Operational audits are a valuable tool for nonprofits to maintain good governance, financial integrity, and effectiveness in achieving their mission. They contribute to the long-term sustainability and success of the organization and reinforce trust amongst stakeholders.
The DevoCenter Compliance Checklist is divided into 4 sections:
Use this list to get organized before you start soliciting funds
Administrative
IRS Determination Letter (501c3)
Signed W9
Recent 990
Staff Bios/ Resumes
List of Board Members and Partners
Financial
Operational Budget
Actual Program Budget
Requested Program Budget
Income statements
Audited financials
Grants.gov /login.gov access information
Program
Mission Statement
Organization’s History
Draft Letter of Inquiry
Logic Model or Program Overview
Program or Event Description
Impact Statement
Case for Support
Project Plan with Timeline
Sustainability Plan
Service Numbers and Demographics
Nonprofit Compliance | Annual Board Checklist
Board members are expected to provide leadership to a nonprofit organization. They are responsible for establishing policy and ensuring compliance, while the executive director (ED) is responsible for implementation and operational oversight. Boards will function differently based on size, history, leadership styles and other factors, however, there are a few things that all boards should do at least annually.
Bylaws and Governance Policies
Board members should be aware of and have easy access to corporate documents: bylaws, conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation, IRS determination letter, meeting minutes.
Annually board members should review bylaws and submit certifications to confirm that they understand and agree to abide by the conflict of interest and other governance policies.
Accounting, Filings and Insurance
Confirm state filings, charity registrations, employment taxes, insurance, and business licenses (if required) are current.
Examine accountants audit and federal 990 or 990N filings; verify tax exempt status.
Review financials, approve budget (including Executive Director compensation); evaluate cash flow.
Vision, Mission and Outlook
Revisit the vision and mission of the organization, and ensure alignment to current strategy and planned activities.
Brand Presentation
Examine website, newsletter, social media channels, proposals, and printed media to assess readiness to share with program participants, donors, partners, funders and friends.
Partnerships and Fundraising
Discuss, identify and list current and potential partners and funders. Determine outreach, relationship building and proposal submission strategies.
Organizational Development
Participate in Executive Director and board member recruitment.
Ensure Executive Director has adequate resources to meet organizational objectives. Review board, staff and volunteer roles and responsibilities to determine if current capacity meets program requirements.
* This checklist is for quick reference and for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace legal advice.
References:
repost from Boardable | The Nonprofit Board Governance Guide
Agenda and Minutes: These items help your members always have up-to-date details on meetings and recent history. Check your state laws to see if there are requirements for how long you keep these records and whether they need to be publicly accessible.
Bylaws: These ensure your meetings run smoothly and that members know your expectations. They also spell out procedures for common issues from voting procedure to board member attendance.
Strategic Plans: Whether they are long-term or short-term, board members need to document strategic plans to be able to provide you with the best insight and assistance for moving forward.
Your History and Mission: Members should always know who your nonprofit serves, and why you do what you do. It’s a good idea to review your history and mission at board retreats and make sure everyone is on the same page.
Board Expectation Agreement: This essential document outlines exactly what you expect from board members in detail, avoiding miscommunication or unwanted results. It should include topics such as attendance, personal donations, fundraising support, ambassadorship efforts, and anything else your organization expects board members to do.
Board Member Job Description: Specific details of what board membership looks like and how directors serve your board helps prospective members decide if board service is for them.
Committee Charges: Details about what a committee does, who is responsible for it, and how decisions are made set this reporting structure up for success.
Legal Documents: From your articles of incorporation to your legal status and other essentials, have important legal documents available for board members to easily access.
Financials: Budget, financial statements, and your last annual audit results are among the important documents that boards need to make decisions. Again, check with local laws about requirements for what needs to be made public and how long documents need to be retained.
Contact Details: Maintain this information for the current board, any active emeritus members, and key executive employees. Identify who emergency contacts are in various situations and consider making contact info shareable (as desired) among board members.
Calendar: A clear, easy-to-understand calendar of your upcoming events, activities, and important dates for your nonprofit—updated every meeting—ensures better attendance.
MISSION
Board of Directors
Approve mission, vision, values, strategic plan
Review and approve annual implementation plan to ensure consistency with strategic plan
Ensure legal and ethical integrity
Maintain accountability, including complying with reporting and accounting requirements
Be aware of key risks and mitigation strategies
Executive Director
Work with board to develop mission, vision, values, strategic plan
Develop annual implementation plan and advise board when milestones in implementation are reached
Board of Directors
Approve annual budget
Approve internal control policies
Hire financial auditor
Review financial indicators and ensure adjustments are made
Approve investment policies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Support fundraising activities
Executive Director
Develop annual budget, establish income and expense parameters, determine specific expenditures within approved budget lines
Work with board to develop financial policies and internal controls
Respond to auditor findings
Report to board on cash flow, budget to actual, and other key financial measures
Comply with board-approved financial policies and reporting requirements
Work with board to develop and execute fundraising strategy
Board of Directors
Ensure that programs are achieving objectives
Executive Director
Develop and implement programs
Provide evidence of program effectiveness
Board of Directors
Hire and evaluate the executive director
Approve personnel policies and review salary information
Draft grievance and whistleblower policies
Executive Director
Hire and supervise all other staff
Set compensation and benefits for individual employees within organizational policies
A good project management process is necessary if you want to support your team in reaching short and long term goals, and design and deliver excellent programs.
A good process will help keep the team organized and help them to work more efficiently.
A project is defined as an event or an endeavor with a specific beginning and end date. A successful project must be on-time, on budget, and result in deliverables (product, service, or result) as defined by a detailed scope of work.
Examples include: creating a new program, organizing an event, executing a fundraising campaign, or introducing a new membership management system.
A project manager should be assigned to make sure that the process is followed, that the team stays on track, that tasks are completed on time, and that the project stays within budget. There are lots project management tools available, but fundamentally you’ll want to begin with a Project Charter and decide on a simple way to list and track project data.
Use this Project Charter Template to define project objectives, scope, and required resources.
Then choose an application that will allow you to:
See all tasks, deliverables and deadlines with start and end dates
Track team member’s tasks and time spent, and project costs
Share this information with the entire team
As you are designing and executing your plan, be sure to:
Set SMART goals to develop a realistic project plan. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Track Data from the very beginning and throughout the projects life span. You want to be able to evaluate and report on progress, performance, deliverables, time and costs.
Communicate expectation, progress, and risks and be available to support when necessary.
Project Management Phases
INITIATE: Project Charter
summarize justification, deliverables, benefits, risks, budget, milestones and project team
PLAN: Project Scope
detail scope, budget, schedule, communication plan, and risk management strategy
EXECUTE: Project Launch
undertake tasks, establish tracking protocols and performance indicators, forecast outcomes
CONTROL: Project Monitoring
revisit objectives, measure progress, performance, deliverables, time and costs
CLOSE: Project Reporting
document the process, results, lessons learned, and report all quantifiable data
ABC Organization Project Charter
Project Name: “A Wonderful Winter” Fundraiser
Project Description: A one night event celebrating successes over the past year.
Justification: This project supports our goals of:
Increasing donations by 25% over last year
Encouraging stakeholders and inspiring donors through storytelling
Deliverables:
Fundraiser invite printed mailer
Landing page for ticket sales
Venue, decorations and meals
Event handouts, presentation media, entertainment and speaker lineup
Benefits:
Raise awareness about a cause
Strengthen donor relationships
Recognize outstanding teamwork
Reflect and celebrate!
Risks:
We have to monitor the budget and projected income as to not spend more than we take in.
The team lacks experience producing events
Budget: Not to exceed $5,000
Milestones:
Convene a planning team and assign tasks by August 1, 2023
Reserve a venue by September 1, 2023
Publish landing page and mail invites by September 15, 2023
Second round and follow up invites by October 15, 2023
Prepare event handouts, presentation media, entertainment and speaker lineup by November 15, 2023
Second round and follow up invites by December 1, 2023
Confirm decorations and meals by December 7, 2023
Event date: December TBD, 2023
Team Members:
Project Manager
Event Coordinator
Graphic Designer
Marketing Coordinator
This Administrative Manager position offers insight into all aspects of managing and growing a nonprofit business. This list is meant to provide some guidance as we navigate what’s needed together. It may change over time.
Communications
Track and manage executive tasks and to-dos
Meet with director weekly to review projects and calendar
Liaison with board members, clients, customers, participants, and partners
Communicate and maintain relationships with press and media contacts
Data Management
Research and update grant opportunities database
Maintain administrative contact and reference lists
Manage and track organizational data and key metrics
Assist with organizing electronic files and digital library
Marketing
Contribute to and manage web pages, blog posts and SEO
Assist with copywriting and delivery of e-newsletters
Manage social media calendar, schedule posts and engage with online connections
Research and report developments with e-marketing and e-commerce
A nonprofit program is a set of activities and resources to provide a service. It is a system with inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes and feedback.
Inputs: resources needed to run a program
Processes: how services are delivered
Outputs: what is produced, delivered or supplied with numerical value
Outcomes: the impact or result of service delivery
Feedback: performance data and reporting to evaluate the program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW TEMPLATE
Target Population: define the age range, race, gender, location and socio-economic status of those you serve.
Participants: what else can you say about program participants characteristics, needs and interests?
Reach: what the maximum number of students your program will serve?
Duration: how long is your program in hours, days or months?
Frequency: how often will you meet with participants?
Program Content: what documents and materials are required to run the program?
Program Deliverables: what will participants deliver, produce or create during the program?
Program Impact: how will you define success and measure program outcomes?
Program Partners: what external organizations or individuals will assist with the program?
Human Resource Requirement: what internal role(s) will support this program?
Financial Resources Requirement: what is the total annual cost of the program?
Cost Per Participant: what is the total cost of the program divided by the number of participants?
Colleges and universities are a great resource for nonprofit organizations seeking a little extra support. Most post-secondary institutions have intern programs designed to provide students with work experience. Students usually receive credit for the work time, and a stipend is optional.
Contact the placement office at local colleges or universities to find out about the position description positing and other requirements.
Be prepared to provide:
organizational summary
length and time commitment
stipend (if applicable)
position description
required qualifications
contact information
SAMPLE POSITION LISTING | JOB DESCRIPTION
Overview
ABC Education Organization works with schools to educate for a healthy tomorrow. We accomplish this through curriculum support and professional development for teachers. ABC Ed is seeking part-time interns to join our organization with our work in 4 main areas of support, including: program, fundraising, research and storytelling. Interns are asked to commit to at least 3 months of work with us and contribute 5-15 hours a week on a weekly basis. Positions may be remote or hybrid - to be discussed.
Program Support: Interns assisting with program support will help us with planning and preparing for our programs. This includes helping with coordination, recruitment, on-going correspondence, via email and phone, and logistical planning. Interns will assist in writing and editing program documents and conducting some follow-up and evaluative research. Program Interns will work closely with our Program Manager and the Director of Education and Research to put together resources, as needed for on-going programs.
Fundraising Support: Interns assisting with fundraising will help up to update our database with regards to potential organizations for partnership. Interns will work closely with our Director of Development to conduct on-line research and determine alignment of mission and program areas as needed. Another important task is making sure that the funder database is up to date. This internship may include helping to support events and fundraisers.
Research Support: ABC Ed has on-going research opportunities for interested interns. One primary area of research includes the ongoing documentation and assessment of participant data. Research Interns will work with the Director of Education and Research to help develop and analyze tools that will help us to better analyze and document our programs.
Storytelling Support: Another growing area of research for us includes conducting semi-structured interviews (approximately 1 hour each) with clients, and program attendees, and school and community leaders to better understand the value of our work and document program impact. Interns will also transcribe and edit interviews and help to compile stories for our journal.
If you are interested in interning with the ABC Ed please send your resume and a cover letter referencing which areas of interest and your availability for each project: Please send inquiries to Leah Mason, Program Director leah@ abc-ed.org.
501(c)(3): refers to public charities and private foundations as defined by the IRS
501(c)(4): refers to social welfare and advocacy organizations as defined by the IRS
501(c)(6): refers to trade associations and business leagues as defined by the IRS
501(h) Election: an option for public charities (except churches) to measure their permissible lobbying activity using an expenditure test
Other types of nonprofits at charitynavigator.org
Accountability: the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for policies and decisions, including the obligation to be answerable for resulting consequences
Ad Hoc Committee: a temporary committee established to address a specific issue, not necessarily within a specific time frame
Advisory Council: a group created to advise and support an organization or its leadership also called advisory group, advisory committee, or advisory board; usually focuses on a specific issue, area of concern, or constituency
Advocacy: any behavior or action that speaks in support of, recommends, argues for, or otherwise defends or pleads for a cause, mission, or organization that benefits others
Affiliate: a chapter, an auxiliary group, or a branch of a parent organization
All Volunteer Organization (AVO): a nonprofit organization that is managed and governed by volunteers
Articles of Incorporation: an official statement of creation of an organization; it is filed with the appropriate state agency
Articles of Organization: a charter for an unincorporated organization
Association: a membership organization that may be incorporated or unincorporated
Audit: a formal review of financial and/or activities and legal transactions
Board Development: a process of building effective boards; from recruiting and orienting to engaging and educating board members, also includes rotations of board members to ensure a good fit with the organization’s governance needs Board member agreement a verbal or written statement of commitment to fulfill responsibilities as outlined in the board member job description
Board Member Matrix: a tool helping identify desired characteristics and gaps on a board
Board of Directors: governing body of a nonprofit or for-profit corporation; has specific legal and ethical responsibilities to and for the organization
Bylaws: the legal operating guidelines for a board
Bylaws Amendment: a formal change to the original bylaws of an organization; the bylaws themselves should outline amendment procedures
CEO: the chief executive officer; top staff position of a nonprofit organization or a for-profit company
Chair: in a nonprofit organization, the chief volunteer position, the elected leader of the board
Chapter: a member or affiliated organization of a federated organization
Charitable Contribution: a tax-deductible donation given to a nonprofit organization
Charity: a nonprofit organization providing a public service as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)
Charter: the legal organizational document for a nonprofit; also known as the articles of incorporation or articles of organization; may also refer to a formal description of responsibilities assigned to a committee, a chapter, or an affiliate
Chief Executive: the top staff position of an organization, also called CEO or, in many nonprofits, executive director
Code of Conduct: the formal or informal ethical standards expected of every member of a group, whether board, staff, or member of a profession
Community Foundation: a foundation whose mission is to support a specific community
Confidentiality Clause: a policy defining unauthorized and improper disclosures of confidential information
Conflict of Interest: a situation in which the personal or professional concerns of a member of the board or staff may affect his or her ability to put the welfare of the organization before benefit to self or another party
Consent Agenda: a component of the meeting agenda that groups routine items and resolutions as one agenda item; does not require board discussion prior to the vote; requests for an item to be moved from the consent agenda to the regular agenda are automatically granted
Constitution: usually refers to the basic documents governing an organization’s purpose, structure, and governance
Consultant: an expert providing professional advice or services
Corporate Sponsorship: a relationship between a nonprofit and a company where the nonprofit receives monetary support, goods, or services in exchange for public recognition of the company
Corporation: a legal entity that exists in perpetuity until it is dissolved; a “fictitious person,” separate from its managers or governors, usually given the same rights and obligations as natural persons
D&O (Directors and Officers) Insurance: insurance that protects board members and top staff personnel from personal liability created by board decisions or actions
Determination Letter: an official notification by the IRS stating that a nonprofit is recognized as a tax-exempt organization
Development: a term used to describe all methods of obtaining funding or support for an organization
Disclosure: form a form on which board members annually detail personal and professional connections that could create a potential conflict of interest
Disclosure Requirement: regulations requiring nonprofits to share financial or other information with the public, defining IRS form 990 as a public document
Disqualified Person: includes organization managers and any other person (such as a board member) who, within the past five years, was in a position to exercise substantial influence over the affairs of the organization, also family members of the above
Dissolution of Nonprofits: the formal procedure by which a nonprofit ceases to operate or exist; involves filing with the state and distribution of assets
Diversity: diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. It is all-inclusive and recognizes everyone and every group as part of the diversity that should be valued. A broad definition includes not only race, ethnicity, and gender — the groups that most often come to mind when the term “diversity” is used — but also age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. It also involves different ideas, perspectives, and values
Due Diligence: an expectation that a board member exercises reasonable care and follows the business judgment rule when making decisions
Duty of Care: requirement that board members be reasonably informed about the organization’s activities, participate in decisions, and do so in good faith and with the care of an ordinarily prudent person in similar circumstances
Duty of Loyalty: a requirement that a board member remain faithful and loyal to the organization and avoid conflicts of interest
Duty of Obedience: a requirement that a board member remain obedient to the central purposes of the organization and respect all laws and legal regulations
Emeritus status: an honorific title usually given to a former board member who is invited to stay on board as a nonvoting member in an advisory capacity
Endowment: a fund or collection of assets whose investment earnings support an organization, a specific project or purpose; may be legally restricted based on stipulations made by donor(s)
Ex Officio: “by reason of their office”; a person serving on a board due to his or her position rather than through elections, may or may not include voting rights
Excess Benefit Transaction: a transaction in which an economic benefit is provided by a nonprofit, directly or indirectly, to a disqualified person, and the value of the economic benefit provided by the organization exceeds the value of the consideration (including the performance of services) received by the organization
Excise Tax: a tax issued by the IRS on nonprofits that violate specific regulations
Executive Committee: a committee that has specific powers, outlined in the bylaws, which allow it to act on the board’s behalf when a full board meeting is not possible or necessary
Executive Session: a meeting of a board in which only board members and individuals specifically invited by the board are present; governed by rules of confidentiality
Federated Organization: an organizational structure composed of an umbrella organization (national or regional) with smaller local chapters
Fiduciary Duty: a responsibility of board members and the nonprofit board as a whole to serve as trustee of the organization’s assets on behalf of the greater community; responsibility for financial viability and proper handling of financial matters
Form 990: an annual information form submitted to the IRS, a public document listing information concerning an organization’s finances and programs, as well as names of board and highest paid staff leaders
Form 990-PF: an information form for private foundations to be filed with the IRS
Form 990-T: a financial form for organizations who must pay unrelated business income tax
Form 1023: an application form for nonprofits that want to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization
Form 1024: an application form for nonprofits that seek tax-exempt recognition as any other type of 501(c) than a 501(c)(3) organization
Foundation: a tax-exempt nonprofit organization operating under more stringent IRS regulations than other 501(c)(3) organizations; may be designed to collect and distribute funds for nonprofit purposes or may operate its own programs
Fundraising: a wide variety of activities that help generate donations for an organization
Governance: the legal authority of a board to establish policies that will affect the life and work of the organization and accountability for the outcome of such decisions
Governance Committee: a committee responsible for recruiting, orienting, and training of board members; may also be responsible for periodic bylaws reviews
Grant Funding: provided to an organization through a foundation or government source for a specific purpose
Inclusion: authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power2
Incorporation: a legal process through which a group is created and recognized by the state as an entity separate from the individuals who manage or govern it; limits individual responsibility for actions of the group
Indemnification: a guarantee by an organization to pay board members’ legal costs for claims that result from board service
Intermediate Sanctions: IRS regulations creating penalties for nonprofit board members and staff who receive or authorize an excessive benefit transaction
Lobbying: attempting to influence legislation through direct contact with lawmakers or with constituents
Membership organization: a nonprofit that grants its members specific rights to participate in its internal affairs and/or to receive certain benefits in return for payment of membership dues
Merger: combining two or more organizations into one
Micromanagement: this usually refers to a manager who is paying too much attention to details and is not focusing on the big picture; also refers to boards that stray into management and fail to respect the authority delegated to the chief executive
Mission: the fundamental purpose and reason for which an organization exists
Mission Statement: a brief description of the organization’s approach to filling the need it was created to address
Nonprofit Organization: a nongovernmental organization established for purposes other than profit making
Nonprofit Sector: includes organizations that are independent from government and not part of the for-profit business sector
Not-for-Profit Organization: a term emphasizing that while the organization’s purpose is not private profit making, its programs may make a profit for the organization in order to safeguard its future ability to serve its public benefit mission
Officer: a leadership position with a specific set of responsibilities; on a board typically refers to the chair, vice-chair, secretary, or treasurer
Open Meeting Laws: also called “Sunshine Laws”; state regulations that require government agencies and some nonprofit organizations receiving public funding to open at least some of their board meetings to the public
Operational Reserves: a reasonable buffer against unforeseen, seasonal, irregular, or exceptional cash shortages
Orientation: educating participants on their roles, responsibilities, their organization, and how the board works
Policy: a written and binding guideline for action; creates limits on the range of acceptable options
President: a term used to describe either the chief volunteer officer or the chief staff officer of an organization
Private Inurement: benefits received by an insider with sizable influence over a nonprofit organization’s decisions when benefit is of greater value than service provided
Public Support Test: an IRS regulation used to determine whether a nonprofit organization is a private foundation or public charity; involves determining the source of the majority of funding for the organization
Racial Equity: racial equity is the condition that would be achieved if one’s racial identity no longer predicted, in a statistical sense, how one fares. When we use the term, we are thinking about racial equity as one part of racial justice, and thus we also include work to address root causes of inequities not just their manifestation. This includes elimination of policies, practices, attitudes and cultural messages that reinforce differential outcomes by race or fail to eliminate them
Retreat: an event where the board or staff meet to learn about or explore specific issues; examples include strategic planning, orientation, or self-assessment; is usually longer than a regular meeting, often off-site and informal in nature
Robert’s Rules of Order: a parliamentary procedure used to conduct meetings
Secretary: an officer position that involves taking minutes and keeping records and archives of the board; duties are often delegated to staff
Self-Assessment: a process by which boards and/or board members evaluate their own performance
Staggered Terms: an organizational structure where board members’ terms expire in alternating years
Sunshine Laws: also called open meeting laws; state regulations that require government agencies and some nonprofit organizations that receive public funding to open at least some of their board meetings to the public
Tax-deductible Donation: a donation in which the donor can deduct the amount of the donation from his or her taxable income
Term Limits: a restriction on the number of consecutive terms that a person can serve as a board member
Service: the action of helping or doing work for someone.
Learning: the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or presentation.
Service-Learning is form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as leaders seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. Vanderbilt University
Professional Service-Learning is an approach to adult-education that links service-leadership and project management to deep inquiry and reflection. It's a process for nonprofit and community leaders who want to learn, participate and lead to improve conditions in their neighborhoods. DevoCenter Inc.
Action: the process of doing something to achieve a goal.
Action Plan: a detailed strategy outlining activities needed to reach one or more goals.
Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause.
Advocacy: the process of creating awareness of or promoting action on an issue of public service.
Assessment: an ongoing process to evaluate performance and measure program, project or organizational progress to goal, in order to adjust and set future targets.
Brand Narrative: a concise, streamlined story that acts as the platform for an organization's marketing and communications. Brandeis University
Collaboration: the ability to work with others towards a common goal.
Community: a group of people connected by geography, culture, situation, and/or need.
Community Partnership: an association of two or more people or entities who agree to work together for mutual benefit.
Community Resources: people, funds, and goods available to participants in order to carry out their plan of action.
Community Service: a voluntary act that benefits others.
Community Service Leader: someone who organizes and guides others, facilitates problem-solving and decision-making, and takes action to benefit their neighborhood.
Documentation: Evidence of performance or learning.
Education for Sustainability: a transformative learning process that promotes an understanding of the relationship between economic prosperity, responsible citizenship and the health of living systems. EfS links this knowledge with inquiry and action to help leaders build a healthy future for their communities and the planet. The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education
Evaluation: a periodic look at a program inputs and outputs to see how successfully it is achieving its goals.
Feedback: a response to a particular portion of the project.
Impact: a strong effect on someone or something.
Inquiry: an act of asking for information, requiring leaders to engage in active learning by generating questions, seeking answers, and exploring complex ideas.
Leadership: the action of guiding a group of people or an organization.
Learning by Teaching: helps leaders comprehend and deepen new knowledge by preparing a presentation for stakeholders.
Meaningful Service: time spent impacting the community in a positive way, with an understanding of purpose and personally relevant activities.
Mindfulness: maintaining an awareness of our intentions, thoughts, and feelings from a position of curiosity and kindness.
Outcomes: changes that occur as a result of actions.
Project: an undertaking, carried out individually or collaboratively and possibly involving research or design, that is planned to achieve an outcome.
Project Management: the process of leading the work of a team to achieve all goals with available resources.
Reflection: a thoughtful, serious looking back at one's experiences, individually or as a group, as part of future planning.
Self-Reflection: contemplation about one’s personal values, mindsets, behaviors, and desires.
Servant Leadership: is a leadership philosophy, embedded in a set of behaviors and practices that place a primary emphasis on the well-being of those being served. Center for Servant Leadership
Socratic Method: a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.
Stakeholder: an individual or entity who is invested in or impacted by the outcome of a program or project.
Storytelling: the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination. National Storytelling Network
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization Resource Booklet (PDF)
Harbor Business Compliance
This guide will help you file nonprofit formation documents, get tax id numbers and exemptions, and obtain authority to solicit donations
Do Work That Matters
501c3 help and legal support from attorney Jackie Stanley
Download Your First 100 Days - 21 Things Nonprofit Founders Need to Do
Candid Learning: North Carolina
Explore easy-to-use resources, up to date information and guidance to support confident decision-making for social good
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
The Center’s mission is to educate, connect, and advocate for North Carolina's nonprofits
Digital Media Law Project
A list of organizations that provide nonprofit legal assistance to organizations in North Carolina
Apparo: Empowering Nonprofits through IT
Transforming Charlotte nonprofits through technology and services that enhance their missions. Apparo works to create a vibrant community of technology enabled nonprofits
Association of Fundraising Professionals: Charlotte Chapter
Provides members a monthly information and networking luncheon, mentoring, job postings and other resources
Build a Better Board: Executive Service Corps of the Triangle
Helping Triangle area nonprofits recruit board members, and providing resources on topics such as board responsibilities and engagement
Share Charlotte
Empowering nonprofits and helping people invest in their communities in ways that matter most to them. Provides networking opportunities and training classes
NC Department of State: Nonprofit Corporations
Nonprofit corporations in NC are created by filing articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State's office. This page answers basic questions about nonprofit corporations and links to a page with nonprofit forms
NC Department of State: Charitable Solicitations
Generally, any organization or person that intends to solicit contributions or hire a representative to do so in NC must first obtain an appropriate license from Charitable Solicitation
North Carolina Department of Revenue
State Taxation and Nonprofit Organizations Contains detailed information on various tax exemptions available to nonprofit organizations in North Carolina
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers an expanding collection of digital resources to help start and operate a business, create maps and reports, find demographic and marketing data and read about business and entrepreneurialism from experts
SimplyAnalytics: web-based mapping application that quickly creates professional-quality thematic maps and reports
Gale Business: Entrepreneurship: covers all areas of starting and operating a business
Gale Business: Plan Builder: step-by-step planning tool can be used for starting, managing and optimizing a business
Business Shelf on OverDrive: e-books and digital audiobooks on business, entrepreneurialism and job-related topics
Nonprofit founders, entrepreneurs and managers wear many hats. In addition to running programs, leaders have to be familiar with technology that supports productivity, communication, recruiting, financial management, marketing, grant opportunities and fundraising.
Here are the resources that we use to get things done with ease.
TechSoup
Access donations and discounts on software, hardware, and tech services
Microsoft Office 365
Your place to create, communicate, collaborate, and get great work done
Google for Nonprofits
Be more collaborative, productive, and efficient with Google Workspace
Wave
Free accounting software for nonprofits
QuickBooks Online
Nonprofit accounting software solution
Gusto Payroll
Hire, pay, insure, and support your employees with Gusto's all-in-one people platform
Salesforce.org
Scale funding and increase operational effectiveness with Salesforce. Free or discounted for nonprofits.
Idealist
Connects people who want to do good with opportunities for action and collaboration.
Volunteer Match
Matches inspired volunteers and nonprofits to achieve remarkable outcomes.
Foundation List
A national job board for nonprofits. Connecting people to help create greater impact.
Create The Good
Connects nonprofits with volunteers ready to share their life experiences, skills and passions.
Canva
Create social media graphics, videos, logos, marketing materials and more
iContact
Easy email marketing for nonprofit organizations
Envato
Everything you need to get creative projects done
Elfsight
Ready-to-use website widgets to help increase sales, engage visitors, collect leads and more.
Adobe Creative Cloud
software used for graphic design, video editing, photography and more
Squarespace
Establish a presences and take donations with this website
Foundation Directory by Candid
Grants database and grantmaker search tools
GrantStation
Grants database, tools and info to secure nonprofit funding
GrantWatch
Grants database for nonprofits and municipalities updated daily
Instrumentl
Grant discovery, research, and tracking in one place
Guidestar by Candid
Connecting donors and funders to nonprofit organizations
Grants.gov
Subscribe for funding opportunities and apply for federal grants
Dun and Bradstreet
Register your business to establish credibility with funders and partners
Network for Good
Online giving and donor management software for nonprofits
Cybergrants FrontDoor
Claim your organization to access the hundreds of corporate giving portals
YourCause GrantsConnect
Manage grantmaking from online grant applications through payments
Benevity Causes Portal
Helping nonprofits access and become eligible for corporate giving
As a 501c3 your nonprofit organization is eligible for many free and discounted products and services to support business operations. Here are a few marketing and productivity tools that we use.
TechSoup supports nonprofits, charities, and libraries by providing access to donations and discounts on software, hardware, and services from major brands.
Google for Nonprofits provides access to Google products at no charge. Get the basic G Suite features and $10,000 per month for Search Ads. Reach more donors online. Be more collaborative.
Microsoft for Nonprofits helps your organization make a greater impact. Discover how Microsoft 365 can empower and achieve greater scalability for your nonprofit. Grow your nonprofit, get support, learn digital skills and increase productivity.
Canva for Nonprofits provides an easy way to create high-impact social media graphics and marketing materials. Register now to get Canva’s premium features for free.
iContact for Nonprofits knows which features matter most for driving donations and organizing volunteers. All qualifying 501c3’s receive a 20% discount and North Carolina nonprofits are eligible for a free account.
Adobe provides nonprofits with discounted subscriptions to Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator and more. Get a subscription through TechSoup.
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification of verbs to help us describe observable knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and abilities.
It’s a useful list of action verbs to help write learning objectives and program outcomes for proposals and reports.
REVISED Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs
Nonprofit Recruiting Resources
Recruiting professionals to help forward your organizations mission is essential. Working with others who care about nonprofit work and who care about your cause is the best way to ensure the sustainability of your business, and achieve maximum impact, while having lots of fun. Here are some resources to help you grow your team.
Temporary and Permanent Employees
Work for Good: For Mission Driven Organizations and Professionals
Scion Nonprofit Staffing and Executive Search: Helping Community One Mission at a Time
Nonprofit Professional Consultants
SCORE Business Mentorship: Get Free Business Advise from Experience Mentors
National Able Network: Nonprofit Advisors to Help Achieve Operational Excellence
Volunteers and Board Members
Here’s a list of documents that should be readily available to board members and prepared before you begin fundraising. Create a shared folder with the following:
Administrative
Original Incorporation Documents
Updates/Amendments to the Incorporation (Name or Changes)
Bylaws (signed by Board Members and dated)
Conflict of Interest Statement (signed by Board Members and dated)
501c3 Application and or Documentation
IRS Determination Letter
Solicitation License (if applicable)
Proof of Lease Agreement/Ownership of Property (if applicable)
Insurance Certificate
Certificate of Good Standing
Board Meeting Minutes
Financial
Financial Reports
Operating Budget
Program Budgets
All Previous Award Letters
Program
Staff Resumes
Calendar of Events
Scope of Services
Annual Reports
Performance Reports
At least 3 Support Letters (Organization and Program)
Newsletter and/or Press Releases
Professional Service-Learning
Professional Service-Learning is an approach to education that links service-leadership and project management to deep inquiry and reflection.
It's a process for nonprofit and community leaders who want to learn, participate and lead to improve conditions in their neighborhoods.
The DevoCenter Professional Service-Learning Process helps leaders make personal connections to service, execute meaningful projects that measure results, and multiply their impact by sharing what they learn with youth and community partners.
Benefits for Nonprofit and Community Leaders
Leaders who participate in professional service-learning get to explore and articulate their values and habits... and they set goals that are aligned to the things that they care about.
They become passionate and informed advocates for their causes and they're able to describe a world made better because of their efforts.
Learners understand service as a leadership model and develop key management skills.
They also broaden their perspectives about what’s possible.
With service-learning, leaders develop action plans and execute projects that are designed to measure success.
Leaders partner with others to meet needs in their neighborhoods ...and to celebrate!
Service leaders encourage civic engagement and participation in others by sharing what they learn.
At DevoCenter we're bringing women together to learn, participate and lead.
If this is exciting to you we hope you'll join us.
The purpose of the conflict-of-interest policy is to protect a nonprofit’s interest when entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer, director, the Organization or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. The policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Conflict of Interest Policy Template
