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From Martin J:
Recipe for Scary Soup?
I am watching the world and thinking we have the ingredients for a scary soup for the not-for-profit sector.
Step 1. Ingredient one: current financial uncertainty leads to consumers cutting back, impacting on their private donations. With the stock market down, foundations and trusts will soon cut back. This puts charity income at risk.
Step 2. Add ingredient two: a developing talent crisis as private sector salaries are rising fast - not-for-profits are competing harder for labour.
Step 3. Stir in ingredient three: demand for services, assistance and help from charities is increasing. In most western countries, there will be a massive increase in the need for aged-care services in the next 15 years.
Step 4. Substitute for ingredient four: "traditional" volunteering. The way people volunteer is shifting, so alternative strategies need to be developed.
Step 5. Add some oil price rises, possibly even double again.
Step 6. Then toss in tougher regulations on charities in many countries.
Step 7. Cook in a slowly overheating oven: global warming.
All in all, you have a very potent cocktail of risk brewing around us NOW which means not-for-profits will need to change the way they do
business.
Firstly, the way
charities deliver services will need to change with shifts in volunteer behaviour, more competition for employees and environmental imperatives.
Secondly, they will
need to become more sustainable in their operations; for example, dependence on oil impacts on meals-on-wheels services - how will they operate if oil prices double?
Thirdly, we will see a reduction in the number of not-for-profits as some merge resources or go out of business.
Finally, not-for-profits will need to focus more closely on their core business
and jettison everything else. Too many are not strategic enough, adding programs simply because there is government or foundation money.
Are you ready to digest this potent soup? We are not talking
about years in the future, but your current planning cycle. By 2012 we will already be different. Are you ready?
We are eager to help your organisation position itself well for your future. Please contact us to help make the Scary Soup more palatable.
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Gidday Martin!
It's time for an update on news from People First -Total Solutions on the not-for-profit sector. Welcome new and existing readers! Enjoy!
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Effective people: Volunteering for love or money
 The real reason people give their time and money to charities - to attract a better life partner?
Research published in 2007 in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology suggests that public philanthropy is a sign of financial security, showing that the donor has sufficient financial resources but isn't frivolous. The research suggests that such displays serve to incerase the status and prestige of the donor. This phenomenon is apparent in many different cultures.
The research suggests that if giving and philanthropy can be included as some of the traits a society sees as attractive to other people in general and in particular to a life partner, then such generosity would increase.
People First -Total Solutions can't help you find a life partner, but we can help ensure that you get the most from the donors and volunteers that your organisation does attract, whatever their original motivations!
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Better organisations: Dealing with charity fraud
 Fraud perpetrated by paid employees or volunteers is a real issue for the not-for-profit sector, according to a survey by BDO Kendalls which assessed nearly 400 not-for-profit organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Fifty-two per cent of charitable organisations do not report cases of fraud to the police. In addition, one in five perpetrators were allowed to continue working for the organisation even after their fraud was exposed.
The study concluded that the reluctance to report on or react to fraud might come from a desire to protect the organisation's reputation; however, allowing fraud to go unpunished sends the wrong message to employees and volunteers, Opportunists may see that there are few consequences of illegal actions and take the risk.
"A not-for-profit organisation should not become complacent -
vigilance will always be imperative," BDO Kendalls stated.
For an external view of your key risk areas or training in risk management, volunteer management or organisational governance, contact our people at People First -Total Solutions.
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Stronger society: Grow a green organisation
 Awareness of the urgent need to address our environmental footprints is now a strong trend. People First -Total Solutions sees this as a business priority: we have been offsetting our travel since we started and recently raised our offset to 110 per cent of the impact.
A recent report identifies that running a green organisation can be costly in dollar terms, but that the benefits in increased business will outweigh the expense.
In the not-for-profit sector, however, the immediate benefits of going green may seem difficult to quantify with the impetus to change may take second place to other concerns, because of limited resources. It would seem, though, that choosing environmentally sustainable
solutions may garner public respect for your brand and indeed may attract more and larger donations and more vigorous support.
In addition econmic reasons may push changes, "Charities also need to think about their operations," says People First -Total Solutions CEO Martin Cowling. "For example, if the price of fuel continues to increase, there will be an impact on how we engage and keep volunteers in the twenty-first century. If we have built our operations on oil beng at $80 a barrel, what will we do when it gets to $150 or even $200 (it is currently at $120)? Organisations need to build new strategies to keep volunteers engaged sustainably."
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Company News
Martin J Cowling is next presenting training in:
- USA/Canada: September/October 2008 and May 2009
- New Zealand: November 2008 and February 2009
- UK: August 2008
- Australia: June to September 2008, November 2008, March/April 2009
Recent workshop participants have reported that Martin is an "engaging, energetic, knowledgeable presenter... [of] helpful information I will use in my work"; "always get good information from this very good presenter". It is easy and economical to add a session for you in your city. Call or email us!
Update on new products!
In
our last newsletter, we told you about our three new packages which will help build effective
volunteer programs. We have been getting advice as we finetune them for a June 2008 launch. The positive reaction has been overwhelming so we know we are on the right track! Some comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you, this is exactly what we need for volunteer programs to be recognised professionally.
LOVE YOUR WORK AND AM GLAD TO SEE THIS WILL BE OFF THE GROUND SHORTLY.
Brill- should be compulsory!
If you would like to be one of the first to know more before
our launch, email us: pfts@pfts.com.au by May 31. One
organisation will go in the draw for a free volunteer program audit
worth between $3,000 and $5,000 dollars (1500 and 2500 pounds) in return for answering a few quick questions.
Global Volunteer Management Survey
Almost 850 managers of volunteers answered our survey. We are compiling the results and will be making those available soon!
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Your say
I just wanted to congratulate you on your newsletter. I found it very inspiring and informative.
I am also very grateful that you included an article on not-for-profit managers. My background has always been in the not-for-profit sector and I have had great experiences working there. Now that I am working in a corporate environment I find that I am constantly defending the professionalism and expertise of the people who work in the not-for-profit sector. I have actually found that due to the interdependencies being that much more tightly bound in the charity/NFP sector, the staff and managers have a diverse array of skills and are very competent in their roles.
So thank you for raising the issue.
Bec
We at the Nonprofit Center would like to extend our thanks to you for presenting Create a Pro-Volunteer Culture on January 25. All participants indicated that the workshop was relevant to the work that they do and indicated a noticeable increase in knowledge and specific skills, approaches and concepts that can be linked to increased job effectiveness. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise, and for your commitment to volunteerism. We were fortunate to be able to have you present to the nonprofit sector in southeast Wisconsin.
Susanne Vella, Training Coordinator
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