As Political Season Heats Up, What about Advocacy for Your Nonprofit?

To help you select your nonprofit/fundraising reading , we've asked VLAA summer interns to describe and comment on some of the books available in our G&FC collection (and elsewhere.) Here's another review:

The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations by Marcia Avner

This guide was written for 501(c)3 charities. Other types of nonprofits are governed by different rules and should seek out other materials. The author herself, however, seems to suggest that this guide is one of several that organizations should read before launching a lobbying campaign. The handbook was creatively written. Besides the basics of lobbying, it discusses such topics as deciding whether to become part of a coalition, rehearsing meetings with the legislature, activities lobbyists should avoid, and how to handle failure. The author also describes organizing group treasure hunts and field trips to familiarize nonprofit members with the places and people involved in the lobbying process and with the lobbying process itself. In addition, the guide’s sample checklists and worksheets will facilitate compliance and good record-keeping, alerting readers to the fact that nonprofits are limited by laws governing reporting and expenditures. Lastly, the guide contains sample lobbying materials used by a nonprofit organization in Minnesota, including a proposal, campaign summary sheet, and a lobby-day agenda. While the author does provide some information about the differences between direct and grassroots lobbying, the distinctions are limited in scope.

-- Shannon Martínez, Law Student at Saint Louis University School of Law

Want a Short, Yet Detailed, Overview of Grants Process?

To help you select your nonprofit/fundraising reading this summer, we've asked VLAA summer interns to describe and comment on some of the books available in our G&FC collection (and elsewhere)

The Art and Science of Grantsmanship
by John Tesoriero
Less than 200 pages long, this guide quickly takes the reader through the grant application process and still manages to give enough detailed instructions so that even veterans could learn a thing or two. The amount of detail may slightly overwhelm readers new to the grant application process, but the guide serves well as an introductory overview of the process. Suggestions on how and where to locate grant opportunities both within the local community and on the internet are included. Chapters about post-award administration and closing the grant project and information about what to do if an organization does not use all of its grant funds will be helpful for those who have already applied for and received grants. The author has been active in the field of grants for almost 30 years and his knowledge is apparent.
-- Shannon Martínez, VLAA Intern
Law Student at Saint Louis University School of Law

Need Help Filing for your 501(C)3?

To help you select your nonprofit/fundraising reading this summer, we've asked VLAA summer interns to highlight and comment on some of the books available in our G&FC collection (and elsewhere)

IRS Form 1023 Tax Preparation Guide by Jody Blazek, CPA

Despite the fact that this book was written in 2004, it remains an excellent resource to use while filling out IRS Form 1023. (FYI: Sept. 2009 Form 1023 Revision changes are summarized at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf ) The guide is easy to understand and takes the reader from the application process through the approval process. Line-by-line instructions for filling out Form 1023 and explanations of each of the form’s special schedules are presented in great detail. The author also explains what things the IRS is looking for when examining an application and warns the reader of organizational characteristics that may prevent an application from being approved. Appendices in the back show the reader what a complete Form 1023 and its attachments might look like for both a public charity and a private operating foundation. The appendices also include IRS correspondence samples, such as the acknowledgement of the applicant’s request and determination letters recognizing exemption. This book answers many questions a reader may have about filling out Form 1023.

--reviewed by Shannon Martínez, VLAA Intern
Law Student at Saint Louis University School of Law

Useful Reading on Fundraising Diversity?

To help you select your professional reading, we've asked VLAA summer interns to highlight and comment on some of the books available in our collection (and elsewhere).

Cultivating Diversity in Fundraising by Janice Gow Pettey

This book gives tips on how to be successful in soliciting contributions from four major ethnic groups: African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American. It offers interesting historical and cultural perspectives, but may have limited applicability for St. Louis area non-profit fundraisers. The organization of the book could be improved upon and the text is a bit repetitive at times, but its overall usefulness makes it a worthwhile fundraising tool.

The author provides an outstanding historical account of the immigration of the four groups into the United States and applies the groups’ immigration history and cultural characteristics to their charitable giving patterns. I recommend using the comprehensive index to zoom into ethnic groups and topics that are of interest to the reader. To a certain extent, the book stereotypes the different ethnic groups, but author does supply data and examples to support her conclusions. The second half of the book contains interviews and case studies that the reader probably will not find to be very helpful.

Reviewed by Shannon Martínez, VLAA Intern, Law Student at Saint Louis University School of Law