Grants Calendar
Having a successful grants program depends on submitting multiple grants to funders who support your cause – and getting them in on time! Coloradogrants.org has put together a comprehensive list of funding deadlines that I find very helpful. They also offer affordable workshops and trainings on how to write better grants. If you haven’t already, check out this terrific resource!

Charitable Deduction Limits
The big topic in the nonprofit sector right now is whether the Federal Government will move forward with the plan to limit the charitable deduction for gifts made by some taxpayers. There are two sides to every story, but it’s a good idea to educate yourself about the potential fall out and what concerns the charitable community. You can read a letter from The Association of Fundraising Professionals on the topic here: AFP Statement

AFP Coffee Chat
Speaking of AFP – have you ever joined us for Coffee Chat? On the second Thursday of each month, fundraising professionals gather to “talk shop” and share what’s working and what isn’t. You don’t have to be a member to attend, and there is no charge (but we do ask you to buy coffee or a breakfast treat from our hosts at The Fluid Coffee Bar who don’t charge us for the meeting space). Come build your network and your knowledge!
AFP Coffee Chat
Second Thursday of Every Month
8am – 10am
Fluid Coffee Bar
501 East 19th Ave
Denver, CO 80203

Creating a Culture of Philanthropy
A new study released shows a pervasive problem in the non-profit industry when it comes to creating a culture of philanthropy. According to Underdeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising, there are three main challenges we face.
• The Revolving Door – high turnover among development directors
• Help Wanted – not finding qualified candidates for open development positions
• It’s Not About Just One Person – organizations depend on the development director alone, rather than the whole staff and board, for fundraising tasks

The solution to all this, according to the study, lies in a creating a culture of philanthropy in our organizations. The study recommends signs you can look for to see if your organization is up to making changes, as well as 10 strategies for improving conditions. Click here to read the full study and get on your way to stopping the cycle.

Donor Centered Leadership
How can you foster a collaborative working environment among the development office, executive director and board members? How do you hire the right person, and keep them there long enough to make an impact? A new article in the latest issue of Advancing Philanthropy summarizes the new book Donor-Centered Leadership by Penelope Burk who offers some steps to follow during your search, including:
1. Advertise Your Strengths
2. Broaden the Applicant Pool
3. Narrow the Possibilities
4. Collect Good Information
5. Offer Flexibility and Opportunity
6. Give Young People a Chance

According to Burk, “With a focused and strategic approach to hiring, training and retention, there is every reason you can aspire to a day when your donors want to give, your board members want to ask and your staff members want to stay.” You can read the article here to get inspiration.

Money CAN Buy Happiness?!
Yes it can! But only if you aren’t spending it on yourself. In this TED talk, Michael Norton describes a study which found that people were happier when they gave money to charity or spend money on someone other than themselves. So don’t feel bad the next time you ask someone for a donation, after all, you’re giving them a chance to be happier!

Online Giving Up in 2012
According to the first ever national online giving index compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, PayPal, Blackbaud and Network for good online giving is up in 2012 from last year. The index results were just released for Q3 and they show overall giving UP 12% from Q3 in 2011. Click here to read the article and access the full index.

Colorado Generosity Project
Here’s a great way to learn more about donors in Colorado – download the Colorado Generosity Project report put out by the Colorado Nonprofit Association.  This research tells us more about how Colorado donors make decisions and how they feel about being asked for money.  In addition to helpful comparisons between how those attitudes changed from 2008 to 2011, the report breaks down results into specific demographics, making it easier to learn about your specific audience.  Follow the link above to download the full report.