ACIE - Association Of Charity Independent Examiners’ Post

“Gift Aid” is not a dirty word And yet I’ve spoken to a number of operators recently where the matter of gift aid is still quite sensitive, but it shouldn’t be. To quote Salt-N-Pepper, “don’t decoy, avoid or make void the topic, cause that ain’t gonna stop it. No!” Recent conversations with clients have identified 🙁 Feelings of GUILT about asking for donations and gift aid ☠ FEAR that by asking it’s inconveniencing the visitor ❌ Reluctance to SPOIL the branding of the online booking experience In some instance it’s much more straight forward. Current systems may not support easy tools to collect donations and gift aid, or they simply haven’t had time to define their Gift Aid strategy (when they have taken time to look at sustainability or social strategies…) The first one absolutely shouldn’t exist today. As we crawl back from the pandemic gift aid is a very valid and accessible revenue source for those that are eligible. We’ve seen operations add millions to their annual revenues thanks to a strong gift aid strategy. System inadequacies also shouldn’t be an issue. All modern systems should make it easy for those eligible companies to request donations and Gift Aid contributions. Adopting gift aid as part of your overall revenue strategy could make a significant difference to you end of year numbers. If unsure where to start, happy to chat through our experiences and share some ideas (Now off you go and listen to the Salt-N-Pepper track that’s now stuck in your head)

There’s a moment when your donor looks over your direct mail or email appeal and thinks, “I’ll put this aside for now and maybe help with that a little later.” That’s the moment when you realize your appeal didn’t have something it needed – urgency. Here are some ways around that problem from my article, How to Ramp Up the Urgency in Appeals and Boost Response, in Nonprofit Pro https://lnkd.in/eJQbzEns. Use a deadline. We’re all conditioned to respond to deadlines. This includes actual deadlines (like year end, Giving Tuesday, and others), sensible deadlines (like National Doctor’s Day, fund drive deadlines, and so on), and even random deadlines (like ‘respond in the next 7 days.’). Deadlines tend to focus the mind. Create immediacy. Center your appeal around a timeframe in the very near future. That makes your ask more actionable. “Your gift today will save the life of someone who’s homeless. Just a few weeks from now, in January, temperatures will plummet. That’s no time to be out on the street. The cold kills. Before that happens, please give now to provide safe shelter.” Show the consequences of not giving. Often, avoiding a negative outcome is more motivating. “Our criminal justice system in this country is unjust for low-income people. Please give now to help create a more equal justice system by eliminating cash bail. Unless you help, people who are detained before trial because they can’t make bail will lose their jobs, their housing, and even custody of their children.” Amp up the emotion. You could say, “Help reduce infant mortality in Africa” or you could make it more emotional with something like “In a cinder-block hut in Uganda, a young mother, weeping. A father, broken. Their newborn baby girl lies dead, open mouthed to the night air. Please give now when just $25 can save a precious new life.” An emotional ask is more urgent in a way that a bland, factual ask could never be. Urgency is vital in appeals. Because sometimes donors just need that little, extra nudge to realize all the good they can do.

Why attend a Gift Aid workshop when I already know about Gift Aid? This is a question that we are often asked and our answer every time is that from experience, and we have now trained people from over two hundred charities, that it is not until you are attending one of our Gift Aid workshops that you are able to identify any Gift Aid knowledge gaps. Many of our delegates say that they didn’t know, what they didn’t know until you hear it on a workshop and then you know it!! Read more at the blog below and find details of our next Gift Aid workshop - delivered by Phil R. of Giftease Solutions #giftaid #charitytax #charityfinance #fundraising https://lnkd.in/euytbxz5

On this National Food Bank Day, let’s unite to support the fight against hunger. This cause is all about ensuring no one goes to bed hungry. Hunger can touch anyone—your neighbor, a coworker, or even a friend. Empty cupboards are more common than we think. Food banks across the country are helping 42 million people who are struggling to make ends meet. Whether due to illness, job loss, or life’s unexpected turns, these challenges can impact any of us. Join us in supporting your local food bank.  It’s not that hard! Our amazing team donates food, gift certificates, and funds—and Anderson Development Company matches every donation! Last year, we contributed a total of 1300 pounds of food, $1720 in cash donations, 6 gift certificates, and one VISA gift card. Together, we can make a real difference! #NationalFoodBankDay #PackThePickup #EndHunger #CommunitySupport #GivingBack #TheDailyBreadofLenawee #AndersonDevelopmentCompany

Help a non-profit out and take this survey! You can also enter to win a drawing at the end, if the good karma alone isn’t enough incentive. And extra points if you share!

WEEKLY HAYDAY HOT TAKE FROM THE HAYDAY DUO! Our friends at 1832 Communications and Foundant Technologies are conducting a survey to capture the experiences of nonprofit grant professionals. We all know the grant seeking and management process is not as smooth and painless as it could or should be. Here’s your chance to voice your frustrations and share your success with the grant process. Take this survey and share your insights. QUICK AND EASY: The survey will take approximately 7-9 minutes. CONFIDENTIALITY GUARNATEED: Your response will remain confidential and only be reported in aggregate. WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE: If you are directly involved in grant seeking at a nonprofit organization, we need your valuable insights! We’re looking at you, grant writers and grant managers, to include inhouse employees and consultants. MAKE AN IMPACT: Your input will contribute to a broader understanding of the challenges and successes in grant seeking and management. A similar survey is being given to grant makers, and the combined insights will help Foundant bridge gaps and address pain points on both sides. Foundant will share a summary report with participants who share their contact information and publish key findings on their website. SPECIAL BONUS: At the end of the survey, you can opt in to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card! DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE: July 31, 2024 Here’s your chance to make your opinions known. Take the survey here today: https://bit.ly/4fbvFZY ********************************************************************************* Hungry for more? Sign up for the HayDay Hot Takes newsletter at https://bit.ly/3NMTSd1 and get fresh hot takes, tips on winning more grants and raising more money, and book reviews delivered piping hot to your inbox every Friday.

Thinking of giving gift cards at your #nonprofit? Before you do, watch this episode of Kickin’ It With Corinne! From staff gifts to participant benefits, Corinne covers IRS rules, DOL guidelines and compliance best practices you need to know.

Thinking of giving gift cards at your #nonprofit? Before you do, watch this episode of Kickin’ It With Corinne! From staff gifts to participant benefits, Corinne covers IRS rules, DOL guidelines and compliance best practices you need to know.

Thinking of giving gift cards at your #nonprofit? Before you do, watch this episode of Kickin’ It With Corinne! From staff gifts to participant benefits, Corinne covers IRS rules, DOL guidelines and compliance best practices you need to know.

Thinking of giving gift cards at your #nonprofit? Before you do, watch this episode of Kickin’ It With Corinne! From staff gifts to participant benefits, Corinne covers IRS rules, DOL guidelines and compliance best practices you need to know.