Keep track of your nonprofits funds can be tricky. Tracking grants, donations, program expenses and other revenue means organizing...
Archive for category: Budgeting
Learn how to set a budget for your nonprofit. Includes tips on software, spending priorities, budget analysis and long term budget planning.
How to File Your Nonprofit Taxes
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, How To Videos, Nonprofit 101, Nonprofit Management, Video, 1If your nonprofit grossed less than $50K/year, then you likely qualify to file your nonprofit taxes using form 990-N....
NPA 048: Fiscal Sponsorship for Nonprofits
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, Nonprofit Management, Podcast, 0In this podcast I talk with Andrew Schulman (Schulmanconsulting.com). Andrew is a Fiscal Sponsorship Adviser that specializes in working...
NPA 043: Create a Sustainable Financial Plan for your Nonprofit
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, Nonprofit 101, Podcast, 0Getting your nonprofit to a state of financial sustainability is a goal for all of us. But just how...
NPA 027: Create a Nonprofit Budget like Rembrandt
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, Nonprofit Management, Podcast, 4When it comes to making a budget for your nonprofit, it can seem like there is little to guide...
NPA 022: Starting an Endowment for your Nonprofit
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, Nonprofit 101, Podcast, endowments, 0In this episode I talk with Josh Brooks from The Enduring Charity Foundation. Josh talks with us about how...
How to File your Nonprofits Taxes (it’s easy and often free)
Steve Vick, , Budgeting, Nonprofit 101, 0If you are a tax-exempt 501.c.3 organization it is time to file your annual tax returns (forms 990-N, 990-EZ,...
Doing the right research prior to applying for a grant can save you time and increase your chances of...
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Recent Posts
How to Start a Nonprofit
Free Nonprofit Branding Course
Other Important Impression Makers
GET A WEBSITE
This should be one of the first things you do. A website that has your information on it is invaluable. You can put your mission, your contact information, your forms, your board meetings, your volunteer calendar, your donation page, your staff information and so much more online.
A professional looking website is easy to set up and very affordable (less than $100, really!). And it is a great way to build the capacity of your organization.
GET A LOGO
The number of new nonprofits that get created each year keeps rising. Separating your organization from the rest is an important part of establishing yourself in your community. No matter what your mission is, it will have more impact if it is branded with a recognizable logo.
Some Tips & Resources
Type in "free logo" in Google. You’ll be surprised how many decent choices there are.
If you are having trouble deciding on a logo, you can opt to have "text" logo. There are many organizations that simply use text as their logo. If you choose to do this, learn all you can about the subtleties of fonts, colors, balance, line height, font-weight and line spacing.
Pre-made logos are professional and inexpensive. GraphicRiver.com has over 25,000 logo designs. And it is easy to search for what you want. Their pre-made logos start at $29.
Hire a pro. I use 99designs.com*. All you have to do is post your project on their website and dozens of professional designers submit their ideas. Then you pick the one you like best. This cost about $300. They also have pre-made logos for $100.
Learn more:
Pre-made logos: GraphicRiver.net, 99designs.com
Custom Logos: 99designs.com
Word of Caution
Watch out for volunteer logo makers. I have rarely seen a volunteer make a logo that I would want for my organization. This is not saying that they didn’t have artistic talent. But that is usually the problem. They are artist.
Logos are not art. Let me repeat that. Logos are not art. A logo is a simple, clean, easily digestible symbol. Your logo should not have more than three colors, two fonts and two distinct objects/shapes.
Designing a logo is the one thing I suggest getting a professional designer to do from the get-go. Having said that, there are actually some good "free" logos available. They can be a bit generic, but better than having "art" as your logo.
One last thing about logos. A logo does not define your business. Your nonprofit logo starts with no meaning. The logo acquires the meaning from the product and/or services you provide.
(Here’s a little secret: The Nonprofit Ally logo is a free one I found on the web. But the logo for the nonprofit I started I had custom made at 99designs).
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