Discovering The True Cost Of Programs

For some time now the perception that a non-profit with a high overhead cost was inefficient has provided a disincentive for non-profit organizations to figure out the true cost of their programs. Recently non-profit evaluaters like GuideStar, Charity Navigator and BBB Wise Giving Alliance  have been advocating for eliminating overhead ratio as a measure of effectiveness.  The federal Office of Management and Budget recently implemented rules requiring governments at all levels to provide at least ...

Out, Damned Bylaw!

A few years back Ellis Carter made two helpful posts on her Charity Lawyer Blog about what to Include and Exclude from Non-Profit organization bylaws. The exclude list may be the more valuable of the two lists because it is applicable to groups who are just starting out as well as existing organizations who could use a revamp of their bylaws. Having participated in rewriting bylaws for two organizations in the last five years or ...

Lending Your Tenor

If only they came and saw our art, they would be hooked for life. This is one of those commonly voiced assumptions that is untrue. Some people need more than one interaction, often with diverse artistic expressions, before they become interested and invested in the arts. For some it doesn’t ever happen. Obviously, there are some that are hooked at first sight. While the problem arts organizations face is often stated in terms of “how ...