Do nonprofits have an image problem? |
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Most Americans don’t think nonprofits are making much of an impact, according to recent IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy survey |
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by Shari Finnell, editor/writer, Not-for-profit News
Now, more than ever, nonprofit organizations have comprehensive insights about how the American public perceives them, thanks to a poll recently conducted by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
And the results point to a need for nonprofit leaders to do a better job of conveying the story of their impact and educating the public about nonprofits overall, according to Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
- 80 percent of survey respondents said that in-kind, charitable, and direct person-to-person giving were very or somewhat important.
- However, nearly 30 percent of respondents said that they believe nonprofits are on the wrong track; 17.6 percent said they are moving in the right direction; while 52.5 percent responded that they didn’t know. When the unsure responses were removed from the analysis, nearly 63 percent indicated that nonprofits were on the wrong track.
- About 30 percent believe charities contribute a lot to society.
- Only 5 percent said that they think they or someone in their immediate family has been helped by a nonprofit organization — a low rate, according to the report, considering that one out of every 11 Americans work for a charitable organization.
Osili noted that the survey also revealed that many people do not seem to grasp the definition of a nonprofit organization, especially when so few believe they have been helped by the industry.
“Even when people think about services that they received, they don't always know that those come from nonprofits,” said Osili, noting that many survey respondents did not seem to understand that colleges, hospitals, cultural organizations, religious congregations, or groups that participate in advocacy drives related to the environment and civil rights can all be part of the nonprofit sector.
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What is the dark web and is it safe? |
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by Cody Lents, partner and customer steward, COVI, Inc.
Merriam-Webster defines the “dark web” as “The set of web pages on the World Wide Web that cannot be indexed by search engines, are not viewable in a standard web browser, require specific means (i.e., specialized software or network configuration) to access, and use encryption to provide anonymity and privacy for users.”
The dark web provides people with a level of privacy and anonymity that the internet we’re all used to does not. That may sound appealing. However, many risks are associated with using the dark web. It can be a hazardous environment unless you’re well prepared for the potential online dangers.
For nonprofit organizations, public trust is essential. It requires little to no skill or expertise for inexperienced hackers — often called “script kiddies” — to deface nonprofit websites, steal data, or leak confidential information, harming an organization's overall credibility. As a result, nonprofit organizations must remain vigilant and take proactive steps to prevent cyber-attacks and protect their sensitive data.
Script kiddies are individuals who carry out cyber-attacks using pre-existing tools and scripts, often without a comprehensive understanding of the underlying technology. Some script kiddies obtain hacking tools by accessing the dark web, where they can find forums and marketplaces to exchange information or purchase services related to cybercrime. These tools can give them unauthorized access to nonprofit organizations' servers and lead to the exposure of sensitive data, such as donor information.
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Re-released Join Bryan Orander as he speaks with Gurinder Kaur of the Immigrant Welcome Center about how Indiana is supporting people who need assistance from as near as Haiti and as far away as Afghanistan. Gurinder shares how her journey to Detroit from India marked her first plane trip and her first time seeing snow. Listen
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FIRST Indiana Robotics has hired Ashley Robbins as president. Robbins previously was the director of foundation operations for Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. |
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K21 Health Foundation has promoted Jennifer Stewart to grant manager. Stewart previously was marketing and community manager for the organization. |
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Christel House International has hired Raina Mansukhani as vice president, expansion. Mansukhani previously was an engagement manager at The Cicero Group. |
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Christel House International has hired Francois Louw as director of corporate partnerships. Louw previously was director of fundraising and marketing at Christel House South Africa. |
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The Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative has awarded Coburn Place $400,000 toward a two-year effort to reduce the stigma of mental health for Black survivors of domestic violence and their families and improve their overall mental health across their lifespans. Read
Dove House was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the Indianapolis Rotary Club to purchase vehicles to transport women to community and health care services, sobriety programs, and court hearings.
First Baptist Athletics, the youth sports organization affiliated with First Baptist Church at 86th Street and College Avenue is planning $10 million in improvements to the fields and facilities on the church campus, including the construction of a new gymnasium. Read
The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter is launching a four-year initiative to reach underserved communities. The plan, ALZ Equity for Indiana, is made possible with a generous $1.2 million donation from Judy and Michael Harrington. It will focus on outreach to populations that are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Read
Little Red Door Cancer Agency, with support from the Hoover Family Foundation, is offering a first-of-its-kind oncology massage certification scholarship to meet the shortage of certified oncology massage therapists in Indiana. Application deadline is April 21. Apply
Indianapolis Business Journal is accepting nomination for 2023 Indiana 250, IBJ Media’s list of the 250 most influential business leaders in the state of Indiana. Nomination deadline April 28. Nominate
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Volunteer recruitment, retention, and more training on April 20 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn best practices and proven methods to recruit and retain volunteers. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register
Milton J. Murray Lecture on April 27 at 6 p.m. at the Indiana Historical Society. Hear the latest insights from Edgar Sandoval, CEO of World Vision, on how to create lasting, life-changing impact at scale. Presented by IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Cost: Free. Register
2023 Business software refresher series: Excel (Part 2) on April 28 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Gain a better understanding of Excel features and capabilities through focused discussion and demonstrations on how to use formulas to perform calculations, analyze data, and create presentation charts, pivot tables, and graphs. Presented by IUPUI Professional Development and Continuing Education. Cost: $75. Register
ChatGPT and artificial intelligence: Questions and implications for evaluators webinar on April 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Hear an evaluator’s experience and experiments with ChatGPT, and gain insights on whether and how evaluators can leverage AI. Presented by Indiana Evaluation Association. Cost: Free members/ $20 nonmembers. Register
Developing an effective board of directors workshop on April 29 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St. Get a deeper understanding of the basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards and how to improve board effectiveness. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register
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Preparing your board for the next ED/CEO Leadership Transition webinar on May 17 at 11 a.m. As younger leaders replace long-term leaders, we find the commitment is often three to five years. Join Charitable Advisors’ Bryan Orander as he shares his knowledge from over 100 successful nonprofit ED/CEO searches. Whether you are in the midst of a transition or want to be prepared when the next one arrives, this webinar provides invaluable insights. Presented by Charitable Advisors. Cost: Free. Register
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Dove House is seeking individual and group volunteers to help with various tasks and fundraising opportunities, including spring cleanup at various facilities, mulching on playgrounds, and hosting a donation drive. Contact Wendy Noe for more information and to sign up.
Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. needs volunteers to help with invasive removal and tree planting at Meltzer Woods, an old growth forest in Shelby County. Pre-registration is required. Sign up to join a stewardship crew from 10 a.m- 1 p.m. on April 19, April 26, May 3, May 13 and May 17. Register
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Build a strong work environment by encouraging employees to identify their talents, creating a network of in-house coaches, and making sure supervisors understand team members' abilities.
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Community-led organizations that focus on supporting people experiencing the greatest needs are invited to apply for a share of $250 million in funding. The deadline to register to apply is May 5.
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Our sponsor marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.
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FUND DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLANNING
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BANKING/
ASSET MANAGEMENT
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Nonprofit office space in great location (Butler University area)
Indiana Interchurch Center, which is centrally located in Indianapolis at 1100 W. 42nd St., has available office spaces ranging from 200 to 1,600 square feet for 501(c)3 organizations. Free parking, utilities, high-speed internet, and shared meeting rooms are included. The facility is home to a diverse group of nonprofit and church organizations that are making an impact in the community. Contact Kris Keys or call (317) 923-3617. |
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Coworking office memberships available (Northwest side)
Enhance your productivity and meet like-minded people at Nexus’ shared coworking space. Nexus offers month-to-month memberships for open desks and dedicated desks. Memberships include meeting room credits, access to high-speed internet, and free printing, and coffee. Besides having a great place to work, you’ll connect with small business owners and nonprofit employees that care about making a positive difference in their communities. Coworking office memberships range from $59/month to $149/month. Learn more
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CHARITABLE ADVISORS'
FEATURED JOB POSTINGS
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Executive Leadership (CEO/ED/COO)
Fund Development/Marketing/PR/Advocacy
Admin Support/Clerical
Finance/Accounting/HR/IT/Facility
Controller - Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis
Data/Research/Quality Assurance
Programs/Program Support
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