Center for Association Resources

The Center for Association Resources supports mission-oriented organizations, assisting them in increasing relevance and accomplishing goals.

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50 Inspiring Quotations To Delight And Motivate your Group

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Fundraising IP:

Business gurus, motivational sages and savvy speakers are aware of the value of a timely quotation. Here are some favorite quotations to use whenever delight and inspiration are needed; with your colleagues, your board, in training materials, presentations and donor communications. Even with your morning coffee before tackling the dreaded email tsunami. Emphasize the mission and the message with these inspirational quotations from people who knew (and know) passion, determination and the meaning of grit.
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Diversity in the Nonprofit Board Room

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Top NonProfits:

One of the best assets of a nonprofit organization is its Board of Directors. One of the biggest challenges, however, is creating a board that is diverse, inclusive, and representative of the community it serves.

Jeri Eckhart-Queenan, a partner at The Bridgespan Group, believes: “The most effective boards are those that are able to bring together a diverse group of people that bring a range of thought and perspective.”

Having a diverse board not only provides a variety of backgrounds, skills, and resources, but also assists you in understanding your community’s needs. A heterogeneous board may, also, lead to diversity in donors, which is essential to the success of every nonprofit, and allow your organization to appeal to more grantmakers.
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10 Email Marketing Tips for Cultivating Major Donors

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Winspire News:

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach potential donors and keep them interested, informed and engaged with your nonprofit’s mission. Use these 10 tips to improve your email campaign strategy and maximize your efforts.

1. Use an Email Service Provider (ESP)

ESPs are companies like ConstantContact or MailChimp who offer free or inexpensive online marketing tools for sending professional-looking branded email campaigns to your donor database. Most offer pricing models based on the size of your database, and some even offer special pricing for nonprofits. Not all ESPs offer the same features. Consider your options and take advantage of free trial periods to find the best solution for your Nonprofit’s needs.
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On Living Out your Nonprofit’s Values

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From GuideStar Blog:

I’ll be honest- I’ve always been a little leery of organizational values. Frequently, these seem to be HR-driven campaigns to increase employee excitement, and, to be honest, they can sound more than a little cheesy. After all, who has time to spend thinking about what we value internally as an organization with pressing time-sensitive projects to complete?
After a couple of months working at GuideStar, however, I realized that I couldn’t have been more wrong! GuideStar’s values are what we refer to as the “4 Cs:” Clarity, Compassion, Courage and Collaboration. They are a core piece of how, what, and why we do the things we do. These “4 Cs” reflect the common beliefs of those of us who represent our organization, and also play a key role in our overall brand and brand platform.
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Nonprofit and Business Directors Must Be Vigilant — Board Liability Costs Could Be $2.2 Million!

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From The Huffington Post:

The personal cost of director inattentiveness is made painfully clear in an important federal appeals court decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals decided the decision, in re Lemington Homes, on January 26, 2015 for the Third Circuit. … [T]hese difficult facts arose from a small, nonprofit organization. … Yet the standard of director conduct applied by the appeals court is quite similar to that which might be applied to a traditional (business) corporate board. * (The case results) also addresses the appropriateness of punitive damages against officers and directors….

The court determined that (15 of 17) directors were aware of the mismanagement yet took no action, despite clear evidence of deficient care to the institution’s residents. …[T]his breach of care, (led to) $2,250,000 in joint and several compensatory damages. As such, the decision offers a particularly valuable — and practical — board education opportunity. Read More

How to Focus Your Focus Group

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From redroostergroup:

These days marketing research seems to be an amalgam of keywords, Google analytics, cross-tabs, big data, and all sorts of quantitative hubble-bubble. Even for someone who thoroughly enjoys lengthy journal articles, the progression toward a steadfast dependence on numbers can be both frustrating and daunting. Quantitative data often paints an incomplete, even skeletal, picture of consumer wants and needs, and it can be daunting because, well, math.

Never fear! Qualitative research still has a place in marketing, especially in the nonprofit sector. In order to provide meaningful service, you need meaningful information. Numbers illustrate how many donors contributed gifts of $1,000 or more in 2014, but they can’t reveal what about your organization proves consequential and compelling for your donors. When you are building value for your organization, these stories are crucial to your nonprofit’s livelihood; numbers can’t do the trick alone. Read More