Candid insights
The big picture of the social sector, backed by data and expertise
6 Top Tips When Funders Aren’t Accepting Applications
Candid's vice president of Influence, Aleda Gagarin, shares her development expertise to answer the burning question every fundraiser asks themselves: Does the grantmaker accept applications and should I even consider this funder if they don't? What do I do when…
October 18, 2017
Ten Characteristics of High Performing Nonprofit Organizations
Despite the size of the $1.5 trillion nonprofit sector in the U.S. - nearly 10% of the economy - nonprofits are subject to rather minimal independent professional scrutiny beyond annual audits. Publicly traded companies publish quarterly financial reports, are subject…
February 2, 2017
Find a Fiscal Sponsor that Fits
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. Someone suggests fiscal sponsorship as a smart way to start your project. But what is that? And…
June 6, 2016
Confessions of a Program Officer
At the Hewlett Foundation, every program officer is limited to one eight-year term. Mine ends this week. As I reflect on my time here, I think about those moments of doubt when I wondered if I was doing meaningful work.…
April 3, 2016
6 Charitable Solicitation Facts to Know Before Applying for a Grant
For many nonprofits, foundation grants represent a significant part of their annual income. The Internet, of course, has made finding grant opportunities easier and has streamlined the grants application process to a degree. As organizations seek grant funds outside their…
March 25, 2016
20 Great Techniques for Writing the Perfect Nonprofit Tagline
A pitch-perfect tagline can be the foundation for all messages you create about your organization or program. A tagline is a punchy phrase consistently linked with your organization. It enhances your name by clarifying your work and making it relevant…
February 12, 2016
Dashboards: Nonprofits’ New Best Friend
If you lead or help manage a nonprofit organization, you know how hard it can be to provide clarity and transparency to your stakeholders. Revenue streams are unpredictable, databases can be hard to work with, and money has to be…
December 22, 2015
Funders, thank you for doing these 12 awesome things
Hi everyone, after talking to an ED of color who was on the verge of quitting the field after a horrible and demoralizing experience with a small grant that left her almost in tears, I started writing a post called…
October 1, 2015
Throwing a Fundraising House Party? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you're looking to raise money for a good cause without the extravagance of a full-on gala, having a house party can be great as a simpler, more intimate alternative. Held in someone's home, usually with no more than 50…
July 8, 2015
4 Steps to Identifying Your Key Messages
I worked with a client recently on honing their messaging. This organization has a focused mission, a clearly articulated approach to its work, and specialized niche within its ecosystem of actors and stakeholders. They know their constituents and they can…
June 22, 2015
Social Sector Knowledge Sharing: A Manifesto for 2015 and Beyond
Within the last six months, three of the world’s largest foundations—the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Ford Foundation—have all announced that they will require open licensing and knowledge sharing for all grant-funded products and content. In…
April 20, 2015
Where Can I Find a Nonprofit’s Form 1023?
Lately, I've been getting a lot of Ask Us visitors who want to see a specific nonprofit's Form 1023, also known as its exemption application. This question usually comes from would-be nonprofits that want to refer to Form 1023 samples…
March 6, 2015