Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with notforprofit

Where do they get their money?

Diablevert — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:04:04 -0800

How do I find out who's been giving grants to a non-profit foundation? I'm doing some research on a foundation, considering applying for a position with them. One of the things they're looking for is someone to help with grantwriting --- and I'm wondering how to find out who they're getting grants from currently, to better understand how they see their mission and what funding options they're already pursuing. I've had some success digging up one of their major donors though googling, and I know they have an endowment, but I'm not sure how to find out about the rest. I've looked up their filings with the state charity regulator, but they don't seem to list the names of the granting organization, and neither does their annual report.

Cultural Data Project

nax — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:08:33 -0800

NFPFinanceFilter: my state arts council is about to start requiring use of the Pew Trusts Cultural Data Project. Has anyone used this yet? Any tips or warnings before I start in on the onerous task of entering two years of financial data? Thanks.

How to find member details for Australian not-for-profit

i_am_joe's_spleen — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:27:29 -0800

In Australia, is there a way for a non-member to obtain the members register of a "company limited by guarantee"? I am interested in the operations of a particular Australian not-for-profit organisation which is structured as a company limited by guarantee.

Unfortunately, googling is only getting me so far.

Are such organisations required to publish or lodge a members register somewhere? If so, how do I get at it?

How to get a nonprofit off the ground?

desjardins — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:12:39 -0800

We have a great idea for a nonprofit organization. However, we have zero experience founding or maintaining one. Where should we start? The general idea is to produce a documentary featuring well-known experts on a particular subject and have local showings, with local speakers. These speakers will outline specific actions that audience members can take to further the cause.

1. How do we get the credibility to contact well-known experts?
2. How do we raise the funds to cover costs (videography, travel, etc.)?

We possess a range of skills and talents (technology, marketing, design, sales, organization); we just don't have the right connections or a solid idea of where to start.

This is in the US - initially in Chicago, hoping to expand nationwide. And no, none of us are former hedge fund managers. ;)

Fundraising online

nax — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:08:17 -0800

I want my not for profit organization to maximize its presence on line, in particular by increasing fundraising efforts. We're a midsize musical theater with a regional profile (3000 subscribers, about 750 donors). I want to try replacing at least one, if not more of our fund appeal letters to an email appeal. The list would be narrowly targeted, so I 'm not looking for ASPCA type 100,000 mass emailings. I hope further to be able to convince the powers that be to get us up (gack I can't believe I'm about to use this term) to a better Web 2.0 profile but adding more interactivity to our website (currently you can't even sign up for email on our website unless you are buying tickets).

Miko turned me on to the blue pogo app. Does anyone else have resources, experience, or anything to share on this? Thanks.

I found this, but it's for a much larger effort than we are looking at.

Help me find a legal non-for-profit summer job.

evadery — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:19:41 -0800

I'm searching for a 3-month law-related not-for-profit summer job outside of North America. Where should I go, and what should I do? I'm an (almost) lawyer in Toronto, Canada. I'm currently doing a 10-month articling stint at a big Toronto firm, where I'm basically a real lawyer at half the salary. However, at the beginning of June there is a 3 month gap between where my articling ends and where my (theoretical) big firm job begins again.

So, I'm trying to find a job or something interesting to keep me busy for the few months - or give me something to do after I get fired. I was thinking about doing some work for a not-for-profit somewhere interesting - I've always wanted to go to India, but I could see myself in Africa and South America. I'm interested in any good cause (hopefully in a legal role, and bonus points if it is media or telecommunications-related or if I can take a real active role at the organization). Getting paid would be a happy bonus, but not necessary.

So, outside of speaking to my old law school and getting their suggestions, do any of you have any thoughts on where to find jobs, any previous experience of your own, or even interesting places to live for a few summer months? Any input would be appreciated.

.org-Filter: What's a good free financial management platform for a non-profit startup?

wmeredith — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:33:55 -0800

Seeking open-source (free) financial management software for a not-for-profit start up. Has anyone used something they were pleased with? The company is promoting Improvisational Comedy in the Kansas City area, if that matters at all. We are also officially a 501(c)3 status company so we actually are not-for-profit, meaning we can accept tax write-off-able donations and such.

Thanks for looking.

The organizations website can be found at City3.org.

Are lucrative, dangerous jobs for real?

MarvinTheCat — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:01:14 -0800

Requesting advice for finding and starting anew in a dangerous yet lucrative or rewarding yet non-lucrative job. An example of the former would be the "I know a guy who's making $150k/year driving a truck in Iraq; an example of the latter would be Doctors Without Borders. If only I were a doctor.

Background: my wife of five years has chosen to divorce me. I grew up just outside Chicago and lived there single and with her for ten years in the city. Three years ago we moved to the suburbs of her home town: St. Louis. I haven't adjusted particularly well and she has fit back in exceptionally and chooses to proceed without me. Having no family or friends to speak of here, and a job where the best aspect is that I get to bring my dog to work, I'm not inclined to stay. But I'm not entirely sold on heading back to Chicago either.

Helpful Details:

- I do not have a military background, nor am I an especially physically imposing figure, though I am physically fit.

- I have, in the past, been certified as an EMT, and worked for our local rural ambulance service during college. (Delivered a baby! In the woman's bathroom!)

- I'm willing to relocate internationally. My sister's husband was just transferred to Singapore so they are moving there with my 2.5 year old nephew; something in that region would be a bonus.

- Unfortunately I do not have any specialized post-graduate degrees in finance, law, medicine, physical or computational sciences or the like.

- I do have lots of experience with and knowledge of the maintenance of Macintosh networks and clients and the applications most people use them for; less so with Linux, grudgingly with Windows. (You can guess what I do now in 3 . . . 2 . . .1 . . .) Where this gets me in the greater world I do not know.

- People describe me as thoughtful, careful, well-read, and exceedingly patient.

- I love animals. More than people given my current circumstances.

Thank you for your consideration and advice. I'm doing the usual internets-based research, but this site is too great a resource to not ask here also.

Online Ticketing

grumblebee — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 12:58:27 -0800

I run a not-for-profit theatre company. It's a 501(c)(3) corporation. We would like to take our own ticket orders online via credit card. We're currently using Smarttix.com, but they take a big chunk out of each ticket sale -- plus they charge us a $75 "setup fee" per show.

I'm wondering if there are other services I could switch to that would be more cost-effective.