Research and recommendations for effective, day-to-day nonprofit practice from ASU faculty, staff, students, and the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
Nonprofits can be affected by and are subject to public policy. Administrative shifts can affect the general operations and program management of an organization more than is comfortable to admit. However, nonprofits can also make and influence public policy. In fact, they are at a particular advantage to do so, nonprofits provide the government a cheaper way to provide services. The ability for nonprofits to leverage outside funding makes them an ideal “contractor” for things like human service delivery. Nonprofits maximize the impact of government spending through their ability to secure additional funding.
Due to their advantage as lower-cost service providers as well as their ability to be affected by public policy shifts, it is clear how it may be advantageous for nonprofits to seek to influence public policy so as to not play defense when that policy is enacted.
It is important for nonprofit organizations to engage in public policy as they have firsthand knowledge of their communities' needs and circumstances. Many times, nonprofit organizations work with those eligible and ineligible for assistance programs and can speak to the needs of both of those communities.
It is important to guide advocacy efforts through a “best-practice” lens that can be adapted to the needs and capacities of any organization. Advocacy is a difficult thing to measure, as there are a lot of moving parts…
Read more
In a changing philanthropic landscape where trust is paramount, nonprofit organizations must adapt to ensure their mission resonates with their communities. Trust-based philanthropy offers a transformative approach that enhances donor relationships and fosters deeper connections with community stakeholders. It emphasizes open communication, unrestricted funding, collaboration, and alignment with the fundamental principles necessary for nonprofits to thrive in their mission.
Understanding trust-based philanthropy
Trust-based philanthropy aims to rebalance power dynamics between donors and nonprofits, shifting from a transactional model to one centered around mutual trust and respect. Trust enhances nonprofit adaptability, allowing organizations to respond strategically to real-time community needs. Establishing trust within the relationship enables nonprofits to receive greater financial support, ultimately enhancing their initiatives and operational efficiency.
The importance of community trust cannot be overstated. Building a positive reputation can increase funding opportunities, enhance volunteer engagement, and improve program delivery. Trust directly contributes to a nonprofit organization’s ability to navigate challenges and maintain support during difficult periods when community backing is critical.
Building community trust through transparency
Trust in philanthropy hinges on…
Read more
Donors are essential to the existence of nonprofits. They’re the reason we can run programs, keep the lights on, and make real things happen in the communities we serve. However, keeping donors around year after year proves to be challenging for the nonprofit sector.
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, the overall donor retention rate in 2024 was just 42.9%, marking five straight years of decline. Essentially, for every two donors who gave to an organization last year, only one came back. This leaves nonprofit leaders and fundraisers stuck chasing new folks to replace the ones who already believed in what you’re doing, but didn’t stick around. Constantly finding new donors can be exhausting. It takes time, energy, and money that could be spent deepening existing relationships. Instead of starting from scratch every year, what if we shifted our focus to the people who are already in our corner?
Here are a few strategies for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers to consider to keep donors coming back - not just once, but for years to come.
The first step
One of the quickest and easiest ways to have a positive impact on donors is with a simple thank you. Thanking donors should go beyond an automatically-generated tax receipt or bot email. Donors should be receiving a real thank-you that is timely, personal, and specific. The goal is to make donors feel appreciated, and that their gift mattered.…
Read more
Nonprofit organizations play a unique role in society–they don’t just serve causes, they shape and stand for social values. Yet in times of pressure, change, or crisis, even the most deeply held values can quietly drift. Leadership approaches and governance structures can reinforce and strengthen organizational values, making them more resilient to challenges. Understanding how leadership behaviors and governance choices support the sustainability of those values is essential in navigating today’s complex environment.
What leadership approaches help deliver enduring nonprofit values?
Meaning-making
During times of uncertainty, nonprofit staff, board members, and community members often turn to leaders for guidance and interpretation. Leaders who practice meaning-making help stakeholders understand not only what is happening but also why it is happening. This leadership approach serves to minimize anxiety and create clarity during challenging times.
Shared governance
Traditional hierarchical governance structures persist in many nonprofit organizations; however, shared governance models are a valuable alternative. When leadership and decision-making responsibilities are spread across staff, boards, and community members, values become embedded into everyday operations and practices. These inclusive…
Read more
That we need to remind ourselves to involve the communities we hope to empower in our nonprofit work is telling. Who better to lead the way? Someone who has worked in nonprofit boardrooms for years, arguably doing much good and understanding the nuances of bureaucracy that can make or break mission-driven initiatives? Or someone on the front lines of the community, holding embedded history and the intergenerational relationships unlearnable to an outsider?
Truthfully, both are needed.
This shift toward embracing community strengths rather than focusing on deficits as a noble outsider is known as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). ABCD is about recognizing the talents, relationships, and resources already present within communities and building collaboratively to leverage them.
In my current work, I’m honored to support formerly incarcerated individuals on a pathway to sustainable employment. I’ve worked in nonprofits for nearly 20 years, but I have zero personal experience being incarcerated.
So when it comes time to create programming and write funding proposals, our greatest assets are the nearly half of my teammates who have lived experience with incarceration. Those who have left prison with nothing more than a prison ID, somewhere south of $100, and are expected to thrive in a society they may barely recognize.
My colleagues with lived experience are the ones who create the real connections…
Read more