Chapter 9
Chapter 9 - Managing and the Arts
A summary of the key concepts in the chapter
“We briefly explore the five keys to nonprofit information management success: leadership, operations, processes, data, and technology.” Build Consulting.
The Primalogik website there are three short videos on this vendor’s website to help you better understand the features of their performance management software.
“An overview of SugarCRM, Zendesk, and Monday.com and how good they are as an option for Non-Profit Organizations looking for a robust CRM solution.” Eligeo CRM Inc.
“Not-for-profit enterprises need strong financial management to ensure they can deliver the best services possible to the people who depend on them.” Wallace Foundation
“In 2016, FASB issued updates and guidance to simplify and improve the information presented in financial statements. NFF's Alice Antonelli clarifies exactly what's changing, what this means for your organization, and how to use these changes to better tell your organization's financial story.”
This video provides an overview of nonprofit accounting basics. As it says, it is for accountants, so it assumes the listener already has an understanding of accounting concepts.
501 Commons: Free
Online Organizational Self-Assessment
For
each standard in the assessment, choose which of the four performance levels
most accurately describes your organization. The 58 standards fall into these
Five Elements of a Healthy Nonprofit:
- Governance
& Boards
- Fundraising
& Financial Management
- Communications
& Relationships
- Planning,
Technology, & Administration
- Management
& Culture
https://www.501commons.org/assess/five-elements-of-a-healthy-nonprofit-self-assessment
Organizational
Assessment Questionnaire for Nonprofit Organizations (12-page PDF)
“This free assessment tool can be used to get a
reasonable impression of the quality of the most important practices in your
nonprofit organization. It can be done by one or more people from your
organization. You could use the results of this assessment tool to 1) do an
internal analysis as part of strategic planning activity, 2) assess how well
your organization compares to various best practices, and 3) develop a common understanding
among leaders regarding what needs to be done to improve your organization.”
https://managementhelp.org/misc/nonprofit-noboard-eval-fml.pdf
List of Organizational
Assessments Tools Available (Three-page PDF from the Center for Nonprofit
Excellence.)
Management Information
System (MIS): What’s Needed to Set Up an Office Network
“As a
nonprofit, you likely have many questions about how to properly set up a
network for your office and team. What considerations should you keep in mind
as you set up your office network? What components do you need? What does each
component do, and what considerations should you keep in mind?” TechSoup.org
HRweb
“Our mission
is to provide truly useful management tools for employers, educators, and
government offices to track vital employee information, to make these tools
powerful, yet simple to use, and to provide these tools at an affordable price,
backed by first-class support.”
Performly
This company
offers three tools: performance management, an internal communication system,
and payroll services. “Performly helps you streamline, manage and
automate all of your HR processes and workflows through Performly.”
Nonprofit Risk
Management Center
“The Nonprofit
Risk Management Center inspires effective risk management and Risk Champions
across the nonprofit sector. We enable nonprofit leaders to identify and manage
risks that threaten their missions and operations while empowering them to
leverage opportunities and take bold, mission-advancing risks.” [See the Apps
and Resources tabs on the Risk Management website.]
Cognitive
Bias in Behavioral Finance
“Cognitive
errors play a major role in behavioral finance theory and are studied by
investors and academics alike. This guide will cover the top 10 most important
types of biases.”
Best practices in
non-profit portfolio design
There is a four-page PDF about investment portfolio
design at the “Download Research” link.
https://russellinvestments.com/us/insights/articles/best-practices-in-non-profit-portfolio-design
Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Investment Strategies:
The Care and Feeding of a Healthy Organization
“Healthy nonprofits are committed to maintaining a
steady, robust income stream; developing and implementing sound investment strategies;
and paying daily attention to accounting controls.”
https://portal.nonprofitrisk.org/library/articles/internalcontrol01222003.shtml
Propel Nonprofits – Balance Sheet Cheat Sheet [Download
two-page PDF]
“The balance sheet – also called the Statement of
Financial Position – serves as a snapshot, providing the most comprehensive
picture of an organization’s financial situation.”
https://www.propelnonprofits.org/resources/balance-sheet-cheat-sheet/
Wallace Foundation
Strong Nonprofits
Toolkit: Resources to strengthen your nonprofit financial management
Tools for budgeting, cash flow, operations, data and
analysis, audit readiness, and governance and strategy.
Financial Edge by Blackbaud
– Multiple tools for accounting and fund management
Why fund accounting software for nonprofits is important
“Nonprofits
are held to a high standard of accountability and transparency and are required
to comply with industry accounting and reporting standards to maintain
nonprofit status. Commercial accounting systems are ill-equipped to meet these
needs, resulting in inefficient processes, error-prone data, and lack of
internal controls. Effective management of diverse revenue streams requires a
financial system tailored to the unique needs of nonprofits and charitable
foundations.”
https://www.blackbaud.com/solutions/financial-management/fund-accounting
QuickBooks for Nonprofit
“QuickBooks
helps track donations, invoicing, bookkeeping, and all your accounting needs.”
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/industry/non-profits/
Software4Nonprofits – Bookkeeping
Software for smaller nonprofits
“ACCOUNTS is an easy-to-use, affordable, and powerful
solution best suited to small and mid-sized organizations. It is intended
primarily for basic bookkeeping and easy, automatic fund accounting.”
http://www.software4nonprofits.com/accounts/
TechSoup
“TechSoup
offers software, services, and training to help nonprofits with bookkeeping,
donation and payment processing, tax preparation, and financial planning.”
There is a link to 15 nonprofit accounting and finance software plus 5 payment
and donation processing products
[NOTE: Some of
these companies have free but limited-use versions of their software and other
offer discounts to nonprofits. These systems often combine multiple functions
and can be used as an organization’s MIS and fundraising.)
Asana
“Bring your team’s work together in one shared space.
Choose the project view that suits your style and collaborate no matter where
you are.”
Basecamp
“Before Basecamp: Projects feel scattered, things
slip, it’s tough to see where things stand, and people are stressed. After
Basecamp: Everything’s organized in one place, you’re on top of things,
progress is clear, and a sense of calm sets in.”
Monday.com
“Boost your team’s alignment, efficiency, and
productivity by customizing any workflow to fit your needs.”
Neon CRM
“For small to midsize nonprofits, Neon One products
help you manage your fundraising, communications, events, volunteers, and
more.”
Salesforce
“Transform the constituent experience with the world’s
#1 CRM reimagined to address the needs of nonprofits.”
https://www.salesforce.org/nonprofit/
Salsa
“Salsa's SmartEngagement Technology combines CRM and
nonprofit engagement software with embedded best practices, machine learning,
and world-class education and support.”
Slack for Nonprofits
“Nonprofit teams can use Slack to collaborate better
by sharing messages, tools, and files in dedicated channels. Channels can be
organized by team, project, or whatever else is relevant to your nonprofit.”
https://www.techsoup.org/slack
Setting up Slack for
Your Nonprofit by Kathleen Pequeño, (January 2018)
“I wrote previously about why I think Slack is a great
tool for internal communication for many nonprofits. But like any tool, if your
nonprofit doesn’t plan for a strong adoption, Slack won’t seem like it works
better than email. Here are five tips to start your organization off right in
Slack.”
https://kathleenpequeno.com/2018/01/setting-up-slack-nonprofit/
SugarCRM
“Only Sugar delivers a CRM platform that helps teams
achieve high-definition customer experience.”
Trello
“Start with a Trello board, lists, and cards.
Customize and expand with more features as your teamwork grows. Manage
projects, organize tasks, and build team spirit—all in one place.”
Virtuous
“Virtuous Nonprofit CRM streamlines donor management
and provides data-rich insights so your teams can focus on stewarding donors
and moving your mission forward.”
https://www.virtuous.org/software/nonprofit-crm/
Zendesk: Customer service
software
“Zendesk makes customer service better. We build
software to meet customer needs, set your team up for success, and keep your
business in sync.”
Zoho (CRM)
“Zoho CRM is a customizable and integrated donor
management platform that makes every mission possible for non-profits of all
types and sizes.”