The importance of development officers
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by F. Duke Haddad, associate director of development, Salvation Army, contributor to NonProfit Pro
The five greatest challenges in nonprofit management are money and financial concerns, including donor acquisition and retention; membership recruitment and retention; staffing and volunteers; technology concerns; and decision-making, according to the enSYNC Corporation.
Based upon its first concern, you cannot generate a consistent flow of dollars without an experienced and dynamic resource development staff.
Unfortunately, for many of us in the profession, keeping qualified and trained development officers is easier said than done. Several years ago, I hired three major gift officers with the hope of keeping them for five years. Five years later, only one of those hired remains. The organization spent valuable dollars to provide a master’s degree and specialized training to these employees only to see them leave for greener pastures.
The rate of turnover among fundraisers remains high and major gift officers lead this movement, LAPA Fundraising noted. Recent studies by CASE, AFP and others suggest the average tenure of a front-line fundraiser is between 1.5 to 3.5 years. As a development officer, if you want to make an institutional transformational fundraising impact, stay in your current jobs for a period of years without movement.
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “Outliers,” suggests that based upon the attributes needed for ultimate resource development success, a first-time gift officer will require almost five years to become effective at their work.
A study by Bentz Whaley Flessner that measured major gift officer productivity noted that it took four years for a major gift officer to generate significant output from their prospect portfolios.
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Nonprofits: Understanding In-Kind Gifts
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In September of 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-08, Not-for-Profits Entities (Topic 958): Presentation and Disclosures by Not-for-Profit Entities for Contributed Nonfinancial Assets, also referred to regularly as in-kind gifts.
This update does not change how organizations recognize contributed nonfinancial assets, but how they are presented.
According to FASB Board Member, Sue Cosper, the ASU addresses concerns of nonprofit stakeholders “by requiring more prominent presentation of contributed nonfinancial assets and enhanced disclosures about the valuation of those contributions and their use in programs and other activities, including any donor-imposed restrictiond on such use.”
There were a few issues that arose in 2018 that moved this standard forward for FASB. The primary concern among officials specifically related to how donated pharmaceuticals, received as in-kind gifts, were being recognized based on wholesale market prices that potentially inflated the revenues and program expenses for some nonprofit organizations. The inflated revenue and expenses of these gifts would ultimately make those nonprofits appear larger than those with smaller resources and lower value in-kind gifts.
With the new ASU, in-kind gifts are no longer able to be presented among cash contributions or other financial assets on the statement of activities.
The in-kind gifts are now required to be separated and presented independent of cash or financial asset contributions. The new standard also requires additional disclosures to the financial statements showing which programs or activities these in-kind gifts benefits or are used to further.
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Community Alliance of the Far Eastside has named Kendra Nowell as its new CEO. Nowell had previously served as the interim CEO and chief program officer.
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Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana has promoted Trelles Evans to regional director of reentry. Evans previously was the director of disability and
re-entry services.
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Aspire Indiana Health has named Dr. Jerry Sheward as associate medical director of behavioral health. Sheward is a psychiatrist and leader in behavioral healthcare.
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School on Wheels has promoted Kelly Coker to chief program officer. Coker most recently served as the organization’s vice president of programs.
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School on Wheels has promoted Amber Ewing Kostoff to chief philanthropy officer. Ewing Kostoff most recently served as the vice president of development.
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School on Wheels has promoted Claire Brosman to vice president of grants and communications. Brosman most recently served as grants and communications director.
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Indy Reads has recently reopened in the former Fountain Square Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library at 1066 Virginia Ave. The facility will house Indy Read’s administrative and bookstore. Previously, the nonprofit organization’s office and bookstore were in separate locations. Read more
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana has launched its newest initiative, Operation Full Pack. As part of the program, the Muncie-based nonprofit will provide food and non-food products to those who have served in the armed forces and their families.
Teachers Credit Union has granted $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana for its Career and College Readiness program and $2,500 to St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center to support its preschool program, which serves children living in poverty.
The Indiana Nonprofits Project has updated its Indiana Nonprofit Employment in Membership Organizations report. Among the findings is a 21 percent growth of nonprofit employment in the membership industry from 1995-2019. Download the report
Donations accepted: Exodus Refugee Immigration is accepting the donations of men’s small and medium adult winter coats, winter hats, gloves, and scarves and Uber and Lyft gifts cards through Dec. 1. Read more
Encourage your employees’ growth and advancement in 2022! Charitable Advisors’ YouTube channel features HR Peer Group webinars and other trainings and insights. Subscribe
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Understanding affluent donors – The 2021 Bank of America study of charitable giving webinar on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. Get insights on the attitudes, motivations and priorities of affluent donors through research from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Hosted by Johnson, Grossnickle & Assoc. Cost: Free. Register
Interrupting racism for children on Dec. 9-10 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This online workshop moves individuals from awareness to action to stop racism in its tracks, creating a future where children thrive and race does not predict their life outcomes. Cost: $250. Presented by Child Advocates. Register
How to host hybrid events donors want to attend webinar on Dec. 9 from 2-3:15 p.m. How can your organization create a hybrid gathering that appeals to supporters, boosts giving and keeps everyone safe and connected to the cause? Cost: $69. Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Register
Social transformation for your nonprofit webinar on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. This webinar will introduce participants to concepts that address the root causes of systemic oppression. Presented by Blue Avocado. Cost: Free. Register
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Children’s TherAplay is looking for a volunteer clinic assistant intern. Learn more
Damar Services has volunteer opportunities for the holiday season to decorate, shop for gifts, wrap gifts and more. Learn more or contact Allie [email protected]
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A Form 990 may seem like a simple thing for a non-profit organization – but there’s some strategy involved. When it’s done well, it creates a great opportunity to tell your organization’s story and even attract new donors and grantors.
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When building a brand, it becomes less about the individual and more about the collective. Find parallels between your organization and a charity in aspects like mission and outlook.
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Our sponsor marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.
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