AAPIP Releases Metro D.C. Volunteer and Donor Guide

Meyer supported the Connect! Regional Guide to Nonprofits Serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Metropolitan Washington, D.C./Baltimore Chapter of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy has released the Connect! Regional Guide to Nonprofits Serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which was supported by a Meyer Foundation grant.

Meyer Foundation Program Officer Danielle Reyes, chapter co-founder and vice chair of AAPIP's national board, directed the project with assistance from Meyer Program Assistant Alegneta Asfaw.

The guide connects potential volunteers, board members, and donors with 26 featured nonprofit organizations providing important services to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Greater Washington in the areas of: advocacy, arts and heritage, community building and outreach, cultural preservation, education, employment and finances, health and wellness, hunger prevention, immigration and legalization, language training and access, and legal support.

View the Connect! Guide online.

To learn more about the Metropolitan D.C./Baltimore Chapter of AAPIP, visit www.aapip.org. Inquiries about the Connect! Guide may be sent to aapip-metrodc@lists.aapip.org.

Tips for Donor Cultivation

Welcome Donors with Donor-Advised Funds

Here are some ways to cultivate donors with donor-advised funds:

• As you develop your solicitation materials, you can make it easy for donor-advised fund account holders to give.
• Provide an additional box that says, “I intend to recommend this amount from my donor-advised fund,” which makes it easy for them to support your organization in a way that works for them and for the sponsoring charity of their donor-advised fund.
• Let your donors know when only a portion of their donation is tax deductible, so donors know when it’s appropriate to recommend a grant from a donor-advised fund.
• Acknowledge donors by name or by the name of their donor-advised fund as provided in the letter from the sponsoring charity that accompanies the grant check.
• Make sure your information is current with commonly used nonprofit research sites, such as GuideStar ©, Better Business Bureau ©, Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Navigator.
• Don't forget to update your IRS information, where addresses and names may be out of date. IRS information is the source of many donor databases.
• Since typical donor-advised account holders use the Internet to research charities, keep your website up-to-date with the latest information about your programs, impact, financials, staffing, and board.

 This information comes from the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund.

Learning Opportunities

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Fundraising in a Challenging Economy

Foundation Center

This free class will give fundraising professionals the tools to make sure their nonprofits are positioned to weather the economic downturn, explore the impact of the downturn on philanthropic giving, and explain how to adapt fundraising methods and strategies in the current economy. Learn more.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Webinar: Keeping Communications Front and Center, Even During Tough Financial Times

Philanthropy Journal

This Webinar will discuss how marketing and public relations can increase an organization's visibility and success. Learn more.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Basic Budgeting for Nonprofits

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This interactive presentation will explore the concepts behind behavioral-based budgeting and how to fully integrate the non-financial manager into the budget process to help organizations realize their full potential and maximize the use of their limited resources. Learn more.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Webinar: The Power of Coaching and Capacity Building

Alliance for Nonprofit Management

This webinar will explore the nature of coaching, its development over the past decade, the basic melody or core chart of great coaching, and some of its challenges as a means of helping nonprofits change for the better. Learn more.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Foundation Fundraising: An Introductory Course

Foundation Center

This course, for nonprofits who are new to fundraising, will help participants understand the grantmaking objectives of independent, corporate, and community foundations; learn how to identify prospects; and gain confidence in securing funder support. Learn more.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Connecting, Marketing, and Branding Through Facebook

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County

This seminar will explore the basic structure of Facebook, how to use Facebook as a marketing tool, and how to use Facebook with other social networks. Learn more.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Developing A Technology Plan That Moves Your Organization Forward

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This session will explore how to create a technology plan to support an organization’s mission, goals, and strategies, with a special focus on involving key stakeholders and selling the plan internally to executive directors, board, and staff. Learn more.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Grantseeker Training Institute

Foundation Center

This five-day intensive will help participants develop strategies to sharpen their fundraising focus, learn to articulate their funding requests more powerfully, and network with peers and colleagues from the nonprofit world. Learn more.

See more learning opportunities.

Links for Nonprofits

Economic Crisis Links

Meyer's website has resources to help nonprofits weather the economic crisis. Select a topic to learn more:

• Background on the Downturn
• Fundraising
• Board Involvement
• Communications and Marketing
• Health and Well-being
• Opinion Pieces and Editorials
• Links to Other Survival Guides
• Other Links of Interest