Jacob Harold, president & CEO of GuideStar, speaks on Scaffolding for Social Change
The morning may have been cold, but the conversation was hot as 120 nonprofit professionals gathered for the first program in the 501(c) Success National Speaker Series featuring Jacob Harold, president & CEO of GuideStar. As the leader of an organization considered by many to be the nation’s expert in collecting and disseminating nonprofit information, Jacob discussed the importance of using data to build a strong foundation for the philanthropic sector.
In a society where everyone has the world at their fingertips, donors are demanding more information from their charities, with an emphasis on transparency. Much of the current donor demographic is motivated by impact, and nonprofits share this impact by collecting and distributing data.
However, Jacob warns nonprofits not to solely report on the 990 or standard financial pie-chart. Instead he encourages nonprofits to debunk The Overhead Myth by providing a wide scope of data so that donors aren’t just making subjective decisions based on a snapshot of financials. Jacob stresses that nonprofits deserve to be judged on more than their percentage of overhead, but donors also deserve to know more. It is important to work with all kinds of information, including quantitative and qualitative as well as prospective and retrospective. He recommends not just sharing what the issue is and what programs an organization offers, but explain how those programs directly address the issue.
Jacob stressed that focusing on data to support philanthropic decisions doesn’t take the emotion out of giving, but rather provides an opportunity for stronger impact. By revolutionizing the way we collect, analyze and distribute information, nonprofits build a much stronger foundation, or scaffold, for donors to stand on when making the decision on where to give.
501(c) Success National Speaker Series brings prominent thought leaders to Kansas City to discuss latest sector research and trends. Over the course of the year, four nationally recognized experts address cutting-edge issues, explore best practices and provide critical insights for increased positive social impact. This is an outstanding opportunity for the Kansas City community to meet and engage with exceptional nonprofit leaders right here in our own backyard.
Nonprofit Connect would like to thank Jeffery Byrne & Associates, Inc. and U.S. Trust for their sponsorship of the 501(c)Success National Speaker Series.
Save the Date
501(c) Success Speaker Series Program
First Look: Giving USA for 2013
Featuring Patrick M. Rooney, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University
June 19, 2014 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
