About a month ago I first blogged about the controversy in the nonprofit sector over Apple’s ban on donation apps on the iPhone. Since then, the voice of the sector has gained strength with Zoetica CEO Beth Kanter continuing to sound off and circulate a petition of more than 13,000 signatures to oppose Apple. The conversation has even entered the political sphere, with PC Pro reporting that the UK’s Minister for Civil Society would write Apple to “encourage the company to be more positive and constructive.”

So you're starting a nonprofit organization or have one and want to know how to build or strengthen your brand. Well, what is a brand? Is it advertising, your spokesperson, a logo? We have heard of the Red Cross, Oprah, McDonald's. These are all brands. And while there may be positive or negative perceptions about each of these, you'll notice their missions are easy to define—providing disaster relief when needed, inspiring people to live better lives, and providing a cheap, convenient meal. They are all based on making a clear promise to their audience. Essentially, your brand is the reputation you have for delivering on your promise.

The IRS reminds smaller nonprofits that a higher filing threshold has gone into effect for Form 990-N; invites smaller businesses, including nonprofits, to attend a free webinar on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit; has published new fees for exempt organizations for 2011; and has released instructions and withholding tables related to the payroll tax cut.

Excerpt from How to Connect with Donors and Double the Money You Raise

GuideStar is proud of its partnership with community foundations through its DonorEdge technology platform. We’ve recently taken our support of community foundation partners, known as the DonorEdge Learning Community, a step further by merging the nonprofit information in their DonorEdge profiles with our GuideStar Exchange program. 

If you feel like the IRS might be watching you a little bit more closely these days, a new report from the Exempt Organizations Division (EO) of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities of the IRS provides some basis for that observation. EO Director Lois Lerner outlines accomplishments in fiscal year (FY) 2010 and previews plans for FY 2011 in the 29-page report. It is worth reading the entire report to get an understanding of EO's priorities, but below are some highlights.

As an excuse not to change or do something differently, how often have you heard someone in your organization say, "Well ... this is the way we’ve always done it!"

Note: The following discussion is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice. For specific information about provisions of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 affecting charitable contributions, consult your tax adviser or attorney.

Persons aged 70½ or older can again enjoy tax savings by making charitable gifts directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), thanks to a provision of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which was signed into law December 17, 2010. The act also allows charitable distributions made from an IRA in January 2011 to be declared as 2010 gifts, should the IRA holder wish to do so.