The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Live Discussions Help

Tuesday, July 8, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Corporate Marketing Deals for Charities

Charities are increasingly arranging marketing deals with companies as a way to raise money and attention. In addition to getting a portion of the sales of a product, charities that enter into these deals often get other benefits.

Companies usually foot the bill for advertising and other promotional efforts for the charities they support, an expense many charities could not otherwise afford. What's more, companies that offer marketing deals to charities often end up sending employees to volunteer for the charity or making outright grants to the organizations.

But these deals also have drawbacks. Nonprofit groups need to make sure they enter into smart partnerships that won't damage their reputations or get lost in the mix of marketing efforts involving other charities.

How can your charity make the most of its corporate marketing partnerships? What are the pitfalls? And what are some examples of deals that are good models for other charities?

A panel of experts will be available to answer these and other questions.

Read a transcript of the discussion.

Previous Discussions

Tuesday, July 1, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Going Green

Many charities are getting serious about taking steps to become more environmentally friendly in their operations--to both protect the planet and save money.

Some are taking steps to reduce waste in their operations and cut down on their energy use. Others are taking more aggressive steps by undertaking "green" building projects.

For many groups, such moves dovetail with their social agendas - and have the added benefit of building good will with grant makers and other donors. What approaches can charities take to become more environmentally friendly? What are the costs of these efforts and how can your charity get access to funding? How should they publicize them to donors and the public? What should they consider before adopting "green" policies?

A panel of experts will be available to answer these and other questions.

Read a transcript of the discussion.

Tuesday, June 24, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

The State of Giving

As the U.S. economy struggles, gas prices rise, and real-estate values drop, nonprofit groups are increasingly feeling the pinch. How are these changes affecting charities, and what do nonprofit leaders need to know about trends in giving?

Experts will be available to take questions about the current giving climate and analyze the trends unveiled in the new edition of Giving USA, the annual tally of U.S. philanthropy, scheduled for release on Monday.

Read a transcript of the discussion.

Tuesday, June 17, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Jumping to the Business World

Nonprofit groups have long been a destination for workers who have grown tired of the grind of working in the business world.

But what about those who make the jump in the opposite direction?

Many workers who have built their careers in the nonprofit world are curious about how they would fare working for a business. They wonder how their skills would translate into an environment where bottom lines matter and dream of what it would be like to earn bigger paychecks and have access to greater resources.

Read a transcript of the discussion.

Tuesday, June 10, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Seeking Big Gifts Online

Charities are increasingly turning to the Internet and e-mail as they seek large donations.

A new Chronicle survey finds that 66 of the nation's most-successful charities are using the Web to solicit major gifts.

What can your organization learn from these efforts? How do you build a successful online campaign? What are some of the dos and don'ts of soliciting large gifts online?

Read a transcript of the discussion.

Tuesday, June 3, at 12 noon, U.S. Eastern time

Making the Most of Volunteers

Volunteers are a vital part of the operations of many charities, providing labor and expertise that the groups would otherwise be unable to afford. In addition, research shows that longtime volunteers are more likely to become significant donors to organizations they support.

Yet many charities fall short when it comes to keeping their volunteers loyal and attracting new people to help their causes. A 2007 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service found that nearly one-third of the 65.4 million adult Americans who volunteered in 2005 did not continue to donate their time in 2006 — an attrition rate that is costing nonprofit groups an estimated $30-billion annually.

What can your organization do to more actively engage volunteers? What are other groups doing to attract volunteers and turn them into longtime supporters? You can pose these questions — and many more — to charity officials who have created successful volunteer programs.

Read a transcript of the discussion.