Opportunities with Nonprofits

Opportunities Working With NonprofitsEditing Goes Global Conference, June 14, 2015Kim Lear and Karen Luttrell

Kim Lear Karen Luttrell

• Specializes in digital content, strategy and project management.

• Former Manager of Communications and Marketing, MacKenzie Art Gallery

• Former Development and Campaigns Coordinator for Art Starts in Schools.

• VP Professional Development, PWAC Toronto Chapter.

• [email protected]

• Freelance fundraising writer, nonprofit marketer, part-time communications professor, proud word nerd.

• Led marketing and communications for local, national, and international nonprofits for more than a decade before launching her business in 2010.

• Volunteers for PWAC Toronto Chapter and organizations focused on literacy and education.

• [email protected]

This hour you’ll get…

Why working with the nonprofit sector is exciting (Why we love it)

An overview of the nonprofit sector

Our top tips:How to research (and vet) potential clientsStrategies to work profitably What you need to know about the culture

Questions and Answers

Why this sector is exciting:You work with inspired and inspiring people

You tell stories with heart

Your work contributes to a greater good

You put your own challenges in perspective

You can work on a wide variety of projects

The sector is much larger than you probably realize. It has a huge impact on our economy.

The sector in Canada:

• There are more than 170,00 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada.

• Approximately half are registered charities.

• The sector contributes an average of 8.1% of the total Canadian GDP. That’s more than the retail trade industry.

• Two million Canadians are employed in the sector.

Source: sectorsource.ca/research-and-impact/sector-impact

Registered charities in Canada: 86, 173 registered charities

33, 011 religion

19, 078 welfare

14, 270 benefits to the community and other (eg cat rescue, victim services, childcare association)

14,001 education

5,813 health

Source: CRA Charity Listings search, June 11, 2015.

CRA charity listings: Researching prospects

CRA charity listings: Researching prospects

You can search Canadian registered charities by:

• City and province

• Registration status (registered/revoked)

• Designation (charitable organization/private foundation/public foundation)

• Charity type (benefits to the community/education/health/welfare

The link:

www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/advancedsearch-eng.action

Search example: Public foundations in BC

Search example: Private foundations in Ontario

Sample listing

A closer look at the CRA charity listings

Programs and activities

Past filings with CRA

Breakdown of revenue

Breakdown of expenses, including fundraising costs, management and administration, and charitable program budgets

Number of employees, with breakdown by salary range

Amount spent on professional and consulting fees

Useful research and PD resource

Work profitablySpecialize in project-types that involve repeat work, such as email newsletters. Or find ways to demonstrate the value of repeat business e.g. your first grant application will take 5 times longer to write than your fifth.

Work with mid-sized to large organizations, including national and international organizations that have solid funding and defined budgets.

Work with organizations that have a publishing arm or serve as an information clearinghouse and knowledge centre.

Research and qualify potential clients. Develop processes and stick to them.

Know your boundaries around volunteering and discounts. It’s not OK to take a commission off fundraising or grant applications. Fire clients if you have to.

Good options for writer and editors

Community Foundations: They need reports and case studies. They tend to look for subject matter experts, is that what you are?

Clearing Houses, Art Galleries, Museums, Educational Organizations, Think Tanks, Advocacy Organizations:They publish! They also may need coms, campaign and fundraising support.

Agencies and Designers who specialize in the sector:They often need writers.

Understand the culture

Non-profit clients aren’t easier than corporate or government clients, they’re just different.

Take a minute to think about the day in the life of the person who might hire you…

Karen’s day in the life . . .

As a communications director at a small national charity, a fairly typical day often included:

• 300 to 400 incoming emails• Four to six hours of meetings• A dozen voice messages• staff supervision• writing, editing• co-ordinating with suppliers for major projects …

Kim’s day in the lifeBrand management – we rebranded, then changed gears and “refreshed” our brand

We built a new website and app

Coms plans, material execution and ad buys for all exhibitions, fundraising events, education initiatives, outreach

Coordinated with Development on campaigns and produced all campaign materials

Oversaw staff, contractors and vendors

Advised Executive Director on issues management, provided all speaking notes and briefing notes

Led all media relations

Designed, edited and published a quarterly magazine

Designed and wrote the annual report

And oh so much more…..

Understand the cultureBe pleasant and persistent. People are often overworked.

Don’t assume people aren’t professionals.

Be patient but firm with committee culture.

Don’t over promise. They don’t have money for you to learn as you go. Know how to do what you say you can do.

Be respectful of their needs. Non-profits aren’t portfolio playgrounds.

Don’t assume they know you want to be paid. Be clear about payment expectations and talk budget upfront. Offer discounts.

Be generous with your passion but a guardian of yourself!

Wrap up: Work strategicallyGet to know the types of organizations in the sector.

Research the organizations you want to work with. Can they afford you? Do they need you?

Get professional development if you want to offer specialized services: fundraising materials, direct mail, etc.

Set a professional rate. Decide how much of your slate should be non-profit work. Stick to the plan.

Get to know the people you want to work with. Understand where they are coming from and get out there and meet them!

Take away

If you are keen to pursue opportunities in the nonprofit sector, we challenge you to:

1. Identify one area of the nonprofit world that interests you.

2. Use CRA and Charity Village websites to vet 5 prospective clients. (Maybe include an agency or designer who services the sector.)

3. Get the names of the people you need to talk to.

4. Find an approach that’s good for you and connect!

5. (And then repeat.)

Q&A