Non-profit organization

Dealing With The Wrong Type Of Charity? How To Find Out?

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 10: People leave Elijah's ...

What should you do if you have second thoughts about the suitability of the charitable organization after you have made a contribution? Ideally speaking, one should assess the seriousness and commitment of the charitable organization before contributing money or time. However, this does not mean you should simply let things go.

You may be requested to contribute money or your time at a later date. Or, you may be asked to provide references who may be interested in giving money. In such a scenario, not having answers to all your doubts and queries may prove to be a big mistake.

For starters, have a word with the charitable organization and explain your doubts in the nicest manner possible. Something may have given you an impression that the organization is not serious. Having a word with the management is the best way of getting the official position. If your core doubts and queries are not answered, you can then resort to other ways and means to find more information.

You can log on to the internet and check out whether the charitable organization has a website. You can find out whether other individuals have contributed to this site in the past. If you find that other individuals too have the same doubts as you have, it is a clear indication that something is not right with the organization.

Once confirmed, insist on satisfactory answer to queries before any further contributions. A firm and clearheaded approach is more than enough to get to the truth of the matter. This will help you ensure that your contributions are made to the right organization at a later date.

Filed Under: General, Society Tagged With: Charitable organization, Internal Revenue Service, Non-profit organization

Little-Known Benefits of Working for a Charity

Starting a career working for a charity or not-for-profit organization is not always a new job seeker’s first choice. However, there can be many benefits to working in the non-profit sector that can pay off in the later stages of a career.

Image via Wikipedia

With a charity, job seekers can often have the opportunity to transfer from a volunteer position to a paid position. Unlike internships in the corporate world, volunteer positions are not as competitive or difficult to obtain. Volunteering can put you in the right place at the right time, and you can have the advantage of a foot in the door that outsiders don’t have. It also allows you to develop professional contacts and networking opportunities for paid positions.

With some larger or national charities, there is the opportunity to start at a local branch, even as a volunteer, and obtain a paid position at a regional or national office. If your career goals include working at a large corporation or Fortune 500 company, experience at a national headquarters, even of a charitable agency, can be very impressive.

The experience you gain from working at a not-for-profit agency can result in transferable skills which can help you in the business world. Because local charities tend to be small, it’s an ideal way to gain experience in many facets of operation, including database management, marketing, supervision and project administration. Experience with a charity can also get you invitations to join Boards of Directors or provide consultation to charitable start-ups. In some cases, student loan repayment programs are available to those who commit to working for certain non-profit agencies for a fixed number of years.

Filed Under: General, Habitat for Humanity Tagged With: Charitable organization, Non-profit organization, Volunteering

4 Ways to Promote a Charity Event

Charity events take place year round. So, it is important to make sure that your event is set apart from the rest. Distinguishing your event will ensure you draw a significant crowd and raise more money.

Here are four of the best marketing strategies for this type of event:

Partnering with local businesses for promotional and financial support

Using the Internet and social media platforms to spread the word
Requesting free space in newspapers
Engaging in a bulk mail campaign that targets people who live in the community where the event will take place

Don’t Overlook Mail!

Mailing out postcards can be a great way to notify the public about the charity and the event for that charity. A postcard can provide details about the purpose of the event, the cost to attend, as well as the time, date, and place. By sending out information through the mail, you will reach more people in a wider area, making it possible to have a successful fundraiser. The best part is that sending a postcard is more cost effective than sending a longer letter; you can communicate the same information for less money. Remember that bulk mailing usually comes with a discount. You can also use the postcard to tell your attendees that charitable contributions are tax deductible, a fact that can help motivate the public to attend your event.

Some of the types of charities and non-profit organizations that can benefit from these four strategies include churches, homeless shelters, and animal rescue operations.

Filed Under: Society, Volunteering Tagged With: Charitable organization, Non-profit organization, Postcard

Careers in the Non-Profit Sector

Non-profit organizations are extremely respected and reputable. People can pursue these jobs as potential careers. When people think of non-profit organizations, they tend to assume that all workers within the organization are volunteers, providing their time to assist humanity. However, while many volunteers make up the employee base of non-profit organizations, there are many paid employees that are necessities. These employees are paid by the various facets through which the organization raises funds, as well as by investors and donations.

In the pursuit of a career in the non-profit sector, individuals should first consider obtaining an educational background that can assist in the growth of the particular organization in which they seek employment. As with most careers, a relevant degree is a big plus to your chances of getting hired. Resources for learning how to earn a degree online are the most convenient and viable options in obtaining a degree for your potential non-profit career.

When the time comes to begin seeking employment in the non-profit sector, there are many options to choose from that are both rewarding and long lasting. Among some of the most widely known types of organizations that are commonly associated with the non-profit category include food banks, charities, hospitals, and many more programs and facilities that cater to specific needs. Non-profit jobs tend to provide employees with a sense of well-being and motivation that is not always found in many other career choices. Due to this fact, this highly-sought-after field is a viable choice for anyone looking for fulfillment in their career.

Filed Under: Community, Volunteering Tagged With: Employment, Non-profit organization, Organization

Ideas to Raise Funds for Charity

Raising money for various non-profit causes is certainly a worthwhile endeavor. There are so many organizations that do amazing works in various communities and popularities. If you’re looking for ideas, here some that are worthy of consideration. After all, doing whatever one can to help others is something that all should strive to do.
A music festival is one such idea. Many artists are willing to play in these events to help gain exposure and to assist the organization. This is great for any community or area to gain support for a local charity.
For this ticket sales would go a long way to raising funds. You could also count on donations, as individuals are often willing to donate money for the cause that is being supported. Additionally, drinks and concessions should be included as they can certainly raise a good amount of money during an event such as this.
Another effective idea to raise funds for charity events is a poker night. You could find a venue and then rent or buy poker tables for the contestants. The entry fund would serve as the main mechanism for raising funds, and the prize could be something donated by a local business who is willing to help. Once again, drinks and concessions would be a very easy way to raise supplementary funds.
Consider other ideas to help raise money for charities and non-profit organizations. Charity auctions and other events, such as those listed here, should all be considered to support respected causes.
Consider some of these options if you have a role in such an event. These would not be too difficult to plan and execute, with the end product resulting in increased resources for the chosen organization. This is something that should be considered in order to improve the work that these organizations undertake.

Filed Under: Community, Philanthropy Tagged With: Donation, Fundraising, Non-profit organization

Renovate a House, Revitalize a Community

In the Rocky Mountains of Utah Hearts 2 Homes, a community organization, rebuilds the lives of those that have special needs that are in dire circumstances, or are facing severe hardships in their lives, by making needed renovations in their homes. They are a 100% non-profit organization, there is no paid staff.

Over this last year, this organization has made a difference in the lives of many, not just those who receive the fruits of the labor freely given, but those who are able to give of their time, talents, and even those who are able to donate supplies have been touched. Being able to serve in your own community, sometimes literally in your own neighborhood, gives you the feeling of sweet satisfaction of having made a difference today in someone’s life.

Some of the most impressive renovations included two different homes for the Kuester family. The Kuester’s lost their daughter Samantha to Swine Flu in October of 2009, followed by a house fire in December, which robbed them of all their belongings, even the hand made Afghans their mother had made for the remaining children for Christmas. Adding insult to injury, the fire had started in the room that Samantha had died in. Living next door, are Samantha’s grandparents. Her grandfather‘s diabetes had progressed to the point where he was receiving medical care at home, and was now in a wheelchair. He often would injure his feet as he tried to maneuver his wheelchair through narrow doorways. In April of 2010, Hearts 2 Homes built the Kuester’s a new home, and widened Samantha’s grandfather’s doorways, and for the first time, in a very long time, his wife and he were able to be in the same bedroom, because now his hospital bed fit in their bedroom.

It is organizations like this one, which revitalize a community one home at a time, giving them hope again one heart at a time. There is nothing like the satisfaction of helping your neighbor.

Filed Under: Community, F.E.M.A Tagged With: New York City, Non-profit organization, Renovation

One Warm Coat: A Quest to Keep Everyone Warm This Winter

According to 2008 statistics, one in five children in the United States are living in poverty. One Warm Coat seeks to provide warm winter coats for children and families who cannot afford to stay warm this winter.

One Warm Coat organizes coat drives across the United States to collect coats for people in need. For many people, donating a coat costs nothing and they can go to a local coat collection to drop off old coats. For people without a local coat collection, One Warm Coat can collect coats through the mail. Simply pack up your coat and ship it off to them. Information on donating coats in available at their website: http://www.onewarmcoat.org.

One Warm Coat also provides resources for groups or individuals looking to host a coat drive. Information, again is available at their website and there is a way that anyone can help.

Many children outgrow coats each year and old coats stay in the closet and arenâ€™t used for years. Families can create a shared experience by involving young children in the process of sorting their winter coats. Everyone understands what it must be like to be cold on a winter day. Through this learning experience, young children can learn about why we clean out our closets and help people in need.

This is an easy way to involve children in volunteer work and instill in them a lifelong desire to help others. Children whose parents helped them to volunteer from a young age will take that understanding of community with them throughout their life. In the case of One Warm Coat, children love the idea that they are helping other children by sharing their things with them.

A coat is an essential winter item that everyone should be able to have this winter. One Warm Coat makes it possible to share old coats with others and help them to keep everyone warm throughout the colder months.

Filed Under: Seasonal Volunteering Tagged With: Jacket, Non-profit organization, Philanthropy, PR Newswire, United States, Volunteering, Winter-Coats, Wool

Starting a Family Volunteer Night

: Image via Wikipedia

Many families spend time volunteering at Thanksgiving. During the holidays, there are many remindersâ€”ads, public service announcements, and people outside the mallâ€”to help us remember to help those in need.

Volunteering at the holidays is a wonderful tradition, but what will happen for the rest of the year? The same people who face poverty and hunger in the holiday season still have the rest of the year ahead of them and non-profit organizations that serve them still need help.

One of the best things parents can do is to start a tradition of volunteering as a family once a week. It can be for one cause or local organization that really matters to themâ€”like a local soup kitchen that always needs help preparing or serving dinnersâ€”or a different organization each week to allow each member of the family to select a place where they would like to donate their time.

For most families, giving the gift of their time adds up to more than they would be able to donate in money. Non-profits are understaffed, particularly in bad economic times, and can almost always find a place for additional help.

Many websites, like Volunteer Match at http:www.volunteermatch.com can help you to identify the right opportunities and the right contact information for places near your home. They also have categories of age appropriateness to help choose tasks where even small children can begin to participate.

Putting volunteer time on your weekly calendar will help it happen all year long. When itâ€™s a set day of the week and a set time, people will be less tempted to forget or to postpone for other obligations. They can begin to plan on it and schedule around the evening that they know they will be volunteering. Volunteering as a group can also be a great way to spend time with your family and bond with your kids while helping others in your community.

Filed Under: Seasonal Volunteering Tagged With: Christmas and holiday season, Family, Meal, Non-profit organization, Philanthropy, Soup kitchen, Thanksgiving, volunteer