible customer complaints.

The company has high rate of customer satisfaction and a solid reputation.

You are given sensible quotes that have realistic repayment term and low interest rates.

You get decent debt counseling so that you can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Be it help with debt consolidation credit or credit card debt consolidation, these are ways to help you recover from your debt problems. Make wise decisions so that you can not only escape from debts but also create a better life for yourself.

iPhone Apps for Nonprofits and Fundraising

Christopher Stolee asked:

Non Profit organizations have some special challenges these days. The need for funds is increasing but costs are rising, while in many cases memberships are under pressure and fundraising is declining or becoming more expensive.

Here’s a new and innovative approach for nonprofits and their fundraising effors. How about using your own iPhone app to stay in closer touch to your membership, contributors, donors, supporters, activists and everyone else you rely on for your stated mission?

Here are several ways a custom iPhone application can help a nonprofit and/or fundraising efforts:

* Awareness

* Fundraising

* Special promotions

* Membership renewals

* Wish list donations

* Special projects

* Social networking features within the app for your organization

Take a look at some sample non-profit organizations’ custom iPhone applications and think about how you might use a custom iPhone application to help meet your goals. 

The Monterey Bay Aquarium partnered with Seafood Watch to produce an iPhone app that both promotes awareness and serves a useful consumer tool. The Salvation Army has an iPhone app that streams Christmas music and funds raised from sales of this app benefit the Salvation Army mission.

Creating a custom iPhone application for your nonprofit organization does have a cost, but this cost can be more than offset by sales of the application and increased donations/contributions through the app itself. Using an iPhone app as a portable portal to your nonprofit’s website so your members are always within a button touch. If the cost of making the app is not in your budget, why not add it to your wishlist? It would be sure to catch the eye of donors or sponsors who love the iPhone or who have high tech interests.

In addition, think of the publicity your organization will receive by having your own iPhone application – it will portray your organization as timely, forward thinking, tech enabled, hip, and more. What a great way to breathe new life and energy into your nonprofit organization while benefiting from a new fundraising opportunity.

Designing Your Nonprofit Organizations’ E-zine

Heidi Richards, Ms asked:

E-ZINES – The alternative of choice for many organizations are a great way to market yours. All you need is an e-mail account and permission from your stakeholders to send the e-zine. In fact, I have found e-zines to be so powerful that I write and produce five a month. They are:

Self-Marketing News – a marketing newsletter for small to mid sized businesses

PetalsNCents – a marketing newsletter for the floral industry

Creating A Legacy – a newsletter for the nonprofit community, and

Ramblin’ Rose – a newsletter for my retail customers.

WECommerce News – a newsletter for Women Who do Business on the web

The first thing you must do is collect your customers/clients e-mail addresses. We collect them when they call, visit my retail business, answer surveys, or enter our contests. We ask for an e-mail address every time we have interaction with them.

Formatting your E-zine

Keep it basically the same from issue to issue. Consistency in the format – can apply to many marketing strategies on the web. That includes keeping it consistent with the colors and look of your website to consistent categories in your newsletter. Consistency helps your stakeholders understand what is coming next – so they continue to look forward to receiving it.

Test new strategies with your newsletter – but you also need to keep certain things similar so that you do not confuse your stakeholders. This will decrease the amount of un-subscribes you will receive.

Length and frequency of delivery – Make it easy to read and brief. The length of your e-zine will depend on the frequency in which you publish. If you publish your e-zine once a month including two to three articles is the norm, however if you publish on a daily or weekly basis, then I recommend only one short article and or a tip. Too much or too little content will quickly drive readers away.

Subject Line – The subject line of your e-zine should be consistent. You can use the name of your e-zine, your organization or another catchy title. The main thing is to use the same subject line with each issue.

Table of Contents – “Table of Contents” or “In this Issue” should appear at the beginning of the e-zine. This to let people know what is in this issue. Most people scan the table of contents see if there is an article that interests them..

Categories – Should remain the same from issue to issue. They could include:

Editor’s or Executive Directors Remarks – A great place to welcome people and thank them for their support.

One to three articles – Lead with the most important or interesting article. This will get people to read the rest of your e-zine.

Volunteer recognition and Thank-you’s

What’s New in the organization – Such as events and happenings.

Resources – Things your readers would appreciate receiving such as complimentary reports, notices about upcoming seminars that would be of benefit to them as well as a book review or two are great items to put in the resource section of your e-zine.

Advertising and Sponsorship Support – Here’s where you thank your supporters of the organization and advertisers of your e-zine. Getting sponsors and advertisers to put ads in your e-zine can make it cost you virtually nothing to produce. One word of caution, follow the 80/20 rule so people won’t feel that all you are trying to do is sell them something – that means your e-zine should be 80 content and nor more than 20% advertising.

Questions, Comments, Reader feedback – A great place to answer stakeholders questions that other may also be interested in knowing, comments and by all means any testimonials you receive from your readers.

General Information – How to contact the organization, subscribe, unsubscribe, refer others to the organization, privacy statement and how to support the e-zine or organization.

Format

HTML e-mail – although HTML is not the preferred way for some readers, all of my e-zines are HTML format. They simply look better.

ASCII text – regular text email format, which includes up to 65 characters per line.

Web based – posting your e-zine on the web.

Font – use a generic font such as Arial, Times Roman, Courier, or Helvetica

When designing your e-zine, here are some things to keep in mind:

Use a Template – This provides consistency and you can make changes gradually over time.

Spell Check – Always. Period.

Proofread – Have someone else proofread. I have a professional editor read each issue. I read it over two or three times between edits and so does the editor.

Answer Every Email – When someone writes an email to your organization, there’s someone on the receiving end waiting for an answer. You owe it to your readers to respond.

Inform, Entertain, and Serve – People sign up for email newsletters to gain knowledge, information, to get involved, and to be entertained.

Cultivate contributors – Take your time, build interest, gain trust, then ask for money. Include links to giving pages. This allows supporters to make a contribution via credit card or a pledge. If your e-zine has what readers want, you will have a much higher likelihood of increased giving. An e-mail newsletter is an excellent tool for finding new donors online, and increasing its circle of stakeholders.

The technology you use to disseminate your e-zine must be secure and have the capabilities you either now need or will in the future.

One of the most important things we had to deal with was when our lists started growing (beyond 250); we were very limited in sending through our original e-mail account (AOL). They have rules and sometimes will freeze an account if you send too many at once. The format would also get botched sometimes. The lists became unmanageable when we had to remove the unsubscribes and duplicates. Finding the ones who wish to unsubscribe can be challenging. We switched to another service hoping they could send our newsletters and maintain our lists. It was a good service; however, we didn’t like the look of our newsletter. It had limited capabilities (no bold or italic). Since I’m the creative type, I didn’t want my ezines to look like everyone else’s. We have now found a program we are very happy with. There is no monthly fee, just a one-time purchase fee. It is called Group Mail Pro – Mailing List & Group Management Software. And it only costs $79.95 (and you own it). For more information visit Group Mail Pro or follow this link: (http://www.sellshareware.com/CustomView.asp?PrID=34362.&AfID=783 8&PageID=1)

Promotion

Have a subscription form on your website!

Have a sign up sheet at the office and at all events. If you speak before a group, make sure you mention your e-zine. Some people are bound to want to sign up.

Promote it with postcards in your monthly statements or on your business card.

Tell anyone you think might be interested. This includes current stakeholders, contributors and volunteers.

Offer a fr*ee report when people sign up. When people subscribe to Legacy they receive not one but two reports just for trying us out.

When you use e-mail for an outgoing message – to cultivate, to inform, to request action, to ask for money – you are creating public relations. Good things happen with E-zines; increased visibility, increased contributions and goodwill. If you plan your e-zine right, give it an interesting title and offer your stakeholders benefits, your e-zine will be a success! Happy Writing!

© 2005 – Heidi Richard

Nonprofit Coffee Project Brings Jobs, Clean Water to Ugandan Village

Susan Paff asked:

 

Fresh-roasted coffee beans are proving to be a viable economic stimulus for a Ugandan village.

 

A Pennsylvania nonprofit focused on social entrepreneurship in Uganda has poured nearly a quarter of a million dollars into the Ugandan economy just through its first pilot venture, coffee.

 

The Christian East African and Equatorial Development Trust (CEED), the nonprofit organization that produces and distributes Ugandan Gold Premium Coffee, has been working in a small Ugandan village near Wambabya for almost 10 years. 

 

In 2000, CEED planted the first coffee trees, but it takes three to four years to produce beans. Ugandan Gold Premium Coffee is hand-picked and sun-dried on the Ugandan farm before being imported to the United States to be roasted and sold. 

 

The process is labor intensive but produces some of the best coffee out of Uganda, according to Graham Hodgetts, board member and director of business development and water projects. “It’s better than organic,” Hodgetts said. “The processes we have in place, to pick, dry and hull the coffee beans result in a higher quality Robusta bean than anything else produced in the region.”

 

CEED, based outside of Pittsburgh in Wexford, Pa., finally brought in modest revenue on the sale of coffee in 2005-06, then nearly doubled revenues for 2006-07. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, sales increased again nearly 20 percent, and CEED board members expect sales this year to increase as well, especially during the upcoming holiday season, when the group markets four-pound Seasonal Coffee Gift Boxes of two Regular Roast, one Regular Decaf, and one Cinnamon Sticky Bun blend for $32 a box.

 

“What’s nice is that all of the profit goes right back to the community, so you don’t have to wonder how much of your purchase is actually aiding the efforts the nonprofit claims,” said Worth Helms, board president. “We use the money to pay the employees of the farm, run the farm and have the beans roasted and stored once they are in the U.S. The rest of the money is used to fund humanitarian efforts, such as the water wells and funding for a medical clinic.”

 

The group, established in 1999 to help develop and maintain sustainable, income-generating projects in poverty-stricken areas of the world, is thrilled with their project is a success. The farm, which was planted in 2000, employs 42 local residents year round and 80 to 100 additional during picking season, in an area where unemployment is 60 percent. The group has rehabilitated or drilled 17 water wells in the last several years, financed medical trips to the country for health clinics for the workers’ families, and donated a significant amount of money for a much-needed health clinic in the Bunyoro-Kitara province of Uganda.

 

Most small nonprofits have difficulty with social entrepreneur projects such as CEED’s Ugandan Gold Premium Coffee venture, according to Scott Leff, associate director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh, Pa. Organizations that are created to produce revenue on a nonprofit level under the umbrella of social entrepreneurial spirit often find themselves struggling to make a profit.  

 

“It is creating systemic change; that’s why it works in Uganda. They are using the market to drive social change and improve life and health,” Leff said. 

 

The increase in sales and the amount of aid flowing back to the country are a sign of the project’s success as well, and American coffee drinkers are responding well to the idea, according to Jill Weisbrod, marketing manager for Ugandan Gold Premium Coffee. 

 

“Coffee is a huge export for Uganda, and most Americans can agree coffee is a staple in their daily routine, so the idea works well,” Weisbrod said. 

 

The coffee is sold at several Pittsburgh-area stores as well as online at http://www.ugandangold.com.

 

Cheryl Scampone, grocery manager for McGinnis Sisters Fine Foods, one of the Pittsburgh-area retailers of Ugandan Gold Coffee, said not only is the coffee for a great cause, but at $8 a pound, it’s a great value as well. 

 

“We’ve gotten all positive feedback,” Scampone said. “Consumers are just thrilled that the money is going back to help.”

 

Podcasts For Nonprofit Organizations: Development for Leaders, Board Members, Staff and Volunteers

Roger Carr asked:

There are some terrific podcasts available on the subject of nonprofit organizations. They cover topics including:

* Starting a nonprofit organization

* Fundraising

* Leading and managing

* Using technology effectively

Listening to informative podcasts is a great way to learn.

You can listen to podcasts on your computer or with a portable mp3 player when you are away from your home or office.

I have turned my car into a classroom! Rather than listening to the radio, I listen to podcasts I have downloaded to my mp3 player. There are special accessories that allow you to play your mp3 player through your car radio.

If you have an interest in the nonprofit world, consider listening to the podcasts described below. They are the best I have found. I continue to learn from them and I know you will as well.

501c3Cast for Nonprofits

The 501c3Cast is an independent podcast that is all about helping nonprofit professionals, not-for-profit volunteers, and other “do-gooders” in the philanthropic world.

This podcast is my personal favorite. Listen to it and you will learn a tremendous amount of news and information on a variety of topics pertinent to your role in the nonprofit world.

Go to http://www.501c3cast.com to discover more about 501c3Cast for Nonprofits.

BoardStar: On Being Board

Would you like to learn what makes a nonprofit Board perform at it’s best? BoardStar will provide you a multitude of ideas that can be implemented to strengthen a nonprofit Board.

Go to http://www.smallpackageproductions.com/boardstar to discover more about BoardStar: On Being Board.

NetSquared: Remixing the Web for Social Change

If you want to learn about the very latest use of technology to support your passion to change the world, the NetSquared podcast is your answer. This is a great resource to learn how social networking, social bookmarking and virtual worlds (like SecondLife.com) can benefit your nonprofit organization.

Go to http://netsquared.libsyn.com to discover more about NetSquared: Remixing the Web for Social Change.

BusinessWeek – Top Givers

This BusinessWeek podcast is full of interviews by several people on their Top Givers list. Learn why and how some of the most generous philanthropists give back.

Go to http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/podcasts/philanthropy/current.html to discover more about BusinessWeek – Top Givers.

Craigslist Foundation’s Nonprofit Boot Camp

Do you want to know how to start and run a vibrant nonprofit organization? That is exactly the reason the Craigslist Foundation holds their annual Nonprofit Boot Camp. This podcast contains many of the keynote speeches, workshop sessions and interviews and is filled with useful information.

Go to http://www.siconversations.org/series/nonprofitbootcamp.html to discover more about Craigslist Foundation’s Nonprofit Boot Camp.

Nonprofit Debt Consolidation: An Anti Debt-Burden Pill

Abhishek Agarwal asked:

A nonprofit debt consolidation company helps you getting rid of your several debts by consolidating them into a single monthly payment which is far easier to manage. So, you make one monthly payment to the company and it, in turn, makes payments to all your creditors on your behalf. As a result you don’t have to worry about remembering too many due dates of different credit cards and feel sort of control on your debts rather than the debt controlling you.

Types of debt consolidation companies

Be aware that there are two types of debt consolidation companies: nonprofit debt consolidation companies and the for profit debt consolidation companies. The former are generally cheaper, however, both offer you similar services. The real nonprofit debt consolidation companies do not aim to earn at the expense of the borrowers, meaning you.

Unfortunately, scamster companies have spoiled the atmosphere badly so you need to tread the path cautiously. You need to do research on the companies you wish to approach for debt consolidation. You may like to check things such as duration of time the they have been doing this business and about their reputation. You must also check with the local Better Business Bureau to find out if there are complaints against them.

What can you expect from a good company

A good nonprofit company will advise you on better financial management. It will also talk to your creditors and negotiate with them to ease your payment terms, say by reducing the rate, dropping late charges or increasing the period of payment so that you pay a lower monthly amount. This will be a great help in making your life comfortable.

Normally you go to a debt consolidating company when you feel almost lost trying to keep track of too many bills and due dates, and when every thing you earn appears to be vanishing too quickly into the debt hole. If you find a good nonprofit debt consolidation company at this juncture, you have to only thank (or blame) your guardian angels sitting somewhere above clouds.

What will you pay for the debt consolidation services

You need to be clear about the charges the nonprofit debt consolidation company is going to charge you. Some may counsel you on your financial health and debt problems free of cost initially, but charge you for further services. More frequently, the quote you receive with their debt consolidation plan will cover for whatever they claim to offer you “free of cost”. No company can be in business offering everything free.

Here is a good nonprofit debt consolidation company

If you are loking for a dependable nonprofit debt consolidation company, I would like to recommend the name of Credit Counseling Services. They have been in this business for several years. It is ranked second among the other similar companies in this field. It offers a variety of services apart from debt consolidation. You can sure expect freedom from your debt nightmare if you pay them a visit and explain how brilliantly you have created a monster of debt for yourself, and that you now want this monster put back into the bottle because it scares you.

I just hope that this article has given you basic idea about nonprofit debt consolidation. If you are feeling over burdened with debt, a good they can provide you tremendous relief, but first you have to locate a reliable company. The Credit Counseling Services is one good company that I know and recommend.