How To Help With Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts

Widespread attention has been on Hurricane Dorian, its path, effects, and destruction.

After causing mass destruction within 48 hours of landfall in the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm, the hurricane has been reduced to a Category 2 but is now making its way towards Florida’s northeastern coast and possibly, the Carolinas.

According to CBS News, seven people have died, thousands of homes are believed to be damaged or destroyed, and thousands do not have drinking water.

The Bahamas and other areas that will be affected by this storm need your help! Here are a few ways on how to help with Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

How To Help With Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts

“The most urgent needs at this time are shelter, food, water, and communications…” said Stephen McAndrew, Deputy Director for the Americas of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Relief Efforts in the Bahamas

Know that making a donation will help victims directly by donating to a charity or hurricane relief effort near the area of devastation. These are a few location-based relief efforts that could use your support: 

Bahamas Red Cross

The Red Cross of Bahamas currently has 200 volunteers on-site in the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. Online donations can conveniently be made, here.

GlobalGiving

This initiative has set up a disaster relief fund that supports people impacted by the hurricane. With a total goal of $2 million dollars, GlobalGiving will use donations to provide emergency supplies.

Note: All donations to this fund will exclusively support relief and recovery efforts. 

Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation

Created by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, this foundation gives necessary insight on how to help with relief efforts as well as providing a list of locations where donations can be dropped off in the United States. 

HeadKnowles

Based in the Bahamas, this organization facilitated relief operations during Hurricane Matthew & Hurricane Joaquin. Online donations can be made here.

The Salvation Army

Always there providing emergency assistance to survivors and first responders, The Salvation Army can always utilize donations as they stay on the frontlines of the crisis. 

You can easily make a donation towards relief efforts in the Bahamas or the United States, here. 

World Central Kitchen

Led by Chef José Andrés, the World Central Kitchen relief team has arrived in Nassau and will provide food to those affected by the natural disaster. Mobile kitchens will be set up on the affected islands. Click here to donate.

About ExpressTaxExempt

We do more than just help you help others; ExpressTaxExempt is dedicated to providing the best and most efficient e-filing experience for tax-exempt organizations.

We help you remain tax-exempt and free from IRS penalties. Create an account or sign in today to handle your nonprofit organization’s tax filing needs.

Sign-Up Today

Read More »

How To Improve Relationships With Donors

Let’s be completely honest, donors are a nonprofit organization’s best friend!

Without donations from philanthropic individuals, businesses, and organizations, it is extremely difficult to effectively carry out the work of your organization.

Forming a good relationship with a donor can benefit your nonprofit organization significantly and allow you to help even more people in your community by connecting with a philanthropist.

Here are 10 ways to improve relationships with a donor:

10 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Improve Donor Relationships

What does it take to establish a good rapport and working relationship with a philanthropist or donor? It has to be more than a nicely written email or monthly newsletter, right?

Several of our clients shared their “secrets to success” when it comes to creating and maintaining a positive nonprofit-to-donor relationship. Being honest, transparent, authentic, trustworthy, and patient are characteristics that go furthest with a potential donor.

Once you have embraced these characteristics it’s time to put them into action. This can be done in 10 ways:

1) Take Risks - GO FOR IT!

2) Maintain open communication

3) Listen & Learn

4) Find common interests and build on them

5) Do a follow-up call or send a nice note after your initial meeting

6) Help promote their company at hosted events or online (social media/website)

7) Be interactive and open to feedback

8) Refrain from being defensive

9) Educate donors of your nonprofit organization

10) Be strategic

Utilize these characteristics and put them into action to help you grow as a nonprofit organization leader but also improve the overall reach and financial support of your beloved organization.

What To Do After You've Gained Donors

Once you’ve built a rapport with the donor(s) that you’ve been looking for, don’t forget to file your annual 990 Forms with ExpressTaxExempt. The last thing we want you to do is to gain a bunch of new donors and then lose your tax exempt status. ExpressTaxExempt will help you remain tax exempt and free from IRS penalties. Create an account or sign in today to handle your nonprofit organization’s tax filing needs.

What are some ways that you have attracted and kept a donor or philanthropist engaged over the years? Comment below so we can add them and share with others 😊.

Read More »

Why Do People Volunteer? Here Are 6 Reasons

Why do people volunteer?

That’s a big question. There are plenty of reasons why, honestly.

As a volunteer, you may identify with these yourself.

As an exempt organization, once you understand your volunteers’ motivations, you can tap into these reasons to better your recruitment!

So what are the reasons people volunteer? Here are just a few!

Personal Tie to the Cause

Basically, if a cause is important to someone, they might volunteer.

Maybe they are a cancer survivor, or are related to one. Maybe they grew up impoverished and want to help kids with disadvantages succeed in school.

Regardless, they want to help. And with this personal tie comes a passion you can’t fake.

For Resume Building

Whether you’re an entry level college grad or a seasoned worker, volunteering helps that resume.

These volunteers may seem dedicated for the “wrong reason” to some, but in the volunteer business you want to accept any helping hand.

And resume building is a legitimate act that leads many to help!

For Leadership

Beyond resume building is leadership training. While this may be a team building exercise, it might also be an entrepreneur looking to use their leadership skill set to do good.

Not only that, some people will learn valuable leadership skills FROM volunteering.

And if you want to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk. And helping a nonprofit in any way is definitely walking the walk.

To Meet People

Sure, it might sound like a strange method for making new friends, but you are likely to find people with similar interests as you if you pick a cause you care about.

And you might be meeting a future collaborator, or your next best friend. Either way, all the more reason to volunteer!

It Feels Good "Doing Good"

Sometimes, it just feels good to do good. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

One of your volunteers might get involved with your exempt organization because they want to feel good. And you should let them know they’re doing good!

Sometimes, the Doing Good crowd will be involved in the smaller gestures, like donating canned food or pledging a dollar as an add-on. But even with small gestures, the do good crowd helps out!

And while some out there cringe at the idea of helping just because you’re “doing good,” it is really the key concept to philanthropy. So we’re not gonna knock it.

Increase Your Self Awareness

And finally, when you put yourself in the role of volunteer, you are able to see things the average person doesn’t. And you increase your self awareness and your understanding of the world.

That has to be reason enough to volunteer, if you ask us.

After you bring in new recruits and key donations, make use of our bulk uploading and multi-user accounts at ExpressTaxExempt. And if you have any questions building up to the May 15th deadline, reach us by phone at 704.839.2321 or by email at Support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

What motivates your volunteers?

Read More »

February 16th Deadline: President's Day

Whether you’re on a calendar year or a fiscal tax year, the 15th day of the 5th month after your financial year ends is deadline day! For those organizations whose tax years ended in September, February 15th is the deadline for your nonprofit organization. But since it is a Federal holiday, the deadline is now February 16th.

Wait, it’s a holiday? Well, yeah, it’s George Washington’s birthday! Since it is recognized as a Federal holiday, the IRS will be closed that day. Of course, some people refer to this holiday as President’s day, but it’s technically known as Washington’s Birthday. Since President Lincoln’s birthday is also close, some groups have expanded the holiday to recognize both presidents. Regardless, your deadline has moved!

While we have no desire to get political over here, we can take a look at how these Commander-in-Chiefs gave back to their communities. What are some of the philanthropic efforts of our former presidents? Most presidents go on to serve their fellow Americans after their terms end. Even in office, some Presidents donated their salaries to charity, including Presidents John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover.

The March of Dimes

Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the March of Dimes, originally as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The annual campaign sought to raise funds to fight polio, which Roosevelt himself had, and became synonymous with the President during his term.

The Carter Center

After leaving the White House, President Jimmy Carter started this charity with his wife. This organization helps to improve the living conditions of people in more than 70 countries. Carter has also supported Declare Yourself, Heifer International, and Habitat for Humanity.

Points of Light

Founded in 1990 as the Points of Light Foundation by President George H. W. Bush, Points of Light aims to inspire, equip, and mobilize citizens and promote the spirit of volunteerism. Points of Light aims to pair volunteers with nonprofits throughout many cities, allowing for a network of giving to operate.

The Clinton Foundation

With his two terms completed, President Clinton set out to still contribute to the world and started the Clinton Foundation. With a mission of decreasing poverty, improving health, and protecting the environment, the Clinton Foundation does this by pairing with governments, businesses, and NGOs. In addition, President Clinton teamed up with President George W. Bush to start the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

Can you take a page from the Presidential handbook and help your fellow Americans? We think you can -- go for it and start your own nonprofit! And when you need to e-file your Form 990, accept the best and file with ExpressTaxExempt! If you have any questions about e-filing, reach us by live chat, phone, or email.

What’s your favorite bit of presidential trivia? Let us know in the comments!

Read More »