News You Can Use Issue 127/July 2013 Editor's Note: We are pleased to introduce Shelley Loethen as a guest contributor to this month's issue of News You Can Use. Shelley is the owner of Encore Grant Services, Inc. Since beginning her grant writing career in 2009, Shelley has written or been part of grant-writing teams that have been awarded more than…
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News You Can Use Issue 115/July 2012 "Beware" Hiring an Unethical Fundraising Consulting Firm Can Cost You Your Reputation and Results By Jeffrey D. ByrnePresident & CEO Recently it came to my attention that a competitor was misrepresenting their firm to potential clients. I was appalled by the allegation, and I asked what this consulting firm was doing that caused alarm.…
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News You Can Use Issue 133/January 2014 How to Guarantee Success in the Selection of Campaign Volunteers Mary Ellen Clark Senior Vice President The success of fundraising campaigns hinges on leadership, and that leadership starts with the Board. Board members are the campaign solicitors of first and last resort. They are the most important fundraising resource of the organization.…
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News You Can Use Issue 109/January 2012 The Powerball Winner: Sharing in Good Fortune By Jennifer FurlaExecutive Vice President Recently, a convenience store customer in Minnesota won the Powerball - at $229 million. While the lucky winner had not yet revealed himself, accompanying the story was the ubiquitous security cam picture of the transaction that suggests it was a 30-something male. The…
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News You Can Use Issue 132/December 2013 A Year-End Note Perspectives on Philanthropy in 2013 Jeffrey D. ByrnePresident + CEO As I reflect upon 2013 and the great and numerous events that happened, three things really resonated with me in regards to our professions in the nonprofit world. First, giving hit an all-time high as reported in Giving USA 2013. Second,…
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News You Can Use Issue 124/April 2013 Recent IRS Changes Increase Transparency By Judy KellerSenior Vice President Changes at the Internal Revenue Service will make financial data about the nonprofit world more broadly accessible to the public---and that's a good thing. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the tax agency has come under pressure in recent years by open-government…
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News You Can Use Issue 130/October 2013 "I'll need to check with my financial advisor about that." Jeffrey D. ByrnePresident + CEO Hasn't every fundraiser or CEO heard this response when soliciting a prospective donor for a major gift? "Let me check with my financial advisor about that $50,000 pledge you requested." That normally sends chills up and down the spines…
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News You Can Use Issue 131/November 2013 Tuesday, December 3, 2013 "The end of the year is a powerful time for nonprofits, a time of tremendous energy and momentum. Nonprofit professionals understand and appreciate the potential for their organizations in year-end giving," says Jeffrey Byrne, President + Founder of Jeffrey Byrne + Associates, Inc. "#GivingTuesday harnesses the power…
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News You Can Use Issue 123/March 2013 Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation Board Meeting, Spring 2013 by Jeffrey D. ByrnePresident + CEO Last week at the Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation Spring Board meeting (the publisher of the Giving USA annual report on philanthropic giving) where I am a Board member, we had the pleasure to engage with Dr. Una…
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News You Can Use Issue 126/June 2013 Charitable Donations Grew in 2012Third Straight Year of GainsContributions Reach $316.23 billion from American Individuals, Corporations and Foundations Editor's Note: If you live in the Greater Kansas City, Missouri region, please join Jeffrey Byrne + Associates, Inc., U. S. Trust and Nonprofit Connect on Friday, June 28, at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation…
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