I recently spoke in Chicago before the Feeding America annual conference. Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, with more than 200 member food banks serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Joining me to talk about the importance of transparency and accountability in our demanding world were Art Taylor from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Ken Berger of Charity Navigator. The local member food bank staffers were attentive and truly concerned about providing the appropriate data to meet donor expectations. By the way, unlike many nonprofit organizations, the food banks unanimously told me that their fundraising is up so far this year. That’s good to hear.

It took a trip to New York this week and an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart for my opinions on the Occupy Wall Street movement to begin to gel.

Reprinted from Branding Bytes

There's no need to adjust your computer screen

If you look at a nonprofit profile on GuideStar over the next couple of weeks (and if you are not logged in as a GuideStar Premium or GuideStar Charity Check subscriber), you'll see a new look. We're testing different versions of a new summary section that puts the information donors want most front and center.

How did your organization's fundraising results during the first nine months of 2011 compare to results during the same period last year? How do you think your organization will fare during the last quarter of 2011? How has demand for your organization's services changed this year compared to last year?

Reprinted from Contributions Magazine

I was recently the keynote speaker at the Nonprofit Human Resources Conference at the Gaylord Conference Center.

Philanthropedia (at GuideStar) has just released research results identifying high-impact nonprofits working in the areas of aging, cancer, and criminal justice.

Building on the success of five sold-out conferences in San Francisco, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago, Social Media for Nonprofits is heading to Seattle this Friday, 10/14. From there, the tour heads to San Francisco on 11/4, Atlanta on 11/17, and finally New York City on 1/30/12.

I went to the SOCAP conference in San Francisco this year and left feeling a little uneasy. While it’s exciting to think about new capital being generated for attacking social problems, most of the talk sounded as if using nonprofit vehicles as a way to attack long standing problems is no longer effective or what is needed.

According to GreatNonprofits' donor survey, community reviews of nonprofit affect giving. More than 90 percent of donors say that the reviews written by clients served, volunteers, and other donors help them understand the nonprofits' work better. More than 80 percent said reviews influence their giving decisions.