The LinkedIn for Nonprofits Weekly Digest

The month is drawing to a close, but there’s still time for one last LinkedIn for Nonprofits Weekly Digest before we wave goodbye to August. 

This week, we’ve rounded up articles exploring foundation giving trends, the importance of maintaining tight internal controls, and tips for running effective hybrid meetings at your organizations. You’ll also find an insightful read on why more nonprofits should consider exploring mergers, and a few thoughts on the dangers of discouraging small donations. 

Here are five must-read articles for nonprofits this week:

1. How nonprofit mergers can energize donors and accelerate progress (Philanthropy News Digest)

Mergers aren’t as common among nonprofits as they are in the for-profit space—but perhaps they should be. John L. Lehr, CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation, which was formed in 2016 through the successful merger of two legacy organizations, shares how consolidation can help nonprofits expand their mission and avoid fragmenting their resources—and highlights some lessons he learned along the way.

2. Low-value donors have low value — but you still need them (Future Fundraising Now)

It’s no secret that if a new donor gives a very small amount to your nonprofit, their lifetime value is probably going to be lower than that of someone who makes a more substantial first-time gift—but that doesn’t mean these donors aren’t important. Jeff Brooks discusses the right and wrong way to shift from a volume orientation to a value-based one, based on his own experiences working with nonprofits.

3. Foundation Giving Numbers for 2020 Show 15 Percent Increase (Nonprofit Quarterly)

While many reports have pointed to an increase in philanthropic giving in 2020, these numbers don’t tell the whole story. Nonprofit Quarterly senior editor Steve Dubb digs deeper into recent research around donor revenue trends, particularly when it comes to foundation payments.

4. 8 Tips for Facilitating Nonprofit Hybrid Meetings (Beth’s Blog)

As many organizations move toward a hybrid workforce model, more and more meetings will have to be inclusive of both on-site and remote participants. To help you reap the benefits of hybrid work and avoid the drawbacks, nonprofit thought leader and author Beth Kanter offers a few tips for designing and facilitating hybrid meetings.

5. #RiskyBusiness: Don’t Let Internal Controls Slip at Your Nonprofit Organization! (Blue Avocado)

When your team is focused on driving your mission, administrative tasks can sometimes fall by the wayside. But disorganization can lead to costly mistakes and even open the door to scammers, making maintaining internal controls a critical priority at any nonprofit. Blue Avocado outlines a few areas that require careful attention, even during busy periods. 

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