Nonprofits often find ways to make extra money; they may lease out unused space to another nonprofit, open a thrift store, or make a deal with a cellular phone company. Although sometimes lucrative, this “business” is usually a side venture. The organization still survives primarily on donations from its members or government grants. However,

As budgets get tighter, and competition for dollars becomes fiercer, nonprofits often opt to move in together and share common areas, conference rooms, break rooms and even office equipment. As we have previously written, many organizations find a home in a nonprofit center. A cash-strapped nonprofit can work in a shared first-class facility for a

  In the rarified air of high-dollar fundraising, major foundations, hospitals, and universities regularly announce eye-popping, multi-million dollar gifts from wealthy donors. The big non-profit hospitals and UCLAs of the world can spin a few of these major gifts into a new teaching wing or medical complex, with the donor’s name prominently displayed on a

When selecting a space for your non-profit, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration.
Image source: Flickr CC user Dave Fayram I grew up in the 90s, and went to college at the end of that decade and the beginning of this century. It was easy, and probably correct, to think that it was the golden age of non-profits and NGOs. The rise of the Internet helped connect people with like-minded thinkers and activists across the globe, and just being able to see the example of brave and determined people was inspiring. When Jody Williams, an anti-landmine activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, it was seen as a triumph for anyone who worked outside the system. That wasn’t the first strong period for NGOs and it wasn’t the last, but it was an incredible time for outsiders.

While moving into a nonprofit center may not cause workers to do cartwheels down the hall, 65 percent of nonprofit agencies reported in a survey that working in a nice facility did improve employee morale. Image source: Flickr CC user DAXKO A few years back, I stopped by the offices of a nonprofit in an

Get your nonprofit out of the coffee shop and into a place where you can truly fulfill your mission. Image from unsplash/Alejandro Eskamilla All non-profit organizations face the same dilemma: they need a good space to attract volunteers, plan their events, host the community, and further their mission. The problem comes from the “non” part of the name, as many non-profits struggle to be able to balance the positive goals of their mission and the need to reduce overhead. No one wants to spend too much on a space, because that is money that can go toward making a positive impact on the community. On the other hand, not having a good working environment can have just as much a negative impact.