General Operating Support Articles

A GRAPHIC RE-VISIONING OF NON PROFIT OVERHEAD
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/graphic-re-visioning-nonprofit-overhead/
This article focuses on the problems caused by only funding direct services and not providing core funding of organizations. It shares a set of graphics to illustrate the message.

BOLDER ADVOCACY - WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
https://bolderadvocacy.org/advocacy-defined/
From the web site: "Promotes active engagement in democratic processes and institutions by giving nonprofits and foundations the confidence to advocate effectively and by protecting their right to do so."   In the link I'm pointing to, advocacy is defined as "Advocacy can take many forms.  In simple terms, it means making the case for your cause or mission.  When we talk about advocacy for nonprofits, we usually mean making your case in a way that will change public policy to help your cause."  Take some time to browse the site. 

END NON-PROFITS AND SUPPORT SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANIZATIONS
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/are_nonprofits_getting_in_the_way_of_social_change
This is article on SSIR website titled: Are Nonprofits Getting in the Way of Social Change? The sub head reads: "Solving major social problems is now possible, but not unless the organizations that have been most responsible for making a difference change significantly."  As you read this visit Dan  Pallotta's web site and read his ideas.

FOREFRONT (FORMERLY DONORS FORUM) COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATING FOR FULL-COST FUNDING
https://myforefront.org/articles/forefronts-commitment-to-full-cost-funding/
From the web site: "his statement on our commitment to full-cost funding represents over two years of dialogue and discussion at Donors Forum about the importance of funding overhead costs of nonprofit organizations. Working in Illinois, with foundation and nonprofit leaders, and with others in the field nationally, we are collectively trying to shift the focus away from arbitrary limits on overhead and other organizational expenses in order to focus on measures of nonprofit effectiveness such as outcomes and impact. It is necessary for funders to adopt funding policies and practices that will allow the nonprofit to achieve those desired outcomes, without unrealistic expectations as to what it actually costs to achieve them."

GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS, ADMIN EXPENSES, AND WHY WE NONPROFITS ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES
https://nonprofitaf.com/2014/05/general-operating-funds-admin-expenses-and-why-we-nonprofits-are-our-own-worst-enemies/
This article and others by Vu Le addresses the challenges non profits face, and challenges leaders to change how NPOs communicate message to funders.  Note: In 2017 the title of Vu Le's blog was changed from  Nonprofit with Balls to NonProfit AF

PAY WHAT IT TAKES PHILANTHROPY - ARTICLE ON SSIR
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/pay_what_it_takes_philanthropy
This article starts with "A new grantmaking approach is needed - one that provides enough money for nonprofits to pay for all their operations, not just programs and services. The first step toward achieving that is for grantmakers to realize that different types of nonprofits have different cost structures."  Finding ways to convince donors to fund on-going, full-costs, of  youth serving organizations can improve staff retention, organizational knowledge, and long-term impact.

THE OVERHEAD MYTH - END NON-PROFIT STARVATION CYCLE
https://good360.org/impact-stories/the-nonprofit-overhead-myth-an-outdated-double-standard/
This article on the Good360 site ends with a quote from Dan Pallotta that says, "Our generation does not want its epitaph to read: ‘We kept charity overhead low.’ We want it to read that we changed the world.”  Take time to learn more about this. 

THINGS WE (NPOS) NEED TO DO
https://fullcirc.com/2014/05/27/things-we-need-in-order-to-do-our-jobs-and-make-the-world-better-dammit-twnodojmwbd/
Nancy White's blog article gives advise to NPO leaders that should be embraced by donors as well.

WHY FUNDING OVERHEAD IS NOT THE REAL ISSUE: THE CASE TO COVER FULL COSTS
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/why-funding-overhead-is-not-the-real-issue-the-case-to-cover-full-costs/
From the web site of  NonProfit Quarterly  "This article is from the Nonprofit Quarterly’s winter 2015 edition, “When the Show Must Go On: Nonprofits & Adversity.” It was first published online on January 25, 2016."

 
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