Non Profit Matters
Enable - Empower - Educate

In this issue we place emphasis on operational aspects applicable to both Associations and Charitable Trusts.  

An item of particular interest might be the advice we got from Debbie Mayo-Smith, a constant source of excellent advice in marketing communications, who identified for us the ways in which we can get our information across in the substantially digital environment we live in.   Check out the article about reserves - a vexed question for many Boards.
In This Issue
Aligning Non-Profit Website with Mission
Beating the E-mail Turn-off
Importance of Outcomes for Not-for-Profit Organisations
Outcomes Reporting
The Membership Generation Gap
Association Business Example
Reserves: the top five questions asked by NFPs
 
Aligning Non-Profit Website with Mission Back to Top
As a cost saving measure some chief executives, sometimes under the influence of a board member, may be inclined to resort to the talent on offer from a close associate or related person largely based on their technical competence, but who may not be sufficiently versed in the purpose and mission of the organisation.  As a result the website will not be aligned with the aims and objects nor integrate with its strategic plan. In many cases the site may look attractive on first impression, but lack in functionality or in an extreme case, look amateurish in spite of its cool features.

Firespring.org points out the importance of every single marketing tool forming part of a cohesive whole that amounts to integrated marketing and needs to be designed to be in sync with everything else in the marketing arsenal.

Read full article here >
Beating the E-mail Turn-off Back to Top
Much quoted marketing communications expert Debbie Mayo-Smith is a constant source of excellent advice.  In a recent article she highlights the increasing difficulty of getting marketing messages through to the intended recipient.  Non-profit entities are not immune from the growing resistance that is the result of an overload that confounds most of us.  She poses the question how can we get our important information across in a digital environment?

Read more here >
Importance of Outcomes for Not-for-Profit Organisations Back to Top
Reporting on outcomes is becoming more and more important for Not-for-profit Organisations (NPO), however many organisations are yet to get their heads around or have a clear understanding of what their outcomes actually are. In a recent Auckland North Community and Development (ANCAD) workshop presented by Carol Scholes of Threshold Management & Coaching, the importance of having defined outcomes within a NPO was highlighted and we have summarised this for you on our website. 

Click here for full article >
Outcomes Reporting Back to Top
Under newly created compliance requirements, registered charities are required to tell their story through non-financial reporting.  While this is not yet a requirement for incorporated societies, they should consider adopting this practice to better engage with their members.  Charities Services presented information on non-financial reporting in a series of forums around the country, which covered what information charities could communicate.

Full article here >
The Membership Generation Gap Back to Top
A membership survey undertaken by the publisher Wiley, revealed that attracting members and keeping them engaged is a significant challenge for societies and associations. The survey sought insight into what members and subscribers generally want from their subscription. Their analysis provides clarity on specific age group behaviours. 

In order to keep ahead of the changes in attitude and behaviours among their members, societies must first understand them and then respond by reaffirming or even reimaging what they offer their members. 

The full report can be found here >
Association Business Example Back to Top
At a time when many member dependent associations are experiencing a decline in support and looking for answers, one such organisation stands out as a shining example of longevity and in terms of keeping pace with overall population growth.  The New Zealand Automobile Association is a model that defies the general trend and leads in every respect where its members’ interests are concerned.  This can be attributed to a great extent to the way it operates on sound business principles in the delivery of one-stop services, both in essential and value adding terms.  This is reflected in sound financial performance without the need for subscription increases to keep pace with inflation.  Being commercially successful in its engagement with members the AA competes successfully with other providers and presents a strong and trusted brand in the automotive market.

Click here for full article >
Reserves: the top five questions asked by NFPs Back to Top
Blog post from Barry Baker, Partner and NFP Specialist at Grant Thornton New Zealand

The recent OCR and interest rate drops (and forecast further drops) have me thinking about reserves for NFPs and charities. 

Over the years I have had several conversations with many different organisations about their reserves. The most common questions I’ve been asked are, how much should we have and what should we do with them? Is it ok to have a deficit and use some of our reserves? Where should we invest our reserves? How should we display them? Should we have a reserves policy?

Find out the answers in the full blog post here >

 
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