There's a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially revolving around helping staff teams with limited resources accomplish more. This article is written by Jordan Dwight, founder of J. Dwight Labs, which helps nonprofits leverage software to achieve their goals and further their missions. Jordan has worked in tech for 10+ years at Amazon and startups.

Nonprofit leaders often face the challenge of balancing ambitious missions with limited staffing and financial resources. Many organizations operate with small teams while responding to increasing community needs, expanding programs, and ongoing operational demands.

Most nonprofit organizations, with a few exceptions, are required to file an annual form with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The form is officially named “Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax.”

Relying on the same cycle of grants and annual campaigns can leave your organization vulnerable to donor fatigue and shifting economic tides. Tackle financial uncertainty head-on by diversifying your revenue streams and making it fun for your donors to give!

When you consider your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts, you probably think of your development team as being in charge (and most of the time, that’s true). But other departments and roles can play a key part in supporting successful fundraising, such as your organization’s board of directors, the executive director, volunteers, marketing staff, IT department, and nearly anyone else who works on your mission!

Your board is the foundation governing body of your organization. 501 Commons offers a variety of learning sessions that can be customized specifically for your board and delivered online.

Volunteers are a core part of your nonprofit’s team, running your fundraisers, lending a hand to your programs, and ensuring everyday administrative tasks are completed.

Nonprofits spend countless hours and resources acquiring new donors, only to see many vanish after a single gift. The key to long-term sustainability is monthly donors. They give more over time, provide steady revenue, and form the foundation of a thriving fundraising program. However, attracting these donors and keeping them engaged requires a strategic approach.

Nonprofits have long relied on fundraising events as an extra revenue stream for their missions—whether that’s a walk-a-thon, charity gala, golf tournament, auction, or conference with interactive product demos.

Assessing your nonprofit’s digital infrastructure is crucial to driving a high return on investment (ROI) with your online presence. We recommend auditing your nonprofit’s website at least once a quarter to identify opportunities for improvement and areas where you can drive a greater impact for your mission online.

Capital campaigns empower nonprofits to significantly increase their capacity, whether that means building a new facility to serve more beneficiaries or setting up an endowment fund to secure the long-term stability of the organization.

More than ever, it's important that nonprofits get serious about protecting their organizations from cybercrime. Talk to your board and leadership today about any of these three ways you can shore up your cybersecurity measures.

Picture this: You’re the leader of a new nonprofit and are in charge of building the organization from the ground up. Items on your immediate to-do list might be spreading awareness of your mission, acquiring donors and volunteers, and applying for grants to cover initial overhead costs.

A Compliance Notice from the 501 Commons Human Resources Program

Fundraising is key to furthering your nonprofit’s mission and amplifying your impact. Since the communication channels you use greatly affect the way donors engage with your organization, it’s essential to focus on the channels they use frequently—such as text messaging.