Candid insights

The big picture of the social sector, backed by data and expertise

Earth Day 2020 is an opportunity for a new philanthropy

Water flowing in my cornfield, like a hundred miniature rivers all at once,carrying a simple message for a complex world. I clearly remember the first time I heard about Earth Day and someone mention the word ecology. Back then, in…

By Jim Enote (he/him)

April 23, 2020

Words to avoid—COVID-19 edition

Words to avoid—COVID-19 edition is reprinted from Big Duck. Communicating about the coronavirus isn’t easy. Whether your nonprofit feels rushed to react or is still looking for the right words, we hope the following guidelines for writing about the virus…

By Lila Tublin (she/her)

April 23, 2020

3 reasons online communities are more necessary than ever

If you’ve been fundraising for a while, you know that various factors can affect the types of campaigns you plan or the events you host. In the current environment, with many staying home to practice safe social distancing because of…

By Jake Fabbri (he/him)

April 22, 2020

Libraries, we salute you

National Library Week (April 19-25) is here—in fact, today is also National Library Workers’ Day. We at Candid know very well that libraries are overlooked and underfunded organizations that play a critical role in today’s society by providing free programs, resources, and services…

By Katie Farnan (she/her)

April 21, 2020

Supercharge nonprofit coronavirus fundraising with an articulated plan

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” —George Harrison, “Any Road,” paraphrasing Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Always, always, always begin with a plan. Hopefully, you already know this. Throwing spaghetti against a wall…

By Claire Axelrad

April 20, 2020

The 30-day zero DAF balance challenge

If you use a donor-advised fund (DAF) to make charitable contributions, it’s likely you have an undistributed balance. If that’s the case, the old saying “There’s no time like the present” has rarely been truer than it is right now.…

By Yvonne Thomas (she/her)

April 17, 2020

Are Foundations Equipped to Help Nonprofits Survive the Pandemic?

With close to 100,000 active foundations and collective annual giving of nearly $87 billion, America has the largest philanthropic sector in the world. While that pales in comparison to the trillions of dollars the federal government and Federal Reserve are…

By Bradford K. Smith (he/him)

April 16, 2020

Win Funding Faster by Earning a Seal of Transparency in 3 Simple Steps

Increasing the levels of trust and communication between nonprofits and prospective grantmakers is crucial to securing the funding you need to carry out your work. Earning your Seal of Transparency on your GuideStar Nonprofit Profile is a key step in that process.  Read on to learn more about…

April 16, 2020

Historical perspective in an urgent moment: the financial health of the social sector, 1998-2017

The economic dislocation brought on by coronavirus has shaken the social sector to its core. Leaders wonder aloud if we will soon see mass bankruptcies of nonprofit organizations—just at a moment when their services are most needed. We’ve seen a…

By Jacob Harold (he/him)

April 16, 2020

Corporations Ramp Up Support for COVID-19 Response Efforts (April 1-15, 2020)

As COVID-19 spreads globally and in the United States, corporations and their foundations are stepping up with funding to meet the needs of individuals and vulnerable populations impacted by the virus. The "quick-hit" roundup below captures some of the corporate…

By Mitch Nauffts (he/him)

April 15, 2020

A Call for COVID-19 Grants Data

Our mission to get people the information they need to do good is taking on greater urgency during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Given how many nonprofits are struggling with increased demand at a time of financial freefall, we are doubling…

By Kati Neiheisel

April 15, 2020

Nonprofit digital marketing during COVID-19

The global pandemic and its far-reaching effects have caused uncertainty and intense stress throughout the world. Although we have little control over the cause of these emotions, we can control how we respond to them. Just like individuals trying to…

By Sean Kerr (he/him)

April 15, 2020