In this Issue:

ExecutiveDirectorMessage from Executive Director Christie Brown

This issue has many useful articles - including tips for creating an impactful annual report, data on charitable giving that my be useful in your fundraising efforts, information on grant opportunity with the Hatton Foundation, programs, compliance and more!

Our January Building Blocks seminar on Grants will have a lot of very helpful information -- sign up today!

As always, we appreciate your feedback and input into how we can be of more service to you our member agencies. If you would like to be included in an upcoming focus group to give us direction for new ways we can be supportive, please email me

Thank you for your partnership,

Christie Brown
AnnualReportCreate a Better Annual Report

It's annual report season and i f you decide to do one, consider moving away from the traditional multi-page format. These take a lot of time to produce and there's no guarantee your donors will read it. Aim for something no longer than four pages.

You may want to consider different types of annual reports for different donor groups. You could send an oversized postcard with photos and infographics or a two-page report to most of your donors. Your grant and corporate funders might want more detail, but not 20 pages. See if you can dazzle them with no more than four pages. One way to shorten your annual report is to not include a donor list.  If you feel you must have one, put it in on your website.

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you create a better annual report.
  • Focus on thanking your donors for their role in helping you make a difference. 
  • Share specific accomplishments that show how you are making a difference. 
  • Tell a story.
  • Make it visual. Use colorful charts or infographics to highlight your financials and other benchmarks.
  • Sprinkle in quotes and short testimonials to help break up any text.
  • Be sure your report is easy to read. Use at least a 12-point font and black type on a white background. A colored background may be pretty, but it makes it hard to read.
  • Write as if you're having conversation with friend, using the second person and a warm, friendly tone. Use "you" much more than "we."
Adapted from article by Ann Green in NonProfit Pro. Full article available:  "How to Create a Better Annual Report".
CharitableGivingDataData on Charitable Giving - How Does the U.S. and Your State Stack Up?

The 2016 World Giving Index  shows that the United States ranked second out of 140 countries. WalletHub provides state rankings, calculated on financial giving and volunteering. Local rankings show Ohio at #8, Kentucky at #20, and Indiana at #29. Access the Charities Aid Foundation World Report and WalletHub's 2016's Most Charitable States full reports online.
BuildingBlocks
Building Blocks for Nonprofits Seminars

Our March seminar is on the popular topic of grants! Join us as we learn ways to find appropriate grant opportunities for which requests for funding fit the foundation's criteria -- sometimes this is the hardest part of the grant process! We'll also have a panel of foundation representatives to give first-hand information on what makes a grant request stand out from the crowd.


Upcoming Schedule:
Date
Topic
March 8 Grant Research and Grant Givers
April 12 Event Planning for Best Success
May 10 Measuring Progress and Impact with Metrics
June 14 Direction and Choices for Future Impact

The "Building Blocks" seminar series is made possible in part by
Interact for Health.  
HattonFoundationACT SOON: HATTON FOUNDATION ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Hatton Foundation's annual Special Needs Request for Proposal process focuses on grants that support children and adults with special needs and their families. For 2017, the Board has set aside $300,000 to fund "but for" projects/programs sponsored by 501(c)3 organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families. The Foundation describes "but for" funding as projects/programs that would not be possible without a grant from the Foundation. Preference will be given to projects/ programs that are innovative, cost-effective and core to the organization's mission. The Foundation welcomes program, capital, technology and capacity building projects that meet the "but for" criteria. 

Please address requests and/or questions about the process to Annemarie Henkel, Vice President, Ignite Philanthropy at 513-351-1945 or ahenkel@ignitephilanthropy.com. If your project meets the "but for" criteria of the Hatton Foundation, complete the online letter of intent (LOI) form by noon on February 10, 2017.

Organizations invited to submit full proposals will be notified by April 3, 2017. The full proposal process is electronic by invitation only; deadline is 12 noon on May 17, 2017. Final decisions are expected to be made by the board on or before July 31, 2017.
ComplianceIs Your Agency in Compliance with a Charitable Solicitation Registration?

The start of a new year can bring with it a renewed focus on securing donations. Reaching out to potential donors can trigger the need to register for solicitation in different states. Questions to consider include:
  • Does your organization have a "donate now" button or similar way in which donations can be received through its website? 
  • Do you receive contributions from donors outside of Ohio? 
  • Does your organization send e-mail newsletters to individuals outside of Ohio?
If so, you may be required to register for charitable solicitation in other states.

As the laws vary from state to state, so do penalties for noncompliance.  An overview of the laws and a good understanding of what can lead to the need to register in other states can help prevent your organization from incurring fines and other penalties. 

ProBono Partnership of Ohio is offering a FREE Lunch and Learn webinar on February 9 from 12:00-1:00pm to address these issues. Registration ends February 8, so act now!
NonprofitResourcesNonprofit Resources

The Cincinnati Project - Free research through University of Cincinnati

BoardSource webinar, Feb. 22 at 1:00:  The Board Building Cycle: Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members

Pro Bono Partnership - Free legal consulting for nonprofits

Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati  - their  dedicated volunteers provide expert consulting that enables community organizations to effectively advance their missions. 

Leadership Council for Nonprofits - membership organization with  leadership development programs, training, resources and networking opportunities for its members.

ReferAnAgency"Refer an Agency" to Get a $20 Warehouse Credit

If you've benefited from ReSource and love what we have to offer, help us spread the word! Refer another agency to us for membership and if they join, your agency will receive a $20 discount on a future purchase from ReSource. That's worth $100 in merchandise value! Have the applying member turn in the coupon below with your agency name as the referring agency and we'll post the credit to your account. 2017 new members will also receive a bag of goodies to welcome them to ReSource membership.

BenefitsMembership Benefits

ReSource membership offers many great benefits. If you are not a current ReSource member, consider joining today! Download our membership application.

Benefits include:
  • Access to warehouse of donated furniture
  • Access to donations from retail partners like Walmart and Costco
  • Event decór loans (fee to nonmembers)
  • Discounts on Building Blocks for Nonprofits seminars
  • Good360 product discounts
  • ThriveGPO discounts at Staples Advantage and more
  • Absolutely FREE area - items in our warehouse that are available for free to nonprofits. 
ReSource | 513-554-4944 | www.resourceweb.org