NCNCF Nonprofit Center

by Rebecca Mondo, University of Florida Many of us know that women have a huge presence in nonprofit organizations. They are seen in large quantities as staff and volunteers but do women hold leadership positions in nonprofit organizations? According to an annual study from the White House Project, 73 percent of the workers in the nonprofit sector are women but men hold the majority of top leadership positions and receive higher salaries. Let’s look at why women are drawn to the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits help people—your community, your peers or your family. Most people get a sense of intrinsic utility from this kind of profession. Nonprofit organizations are not as intimidating as their for-profit counterparts. There is a more pleasant work environment and people may enjoy going to work more. The nonprofit sector also allows for greater flexibility of work hours and more part-time availability. It appeals to women’s feelings and emotions while allowing them more time to fit into...Read More >

The Nonprofit Center’s Public Policy Committee recently sent a survey to the 2013 mayoral candidates for Gainesville, Florida.  The objective of the survey is to gain the candidates’ perspectives, roles and plans for our community’s nonprofit sector. Please note, the Nonprofit Center, and the members of the Public Policy Committee, do not endorse any one particular mayoral candidate.  Each of the six candidates were emailed the survey and given time to respond.  Please find their responses below. Web Site 2013 Mayoral Candidates’ Survey Responses

By Shaneece Dixon After experiencing the devastating state of the economy in 2009, it appears things are looking up for nonprofits in the U.S. According to a budget update from the National Conference of State Legislatures, most state budgets “appear to be in line with budgeted estimates through the first few months of the new fiscal year.” At least half of these states are expected to reach their peak levels in revenue by the end of the year. Though other states are uncertain when they’ll return to those levels, the company Blackbaud, a leading provider of nonprofit software and services, predicts donations are not likely to dramatically increase. And with recent natural disasters, increased program pressures and financial debt crises, slow and steady looks like the new normal for many nonprofits in 2013. Given the slow rate of the economy’s recovery, fundraising has remained fairly static at two percent of the gross domestic product (GPD).  This is partially a result...Read More >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2013 Gainesville, FL – Mark Gaignard, a long-time Gainesville resident, graduate of the Gainesville Chamber’s Leadership Gainesville 35, and local musician, had a unique idea to implement on Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago. While putting together a Valentine’s Day song list for a performance, he realized not everyone has someone to celebrate with on Valentine’s Day. He wanted to cater to everyone attending his show, so he threw a few anti-love songs in the mix. Before he knew it, his great idea turned into a big hit for other bands as well; thus, the annual Heartbreakers Ball was born. After last year’s event Gaignard knew he created something worthwhile. He wanted to use the success of last year’s Heartbreakers’ Ball to give back to the Gainesville community once again. “That’s when I thought about the Nonprofit Center. If we could raise some money for these guys, their efforts would have a much further...Read More >

by Tiffany Manning and Kari Brill It’s time to face reality and stop buying into myths plaguing nonprofit organizations. As a nonprofit professional, you are most likely experiencing immense challenges on multiple organizational levels from fundraising to program development. One way to combat these challenges is live by the truths of nonprofits; not the myths. Read on to face the truth.  Myth 1: A high percentage of a donation should go towards your programs and services Truth: Nonprofit organizations are made up of the same services as businesses. The difference is nonprofits do not make a profit to pay for staff, technologies, research, etc. Let your funders know that without qualified staff and administrative functions the organization would not succeed. Everything, including overhead costs, contributes to making the organization better, stronger and more effective. Myth 2: Nonprofits can do more with less money and still be successful  Truth: “Something is NOT better than nothing” because the truth is you need...Read More >

by guest blogger Tiffany Manning Most nonprofits know the importance of having an online presence. But just simply being online is not enough. It is about maintaining that online presence.  Social media sites are a great way to stay in touch with your audience and to receive real-time feedback. However, social media does not tell your audience basic information about your organization. This information would best be placed on a website. Having an effective website is essential to the traffic a nonprofit can generate online. There are several elements to consider when creating a website. Organization and Navigation The organization and navigation of a website can be the deciding factor between someone donating to your nonprofit or not. A visitor should be able to navigate your website from one page to another with as few clicks as possible. It is also extremely important for visitors to find what they are looking for with minimal confusion. This means clear heading and...Read More >

You’ve learned how to use #hashtags on Twitter. You’ve spent time getting people to “like” your nonprofit’s posts on Facebook. But what’s the deal with this new social media site, Pinterest, and how could it be beneficial for your nonprofit? What is Pinterest? Pinterest revolves around images. Similarly to Facebook, users create their own profile webpage where they upload images, or repin other users’ images. Users can ‘Pin’ images found while perusing the internet by simply hitting the “Pin It” bookmarklet. You can organize your Pins to different subject Boards, and if you come across an interesting board by another user, you can choose to follow it. Launched in 2010, Pinterest has already become a top social media site with almost 18 million users in February, making it the third most popular social media site behind Facebook and Twitter. Uniquely, Pinterest users are almost 80 percent female. Many women use Pinterest for more practical things like sharing recipes, planning weddings,...Read More >

Most residents of the United States have heard of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), popularly known as ‘Obamacare.’ This legislation mandates that all U.S. citizens be covered by health insurance, including the 46 million Americans who currently lack coverage. To the delight of some and the dismay of others, the Supreme Court upheld this act as constitutional on Thursday, June 28. With all the recent talk about the PPACA, it is important to know: What does this mean for nonprofits? 1. Health Insurance for Employees The PPACA will mandate whether or not businesses must provide health insurance relative to their number of employees. Depending on the size of your organization, your nonprofit business will be required to provide: No. of Employees Requirements for Health Insurance <25 Business not required to provide health insurance.BUTIf business offers health insurance and employees earn less than $50,000 on average, a business gets tax credit to defray 25% of the cost of...Read More >

1)      What is the motivation or mission behind the organization? The mission of the Healthy Start of North Central Florida Coalition is to maintain a comprehensive healthcare system and support services for women and their infants. The goal of the Healthy Start program is to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birthweight babies, and improve health and developmental outcomes. 2)      Does the organization have any upcoming event/initiatives? The Healthy Start of North Central Florida Coalition has their Annual meeting on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM at Charles Perry Partners, Inc., located at 8200 NW 15th Place, Gainesville, Florida 32606.  Their meetings are open to the public, so anyone interested in the program may attend. The Healthy Start of North Central Florida Coalition is currently working on the creation of a March of Dimes committee.  Their goal this contract year is to have a spirit station at four local March for Babies walks where we hope to...Read More >

By Corinne Gentile So as I’m walking down the aisle donning my cap and gown, I’m wondering, “What’s next?” Most college students, like myself, are well aware of the difficulties when finding a job in our current economy. According to an analysis of Northeastern University’s 2011 Current Population Survey, about 1.5 million (or 53.6%) of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 were jobless or underemployed last year, the highest share in at least 11 years.  Coupled with rising tuition nationwide, this unemployment rate has caused student debt to exceed 1 trillion dollars. Despite these economic worries, more students are expressing an interest in a sector that does not focus on financial gain; nonprofits. For those seeking employment, opportunities for nonprofit jobs not only exist but are continuously growing.  In 2010, nonprofits in the U.S. employed 10.1 percent of total private employment, representing the third-largest workforce among U.S. industries after retail trade and manufacturing. Nonprofit jobs grew at an average...Read More >