Major Gifts – Part II: Considerations for Legal Compliance and Avoiding Lawsuits

An organization that is implementing or revisiting its major gifts program should take advantage of that initiative as an opportunity to weave in best practices and other preventative measures that promote legal compliance and help avoid lawsuits. Some of the considerations should include preventing donor intent disputes and communication...

Tweets of the Week – October 29, 2010

Here are some of my favorite posts of the week in the areas of nonprofit organizations, corporate governance, philanthropy, and social enterprises: ssstrom: Incredible @NPR story about how legislation is shaped through a nonprofit and its anonymous corporate donors http://n.pr/9BpqKC ssstrom: Nonprofits, donors, politics, secrecy yet again: http://bit.ly/9GVjLl huffpo:...

Tweets of the Week – October 22, 2010

Lots of great conferences last week: Independent Sector, Social Venture Partners, Opportunity Collaboration, Microfinance Impact and Innovation.  And congratulations to Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) on its 20th Anniversary. Here are some of my favorite posts of the week in the areas of nonprofit organizations, corporate governance, philanthropy,...

Opportunity Collaboration 2010

I had the pleasure of being invited to, and attending, the second annual Opportunity Collaboration in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.  The “OppCollab” is self-described as a poverty alleviation unconference and is held over 4 full and 2 part days.  Unlike traditional conferences, the substance of OppCollab is not presentations, but discussions...

Compensation Strategies and Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations – Part Two

“Best Practices in Nonprofit Compensation” The laws regarding nonprofit compensation are another element that can make compensation a disliked topic in an organization. The penalties are severe and there are no precise formulas for generating a compensation plan. With public charities, the IRS mainly focuses on certain individuals such...

Compensation Strategies and Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations – Part One

Compensation decisions for nonprofits can be difficult because organizations are often balancing twin aims of recruiting and retaining highly skilled and highly valued individuals, and complying with laws that prevent unfair or unreasonable compensation. Recently, I participated in two events regarding nonprofit compensation that address these dual concerns. Below...