Our features during July and August 2023 will focus on what nonprofits should be doing to raise awareness about what they do in their communities. Visit our website to find a list of resources to support your marketing initiatives.

Organizations are turning in record numbers to in-house advertising staff and farming less of the work to outside agencies, signaling a departure from the outsourcing trend that has increasingly become the norm for other categories of professional services.

More than 4 out of 5 respondents in a recent study by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) reported that they now have in-house advertising capabilities, a near-doubling of the number who gave the same answer 15 years ago. “In-house ad agencies are no longer just a trend – they’re here to stay with 82 percent of ANA members now reporting that they have an in-house agency,” wrote the authors of the report, The Continued Rise of the In-House Agency: 2023 Edition.

Researchers compiled the findings from interviews conducted with 162 marketing executives at both nonprofit and for-profit organizations this past February and March. Senny Boone, executive vice president of the ANA Nonprofit Federation, told The NonProfit Times that the findings can be instructive for both sectors though a breakdown for each was not available.

Notably, only 42 percent of respondents reported having in-house shops when the study first was conducted in 2008. That percentage has been rising steadily ever since, ...

Last week, the NonProfit Times brought attention to the release of America’s Checkout Champions a biennial report issued by Engage for Good. This report shows that in 2022, American retailers raised more than $749 million for charities at various point-of-sale campaigns such as consumers rounding up their purchase to the nearest dollar with the overage going to charity.

This was the sixth time Engage for Good has issued this report. This latest edition focused on 77 campaigns that each raised $1 million or more for charity. Examples of retailers mentioned in this report include eBay, Albertsons Companies, Walgreens, Costco Wholesale, and Walmart. The cumulative amount donated represented a 24 percent increase over what was raised in 2020.

Engage for Good also notes that 67 percent of the campaigns they researched consisted of enabling consumers to round off their purchases. While the most popular category of charity was children’s health, a variety of other causes were also featured such as hunger relief, needs in Ukraine, and disaster assistance. In addition, 43 percent of the companies featured were not part of the roster of participants they reviewed two years earlier, demonstrating a different mix of retailers was now engaged in these $1 million and above fundraising efforts.

CORRECTION: Alice Susemichel has been named CEO at Brown County Community Foundation. Susemichel’s name was incorrectly spelled in a previous edition of Not-for-profit News.

The Villages has received a $1.6 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create a mother-centered adoption program. The new program, which will launch in 2025, is designed to support pregnant mothers considering adoption. Learn more

Indiana Arts Commission has awarded $17,638 to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra through the Arts Organization Support grant. The funds will be used for the organization’s mission to entertain, inspire, educate, and challenge through innovative programs and symphonic music performed at the highest artistic level. Read more

The John Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute, which identifies and develops transformational philanthropic leaders in Indiana, has opened its application process for its 2024 session. The cohort-based program provides a continuing education experience that prepares future leaders for board and executive roles at foundations and corporations serving communities across Indiana. Apply now. Deadline is noon, Oct. 26, 2023.

As part of a new membership equity initiative launched by a group of local organizations, businesses throughout Central Indiana can collaborate on addressing racial disparities in the workplace. Membership in Business Equity for Indy (BEI) is free. The program also provides resources in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Learn more

Indy Reads has opened enrollment for individuals seeking to earn their HSE diploma, improve their English language skills, earn a customer service or paraprofessional certification, or learn to read. The virtual and in-person classes are free for students. The nonprofit also has a technology loaner program that equips virtual students in need of laptops and Wi-Fi hot spots. Learn more

We want to hear from you! In the summer of 2021, Charitable Advisors conducted our first “How Are You Doing?“ nonprofit staff survey to get feedback from nonprofit staff about how things were going from YOUR perspective. Since working in the nonprofit sector can be different from other sectors, we are launching that short survey again for 2023. We want to gain insights about how employees, across all nonprofits in central Indiana, are feeling about their jobs and their organizations. We are anxious to see what has changed and what remains the same as 2021. Take survey

The art of business gathering on Aug. 16 from 4-6 p.m. at the Murat Shriners, Tunisian Room, 510 N. New Jersey St. Learn about the business journeys of three Indianapolis-area creatives, while gaining insights on various resources to support art enthusiasts. Networking during cocktails. Presented by the Indy Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council and the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center. Cost: $15 for Indy Chamber members/ $25 nonmembers. Register

Core responsibilities of nonprofit boards on Sept. 7 from 9:30-11 a.m. Gain a better understanding of the essential accountabilities of the nonprofit board in alignment with leading practices. Presented by Hedges. Cost: $90 for two people from the same organization. SHRM recertification credits available. Register

Housing Counseling Works! 4-session training, weekly Sept. 7-28 at 11:30 p.m. Explore the principles and applications of housing counseling, including essential elements of pre- and post-purchase counseling for homeowners, and delinquency and default counseling. Cost: $475. Register

Avoid data pitfalls training on Sept. 7 at 1- 3 p.m. Gain insights on how to think critically about data, including detecting what can cause noise in data and discerning how to use data effectively despite these limitations. Presented by SAVI. Cost: Free. Register

Storytelling for nonprofits webinar on Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m. Discover the art of weaving engaging stories that resonate with your target audience, ignite empathy, and drive meaningful engagement. Cost: Free. Register

How to create a Giving Tuesday program webinar on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. Learn from expert Philip Thornton’s insights on how to create a more effective Giving Tuesday program. Presented by The Association of Fundraising Professionals. Cost: Free. Register

Top ways to thank donors and inspire loyalty webinar on Sept. 28 from 2-3:15 p.m. Learn about the latest research in philanthropic psychology and how to apply it to letters and annual campaigns as part of a strategy to increase donor retention. Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Cost: $69. Register

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is seeking board members to support its mission to improve the quality of lives of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault crime. Learn more and apply

Indy Reads is in urgent need of volunteers to provide personalized instruction. Learn more

Covi Robo revolution in the workplace: How AI and robotic processing automation (RPA) offers the potential to grow an organization with capabilities in mimicking human behavior. Read more | Watch

Johnson Grossnickle & Associates  Inspiring transformational gifts: A discussion guide for enhancing relationship-based fundraising. Read more

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