Donor retention is an area that sorely needs improvement. Donor-advised funds are rapidly growing and outpace foundation giving. Charitable giving happens in many ways that aren’t well-tracked (yet). These are some of the findings from the recently released Giving USA 2016 report on U.S. charitable giving.

What can your nonprofit learn from Cleveland and the Cavaliers? That there’s a powerful narrative that exists about your organization—whether you are actively writing it or not—and that you can take better hold of that story, in part by how you shape your grant proposals.

Seasoned grants professionals are often intimidated by state and federal grants. Fortunately, you can take some simple, concrete steps to assess whether government grants are right for your organization, and you can master the techniques needed to compete in the government arena.

Have you heard the buzz about sustainable development goals (SDGs)? You may have heard that this is a global effort that involves 17 goals lead by the UN and global leaders. Sounds big, right? Well, it is. But make no mistake: it’s not so big that you can’t connect with the movement and make a valuable contribution. Here are four ways you get up-to-speed and find a way to connect.

Take a minute to think about all the places your nonprofit uses photographs – your website, the blog, social media, brochures, etc. The list could go on and on. Here’s a question to ponder: Are any of those pictures infringing someone else’s copyright? 

Unfortunately, grant opportunities for grassroots community building and advocacy projects remain limited. Many foundations underestimate their legal latitude to fund nonpartisan advocacy and civic engagement, and most opt to fund projects that result in concrete short-term outcomes as opposed to the perceived ambiguity of long-term social change. Where, then, does that leave the grassroots social justice sector when it comes to getting grants?

You’ve got a brilliant idea for a nonprofit. You’ve done your research, gathered your team, and even have a lead on some funding. Finding a fiscal sponsor may be a way to get your organization up and running! Learn more about fiscal sponsorship and important questions to consider before you partner.

Here are five essentials to making collaboration work, based on the actual experiences of social sector leaders, who graciously shared their insights at a May 19 meetup and happy hour devoted to partnerships at Foundation Center West.

Looking for help with your nonprofit project or social enterprise idea? You might find innovative, expert assistance in your own neighborhood at our 450+ Funding Information Network (FIN) locations. Check out these three FIN superstars who received Foundation Center’s inaugural Excellence in Innovation award.

Over time, the IRS will phase in a mandatory digital filing requirement for all Forms 990, and the intent is to release them all as open data. In other words, that which is born digital will be opened up to the public. The big takeaway is to know your 990-PF (or 990 for community foundations) because it may soon become one of your foundation's key communications vehicles.