Articles
The Power of Policies
Last updated July 6, 2017 Mention the word policy and most people’s eyes glaze over or roll to the back of their head. However, policy is an essential part of providing good governance and helps safeguard your organisation from potential risk. What is a Policy? In...
Making Fundraising Events Worthwhile
Last updated June 27, 2017 We all know that organising a fundraising event takes a lot of time, effort and energy. So, if you are going to go to the trouble of organising something, you want to make sure that you will be able to repeat it over and over again. The...
Dealing with Difficult Behaviour
Last updated June 23, 2017 When you work in the non-profit sector, everyone assumes that the people you manage will be kind, caring, loving and well behaved. However, you and I both know that’s not always the case. This 4 step process is a great way to have difficult...
What Great Boards Do
Last updated June 14, 2017 New Zealand has nearly 27,500 registered charities, all with Governance Boards overseeing the success of their organisation. However, no two Boards operate in exactly the same way and there is a vast difference between Boards that operate...
Creating a Workplace Wellness Programme
Last updated June 8, 2017 Implementing a Workplace Wellness Programme can help prevent burnout by supporting staff to stay happy and healthy on a daily basis. If you’re thinking that Wellness Programmes are only for the big corporates, think again. No office or...
Volunteer Recognition Ideas
Last updated June 2, 2017 Volunteer recognition is an important part of any volunteer programme, but there’s more to recognising your volunteers than printing their name in the newsletter. Genuine recognition requires you to think about each volunteer and the specific...
Things to Consider when Writing a Grant Application
Last updated May 25, 2017 Receiving generous sized grants on a regular basis is every non-profit’s dream, but just because it’s what you want – doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll get. When writing your next grant application, you might want to consider the following: 1....
Hitting the Streets
Last updated May 16, 2017 Your How-To Guide to Street Appeals For decades Street Appeals have proven to be a successful fundraising activity for many non-profit organisations, and it seems that even in a largely cashless society, organisations who ‘shake the bucket’...
The Myth of the Unpaid Workforce
Last updated May 11, 2017 Long before organised charities existed, people would volunteer in their own communities helping friends and neighbours simply ‘do life’. Then, as society evolved and populations expanded, organised groups appeared and locals pitched in to...
Managing Disruptive Behaviour in Training Sessions
Last updated May 5, 2017 If you are responsible for training staff or volunteers, you’ll know how disruptive it can be when one person keeps butting in, side-chatting or arguing with everything you say. In most cases, the rest of your participants are feeling just as...
Why Won’t Your Board Members Move On?
Last updated October 12, 2018 Being on a Board of Trustees can be both challenging and demanding, as well as rewarding. However, sometimes you can end up with a trustee that stays on a bit too long. There are lots of reasons people may not want to go, but here are...
Getting Started with Social Enterprise
Last updated April 24, 2017 The term Social Enterprise has become wildly popular over the last few years, and is regularly referred to as a business model in both the non-profit and for-profit worlds. However, google a definition for Social Enterprise and you’ll...
Why Should You Measure Volunteer Outcomes?
Last updated April 21, 2017 Trying to put a value on Volunteers is hard, almost impossible, but there are good reasons for measuring some of your volunteering outcomes: Volunteers are Precious Understanding and measuring the performance outcomes of volunteers shows...
10 Ways to Raise More Funds
Last updated April 21, 2017 No matter how good you are at fundraising, there is always something you can do to improve. Committing to any one of these things will make a difference to your fundraising efforts, and once you have that one thing mastered, you can move on...
Why Have a Patron?
Last updated April 12, 2017 A Patron is defined as ‘a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organisation or cause’ and is generally considered to be a well-known or illustrious individual who is happy to put their name to yours. So what are the...
Ideas for Effective Minute Taking
Last updated April 11, 2017 Recording minutes is an essential meeting practice. Written well, they capture the essence of important information and discussions and form a record of what decisions were made and who is responsible for carrying out specific actions or...
Making the Most of Time Off
Last updated April 7, 2017 For most of you the Easter weekend will mean an enforced 4 day break, or lighter duties at least. We know that you work in a sector that demands a lot of your time, commitment and energy so it is vitally important to understand the value of...
Effective Delegation
Last updated April 7, 2017 In my experience, people who work in the community sector are the Kings and Queens of ‘doing it all’. Most non-profit managers juggle several different hats and they are constantly trying to meet the needs of numerous stakeholders. Their...
Mother’s Day Fundraising Ideas
Last updated March 29, 2017 On Sunday 14th May 2017, you kiwis will be spoiling your wonderful mothers rotten. Mother’s day is also a great opportunity to tap into a popular celebration to raise some funds. Here are a few ways to make mums everywhere feel special:...
Volunteer Expo Ideas
Last updated March 29, 2017 Volunteer Expos are a great way of exposing potential volunteers to organisations looking for volunteer support. If you don’t have one in your region yet, maybe you could collaborate with your local volunteer centre and put one together....