Hiring personnel for a nonprofit is very different from
hiring staff at a for-profit organizations. This primer on nonprofit HR and
nonprofit hiring explains what you ought to consider as you recruit nonprofit
employees.
If you started your nonprofit with hopes of supervising a
large staff earning better than average salaries, prepare to be disappointed.
There is a world of difference between hiring workers for a
business and staffing a nonprofit organization with quality personnel. Even so,
thousands of other nonprofits have done it and you can do it, too - if you know
what to look for.
The most significant hurdle that needs to be addressed in
nonprofit staffing is cash. Nonprofits aren't known to pay high salaries and
most can't afford to compete with their for-profit counterparts. That means
you'll have to either find something else to entice staff recruits or get
creative. Typically, nonprofits do a little bit of both.
Board Members
The first and most obvious place to look for people to staff
your organization's programs and projects is your board of directors. Board
members are unpaid, but committed individuals who probably expect to be asked
to donate some of their time. However, be careful not to overload your board
members. If you demand too much of them, you may lose them altogether.
Volunteers
Since you can't rely exclusively on your board members,
you're going to need to find another source of cheap labor to get the job done.
That's where volunteers come in. Believe it or not, there is a sizeable group
of individuals in your community who are willing to work for your organization
for free. Your job is to find them. The fact that volunteers tend to donate
money as well as time is the icing on the cake.
Second Career People
Volunteers have limitations. Sometimes you need to bite the
bullet and hire full-time, paid staff. A good place to begin your search is
with retirees and second-career individuals. These types of recruits often
possess skills and experience that easily transfer from the corporate world to
a nonprofit setting. Also, salary level is less of an issue with these folks,
making it easier for them to devote their time to a cause they truly care
about.
Job Sharing
If thinking outside of the box interests you, you may want
to consider staffing certain positions through job sharing. Sometimes
nonprofits will share a full-time worker (like a bookkeeper) between their
organizations. It might also be possible to convince a for-profit company to
donate the time of one or more of their employees as a tax-deductible
contribution.
Nonprofit Careerists
Last (but certainly not least) are the nonprofit careerists.
Some individuals are perfectly content earning slightly less working for a
nonprofit because they are passionate about the nonprofit's mission. In
exchange for a respectable salary and benefits your organization will receive
the knowledge and experience of a nonprofit professional. But more importantly,
your organization will benefit from the passion and excitement they bring to
the job.
Media Contact: Alpa Patel
Phone Number: (714) 634-1992
If buying print for your company is a brand new responsibility for
you, you’re probably shell shocked. Who can blame you! You’re thinking, “Where
do I go? Who can I trust? How do I know how much printing costs?”
Relax. We were all there once. I’ve put together some tips to help you
s-t-r-e-t-c-h your printing dollars. Knowing some rules-of-thumb will
definitely save you money. It’s a recession, so these tips are even more
important.
Today, let’s just focus on paper. Did you know that paper accounts for one
third to even one half of the cost of your print job? Choose your paper wisely
and know why size does matter. Check it out …
1. Stick to multiples of 8-1/2 x 11. That’s the standard
size. Stray too much from a multiple of this size, and you could pay more. 2. Use a printer’s house sheet. Printers stock several types
of paper in their plant, and using what they have on hand often saves you
dough. 3. Reduce the weight of your paper (heavier = pricier). 4. Reduce trim size - even 1/4 inch matters for some jobs. Ask
your printer. 5. Consolidate jobs. By planning ahead, you can print multiple
jobs on the same sheet of paper. This is called ganging. 6. Print only what you need. Reduce waste. (File this tip
under “Duh.”) 7. Go digital. Digital printing lets you print exactly what
you need - even one copy! Most printers today have digital equipment or they
work with another printer who does. 8. Reduce page counts. 9. Shift what you can to the Web. (Is this heresy? Sorry.) 10. Avoid bleeds. That’s when the ink “bleeds” all the way to
the trim edge of the finished piece. The printer has to print the job and then
trim off the edges to create that bleed. That can cost you more. 11. Change your sheet (go to a lower quality of paper). 12. Sabine also suggests that as an option you consider a #1 sheet
rather than a premium sheet, which can save you 12 percent. Moving to a #2
sheet? This saves you 24 percent. 13. Know where the price breaks are. The more paper you buy,
the better your pricing. 14. Don’t be so picky. Ask your printer what paper he has
available/running when your job will print. You’ll avoid make-ready, and save. 15. Know that broken cartons will cost you more. If you’re
ordering a special sheet and only need a small amount, the printer has to
“break a carton” to run your job. You’ll pay extra, since the printer has to
purchase that special sheet (in the whole carton) just for you.
Always talk about paper with your printer when you’re planning your job. Let
him or her guide you. Please have an open mind and listen to your printer’s
ideas. Together, you can create magnificent work.
Media Contact: Alpa Patel
Phone Number: (714) 634-1992
Presentation folders
are the perfect solution to collecting, organizing and presenting printed
marketing and advertising assets to your audience. Beyond their functionality,
a well designed presentation folder can make a great first impression, and even
spark your audiences interest to explore the materials it holds. Combining
functionality with a design that sparks the attention of your audience can
often make the folder just as (if not more) important that what you put inside
it.
Due to their
functionality and ability to wow, presentation folders have become a standard
asset in most company’s marketing strategies. Odds are, if you are using a
presentation folder so is your competition. Not only are they using a
presentation folder, but it probably looks very similar to yours and even
contains similar materials inside.
Understanding this
makes it imperative that you re-think your current design. If it is time to
implement some new and creative ideas which will make your presentation folder
stand out amongst your competitors; below are five creative tips to help ensure
your presentation folders are unique and will continue to wow your audience.
1. Consider making
your presentation folders an unusual size. To accommodate the standard 8.5×11
sheet most folders come in a 9×12 size. Going a little smaller or larger can
automatically set your folder apart from the others; while keeping the ability
to hold the standard 8.5×11 sheet. Resizing, drastically smaller or larger or
going with a very odd size, will increase your folders uniqueness but will
usually require you to recreate all the materials you will place inside the
folder.
2. Create a unique
look for your folder by using a custom die cut. Rather than having a straight
edges consider round corners or even a cutting the folder into a unique shape
or design. Depending on the complexity of the design you want cut, this can be
a very affordable option and one which will definitely make your presentation
folder unique.
3. Provide your
audience with a design which contains more than your logo and slogan. Sell your
company, what you do and what you provide, give customer testimonials, or
provide contact information directly on the folder. Begin selling your company
before the audience has a chance to open up the folder to read the inside
materials.
4. Consider taking
the materials you place inside every folder and turning them into a booklet
then stitch into the folder. This frees up space and allows you to place more
materials in the pockets without them getting over-stuffed. It also ensures
that your vital information stays with the folder and isn’t misplaced or lost.
5. Go for simplicity!
If your competition’s folders scream with loud and vibrant colors on super
shiny gloss stock, consider going with a uncoated stock and ditching full color
printing for a elegant emboss or foil stamp or even a simple 1 or 2 color
print. Simplicity might sound strange, after all the four other tips above are
anything but simplistic, but sometimes simplicity is the best way.
If you have any
suggestions or ideas on ways to make a pocket folder stand out, please leave a
comment. We appreciate it and others will too!
But if your print
vendor employs traditional methods to produce this — using virgin-fiber paper,
petroleum-based inks, toxic solvents, and chlorine-bleached papers — your
printed piece might be doing less to reach out to constituents and more to
damage the environment.
Luckily, there are
eco-friendly ways to make your print projects, the earth — and your
organization — look good.
Damage to the
Environment
It's no secret that
paper production taxes forests, water, and energy supplies. In fact,
eco-advocacy group Environmental Defenseestimates that producing one ton of virgin uncoated paper — which
accounts for 90 percent of the United States' printing and writing paper — requires
three tons of wood, 19,075 gallons of water, and generates 2,278 pounds of
solid waste.
"The printing
industry is the single largest air polluter and the third-largest consumer of
fossil fuels in the world after automobiles and steel manufacturing," said
Renourish Founder and University
of Illinois Design
Professor Eric Benson. "On a typical day, [printers] use
trillions of gallons of water that must be treated for its toxic chemical
content and released back into our waterways."
Meanwhile, adhesives,
bindings, and foils used in printing and packaging can render the final product
unrecyclable, virtually guaranteeing that it will end up in a landfill. There,
petroleum-based inks can cause lasting damage to the environment, leaching
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — which can cause cancer and birth defects —
into the ground, contaminating soil, groundwater, and, upon evaporation, the
air.
The printing process
itself is equally hazardous: Many of the solvents, shellacs, driers, and other
solutions employed in producing film, printing plates, and cleaning the presses
are toxic pollutants that can cause chronic health problems — including kidney
and liver damage, and even death — among press operators, according to the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Not exactly the message
your nonprofit wants to convey.
It's Easy Printing
Green
For some nonprofits,
the solution might be to eschew printing in favor of online marketing. Yet for
nonprofits that rely on printed marketing campaigns for support and publicity,
cutting out paper altogether might not be an option.
By printing green, you
are sending a powerful reminder to your audience that you care about what's to
come. You’re also enhancing your brand image by making the statement that you
care about the environment. Environmental degradation has a wide-reaching
impact, from poverty and disease to war and famine. By pursuing green printing
practices, you are in a sense embracing all good causes — not least of all,
your own.
"Your donors,
board members, and prospects will see that you care and this will resonate
positively to them," said Nilesh Patel, Owner and President of We Print,
an environmentally friendly printer located in Orange, California. "Every point of contact with your constituency should
reinforce the idea that you are not only saying the right things but doing the
right things. Printing is a very visible part of that, particularly for a
membership organization. Doing the right thing environmentally and then
advertising it goes a long way [toward establishing] the integrity and
sincerity of your organization. It's a wonderful way to underscore your
mission."
Happily, eco-friendly
options are on the rise — and there are many resources online that can help you
locate them.
Among We Print’s
recommendations:
1. Choose paper that is
100 percent post-consumer waste (PCW), processed chlorine free (PCF), uncoated,
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, made by renewable energy sources
like wind or solar power (Mohawk Paper is a leader in this area), or even treeless
(hemp and kenaf are two options).
2. Use vegetable-based
inks or soy inks instead of petroleum-based inks. These alternatives are both
low in VOCs and competitively priced. When using Pantone colors — an industry
standard — avoid colors (mostly metallics and warm reds) that contain barium,
copper, and zinc, which can cause health problems in humans.
3. Try waterless
printing, which eliminates the dampening systems used in conventional printing.
Digital printing, which avoids the film and chemicals in traditional printing
processes, is another good alternative.
4. Avoid using
bindings, adhesives, or foil stamps in packaging.
5. Reduce the amount of
inks you use by going with one- or two-color designs; you can also save paper
by asking your designer to use standard press sheet sizes.
6. Familiarize yourself
with industry standards. The Environmental Protection Agency mandates that
federal agencies must use uncoated printing and writing papers containing at
least 30 percent PCW content; coated papers must contain 10 percent, notes We
Print.
Other Printing
Considerations
Those nonprofits that
print a lot of exhibit or signage materials should opt for a printing process
called dye sublimation — rather than solvent-based inks, which use petroleum
and other VOCs, according to a September 2005 article in Print magazine.
Digital printing and appliqué (which works particularly well with banners) are
also cleaner, more sustainable options; look for fabrics like Ecospun, which
are made out of recycled materials.
Good Design Is Up to
You
"Shouldn't this be
the designer's responsibility?" you might ask. Fortunately for you — and
the environment — the answer is no. Ultimately, as the client, the burden falls
on you to make sure your project is as green as possible. And with the growing
number of options out there, it isn't difficult to locate eco-friendly paper
vendors, designers, and printers that can help you do just that.
If you can't locate a
green design firm or printer in your area, don't worry — easy-to-use technologies
like PDF readers and compression utilities (see TechSoup's Free Downloads
section for good options) make file transmission quick (and often free) via
email and FTP, allowing you to work with the vendor of your choice regardless
of your location. Many print vendors will allow you or your designer to upload
files directly to their sites and will then ship the printed materials to you.
Even if a design firm
doesn't promote itself as "green," it may be willing to accommodate
your request. If you have a long-standing relationship with a designer, discuss
ways you can make your project as eco-friendly as possible.
A good designer should
be able to meet your needs by locating the proper vendors and working within
the requested perimeters. If a designer tries to talk you out of using a
two-color design or dissuade you from choosing an alternative printing
technique, get a second opinion.
Often, designers mark
up paper and printing by as much as 30 percent, so be wary of those that insist
you use expensive paper, printing, binding, coating, or foiling to make your
piece look good — they may just be trying to increase their own profits and
reduce the time and overhead involved in researching alternatives. A truly
competent design firm can make your project beautiful regardless of the
specifications.
Dispelling Green Myths
Green (Paper) Is
Beautiful
One common
misperception among nonprofit and for-profit organizations alike is that
eco-friendly means lower quality.
We suggests that
nonprofits talk to an eco-friendly printer to better understand their options.
"The biggest deterrent to [printing green] is lack of information,"
he said, noting that a printer can help you determine what types of papers,
inks, and coatings can give you the quality you want and stay within your
budget.
Offsetting Costs
Another common
deterrent is the misconception that printing green is always more expensive
than using traditional printing methods. However, this isn't always the case.
Vegetable-based inks are often competitively priced with petroleum-based;
carbon-neutral printing is no more expensive than traditional methods; and many
recycled, TCF, and ECF papers are in fact less expensive than virgin.
We would also notes
that because there are many factors that contribute to a printed piece's price
— including the size of the project, the press you use, and even the time of
year — it's important to work with a printer that can find the best solution
for your organization's budget.
Keep in mind, too, that
as more organizations like yours invest in eco-friendly options, the price will
eventually decrease. "It is cost-efficient to make recycled paper as it
requires less energy [than virgin]," said Benson. Yet, "there is
often a slightly higher premium for recycled paper. That is largely based on
supply and demand issues. The more we request recycled, PCW [paper], the more
the paper industry will supply, and costs will even out. Printers pollute and
pollute badly. Why should this be OK? Choosing to not support those practices
is to vote with your dollar."
Even if you discover
that going green means paying more, there are still many ways you can offset
the costs:
1.Consolidate
Instead of holding four
mail campaigns a year, try sending out three eco-friendly ones. The positive
publicity generated by going green may in fact improve response rates, and
you'll be more likely to make the most of what you do send out. Or, offset
costs with creativity: "Design multifunctional projects — for example,
self-mailer/program combos — to economize when using more expensive
paper," suggests Dynamic Graphics' in its Printing Green article.
"Also, combining projects whenever possible is wise; one idea is to print
business cards and postcards from the same recycled paper."
2.Bypass the Middle Man
Sourcing and managing a
print project is not as complicated as it might sound, and will help you avoid
high markups from graphic designers. Ask your designer to send you print-ready
files, and then work with the printer on delivering and proofing them. Explain
that you are a nonprofit and are trying to save money: many printers will be
happy to help you through the process. Alternatively, some designers may even
be willing to forego the markup when they know they're supporting a good cause.
3.Share the Glory
Another way to offset
costs is to ask a vendor to chip in. Some printers will reduce their price if
they can put their logo on the piece, and many will do so unobtrusively.
Likewise, you could ask one of your funders to help cover the costs in exchange
for a small promotion on the piece.
4.Keep It Exclusive
Some printers will
offer discounts if you bring all (or most) of your business to them.
"Choosing a printer to print your literature exclusively can result in a
contract that can reduce costs the more work you send them," he said.
If You've Got It,
Flaunt It
If you print your
project on recycled paper using soy-based inks or wind-powered presses, by all
means, let your constituents know about it. Add a simple line of text
explaining how the piece was printed on the bottom of the postcard, or include
a discreet Forest Stewardship Council, Soy Seal, or Processed Chlorine Free
symbol if it applies.
Alternatively, you can
tally up the piece's impact for your readers: Neenah Paper's eye-opening
Environmental Savings Calculator can help you calculate the environmental
savings — in trees, water, energy, solid waste, water-borne wastes, and
atmospheric emissions — in selecting papers with higher levels of post-consumer
fiber content.
Promoting green
practices not only makes your nonprofit look good — it can motivate others to
do the same. For when other organizations see how good your piece looks, they
might be inspired to go green.
Launching a nonprofit? If you want to start a not-for-profit
organization, this article on starting nonprofits is a must-read.
The decision to launch a nonprofit organization is an
exciting step for an entrepreneur.
But taking your organization from the drawing board to your
first board meeting takes more than a good idea. It requires knowledge,
discipline, and a lot of hard work. Here's how to get started...
Right off the bat, you need to understand that nonprofits
are subject to specific regulations governing their operation. Much of the
startup process involves laying the groundwork to bring the organization into
compliance and gain necessary approvals from state and federal government.
Define Your Mission
Your organization's stated mission is the initial litmus
test for qualification as a nonprofit entity. A legitimate nonprofit must be
"organized and operate for some religious, educational, charitable,
scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering of national or
international amateur sports, or prevention of cruelty to animals or
children". Additionally, your mission should be comprehensive enough to
encompass the complete scope of your activities, but specific enough to
differentiate yourself from other organizations.
Recruit a Nonprofit Board
Like for-profit corporations, incorporated nonprofits are
governed by a board of directors. Carefully consider who you will invite to sit
on your board since the initial board members will be instrumental in your
organization's development and fundraising efforts. On the other hand, don't
procrastinate in selecting board members, either, since your incorporation
documents will require individual board members' names and addresses.
Nonprofit Incorporation
You don't need a lawyer to incorporate a nonprofit
organization - but it helps. The incorporation process requires the completion
of several forms and documents. The first step is to draft articles of
incorporation and bylaws that have been approved by your board. With these
documents you can then file for incorporation with the state in which the
organization resides. But here's the catch . . . An experienced attorney knows
the words and phrases that are most likely to gain swift approval. You don't.
If you go it alone, there is a good chance the incorporation process will drag
on for months without resolution. At a minimum, find an attorney or experienced
nonprofit professional who is willing to examine your documents for any red
flags.
Federal & State Tax Exemption
Tax-exempt status is one of the perks of nonprofit
incorporation. But this exemption is not automatic. You will need to apply for
501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with both the IRS and the appropriate state agency.
Although it usually only involves board approval and filing a couple of forms,
it's important to make sure you do this early in the process. Otherwise, you
may be forced to waste very limited resources on taxes you didn't need to pay.
There are several other items you should also consider during
the startup phase including insurance coverage, property tax exemption (if the
nonprofit owns real estate), a federal employed ID number, and a bulk mail
permit. Fortunately, many of these tasks can be accomplished after your
organization is up and running. Just be aware of the fact that as a nonprofit
you may be subject to different regulations than a typical business and don't
hesitate to seek professional advice when you find yourself in unfamiliar
territory.
Media Contact: Alpa Patel
Phone Number: (714) 634-1992
Hiring personnel for a nonprofit is very different from
hiring staff at a for-profit organizations. This primer on nonprofit HR and
nonprofit hiring explains what you ought to consider as you recruit nonprofit
employees.
If you started your nonprofit with hopes of supervising a
large staff earning better than average salaries, prepare to be disappointed.
There is a world of difference between hiring workers for a
business and staffing a nonprofit organization with quality personnel. Even so,
thousands of other nonprofits have done it and you can do it, too - if you know
what to look for.
The most significant hurdle that needs to be addressed in
nonprofit staffing is cash. Nonprofits aren't known to pay high salaries and
most can't afford to compete with their for-profit counterparts. That means
you'll have to either find something else to entice staff recruits or get
creative. Typically, nonprofits do a little bit of both.
Board Members
The first and most obvious place to look for people to staff
your organization's programs and projects is your board of directors. Board
members are unpaid, but committed individuals who probably expect to be asked
to donate some of their time. However, be careful not to overload your board
members. If you demand too much of them, you may lose them altogether.
Volunteers
Since you can't rely exclusively on your board members,
you're going to need to find another source of cheap labor to get the job done.
That's where volunteers come in. Believe it or not, there is a sizeable group
of individuals in your community who are willing to work for your organization
for free. Your job is to find them. The fact that volunteers tend to donate
money as well as time is the icing on the cake.
Second Career People
Volunteers have limitations. Sometimes you need to bite the
bullet and hire full-time, paid staff. A good place to begin your search is
with retirees and second-career individuals. These types of recruits often
possess skills and experience that easily transfer from the corporate world to
a nonprofit setting. Also, salary level is less of an issue with these folks,
making it easier for them to devote their time to a cause they truly care
about.
Job Sharing
If thinking outside of the box interests you, you may want
to consider staffing certain positions through job sharing. Sometimes
nonprofits will share a full-time worker (like a bookkeeper) between their
organizations. It might also be possible to convince a for-profit company to
donate the time of one or more of their employees as a tax-deductible
contribution.
Nonprofit Careerists
Last (but certainly not least) are the nonprofit careerists.
Some individuals are perfectly content earning slightly less working for a
nonprofit because they are passionate about the nonprofit's mission. In
exchange for a respectable salary and benefits your organization will receive
the knowledge and experience of a nonprofit professional. But more importantly,
your organization will benefit from the passion and excitement they bring to
the job.
Media Contact: Alpa Patel
Phone Number: (714) 634-1992
Special events can be a valuable tool in nonprofit
fundraising...if they're done right.
Sooner or later, every nonprofit throws an event like a gala
or charity walk to increase their bottom line.
Special events can be a great nonprofit fundraising tool,
but if you don't know what you're doing, your next special event could result
in a net loss for the organization. Here's what you need to know to stay in the
black and out of the weeds.
Goal-Setting
The first step in planning a special event is to establish
goals and expected outcomes. While income goals are the most common,
contributions aren't the only reason for throwing a special event. It's
possible that the primary purpose of the event is to raise the organization's
visibility in the community. If that's the case, profitability might not be
such a big deal. However, if your goal is to raise funds you need to decide how
much the organization needs to raise and whether the special event you are
planning is capable of delivering the outcome you require.
Cost Analysis
After you've selected an event that is capable of achieving
your goals, the next step is to run a cost analysis. It's possible that some of
the resources and materials you need can be donated by local businesses, but
until you have a firm commitment from business owners don't make any
assumptions. Based on the total cost of the event, determine how many
participants you'll need to break even. If the break even number of
participants is a stretch, go back to the drawing board. But if past experience
tells you that the breakeven number is a no-brainer, you are probably on the
right track.
Promotional Effectiveness
The success of special event fundraisers is largely
determined by the effectiveness of your efforts to promote the event to the
local community. Ideally, your goal should be to include a high volume of
participants who do not currently contribute to the organization as well as
those who do. If done properly, the event can be an important entry point for
new donors to learn about your organization and explore how they can get
involved.
Contributory Devices
Although there are a variety of ways you can solicit funding
through a special event, many times the event itself will dictate how
contributions will be received. For example, a gala or banquet necessitates
advance ticket sales in order to make sure the caterer has enough food to feed
the masses. Other events, such as charity walks, lend themselves to the
solicitation of pledges based on the number of miles walked by individual
participants. Either way, it's important to factor the manner in which you plan
to receive contributions into the discussion about the type of event you are
hosting. If the organization needs cash right now, then advanced ticket sale
events are clearly preferable to a long-term pledge drive.
Liability Coverage
One of the things nonprofits frequently overlook in special
event planning is liability coverage. Although it's not unusual for facilities
to require proof of coverage, you should check with your insurance provider to
make sure your coverage is adequate. Otherwise, something as simple as a
twisted ankle could wind up costing the organization thousands more than the
event brought in.
Media Contact: Alpa Patel
Phone Number: (714) 634-1992
