Perpetual Innovation

Tag: nonprofits

  • Grants Checklist by State for Nonprofits

    Grants Checklist by State for Nonprofits

    NonprofitPlan.org offers a detailed checklist for nonprofits seeking grant funding, ensuring that organizations are fully prepared for their state and federal grant applications. This guide outlines essential requirements such as legal compliance, governance, financial management, and program development. Key elements include mandatory state incorporation, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and maintaining good standing with the state. Nonprofits must also provide detailed project proposals, financial statements, and evidence of past performance to demonstrate their stability and impact.

    Originally designed for Florida (attached), this checklist can be easily customized for any state, providing a flexible framework for nonprofits nationwide. The checklist emphasizes the importance of mission alignment, sound financial practices, and effective relationship-building with grantmakers. By following this structured approach, nonprofits can enhance their readiness for grant applications, increase their chances of success, and ultimately better serve their communities. NonprofitPlan.org’s guide empowers organizations with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the complex grant application process efficiently and effectively.

    Additionally, this document is produced as part of Strategic Business Planning Company’s Regenerative Dynamic AI Project. This project leverages advanced AI tools to help nonprofits dynamically review, rebuild, and recreate their checklists and strategic plans as needed, when needed, with the available GenAI engines. By incorporating regenerative AI capabilities, nonprofits can stay agile and responsive to changing requirements and opportunities, ensuring sustained impact and success.

    Visit the Blog post related to Funding from Grants, Foundations etc. that includes database and search sources.

    #Fundraising #Grants #Foundations #Nonprofits #Charities #GrantWriter #Checklists #RegenerativeAI #RDAI #RegenerativeDynamicAI

    RequirementsAndPrep4GrantsFla-Consolidated Page 1 – v2Download
  • Delphi AI: Homelessness Research

    Delphi AI: Homelessness Research

    These are the prompts used to gather information about homelessness and to develop a Delphi Method study to research causes and possible interventions (locally).  This is part of our Regenerative AI project; recreate as needed, when needed, with the GenAI engines available to you at that time.

    Select GenAI results as of April 2024 of Delphi Research on Homelessness (from ChatGPT 4.0, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot) are available in this pdf document.

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  • Funding: Grants from Foundations, Gov and More

    Funding: Grants from Foundations, Gov and More

    All nonprofits need to be able to apply for grants. There are a few good sites that consolidate grant information and allow for searching to find the best potential sources for your charity.

    Before jumping into the grant search process, make sure that all your promotional materials and “trade dress” are in top shape. Your web site, letter head, social media sites (and handles) all need to be organized and ready. Your vision and mission will be prominently available and key brochures/flyers creates. You will want to have a tight budget on specific projects you would like to get funding for. It is usually easier to get money for a specific project like expansion of our tutoring program into a new neighborhood. Look at the checklists and Self-Assessment in Hall & Hinkelman’s (2022) Nonprofit Planning book.

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  • Gemini: OpenAI as a For Profit + Nonprofit Hybrid Model

    Gemini: OpenAI as a For Profit + Nonprofit Hybrid Model

     

    Me: Write an article about OpenAI and the decision to switch from a nonprofit to for-profit. Mention Microsoft.
    NOTE: The attempt for a info graphic at the bottom. Finally used ChatGPT to get the infographic on this article (with intentional errors). Also, look at a similar post using OpenAI’s ChatGPT; which one do you like better?

    Gemini (Google, 2024, Feb 29)

    OpenAI’s Transformation: Balancing Profit and Purpose in the Race for AI

    OpenAI, a research organization aiming to develop safe and beneficial Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), has taken a unique path in its quest. Founded in 2015 as a non-profit, it aimed to ensure transparency and ethical development in the potentially transformative field of AGI. However, in 2019, they announced a major shift, establishing a “capped-profit” structure through OpenAI LP, a for-profit subsidiary. This decision, particularly considering their initial non-profit status, sparked discussions and raised questions about the organization’s future direction.

    The primary motivation behind this move was the need for increased resources. Researching and developing AGI requires immense computing power, talent acquisition, and ongoing operational costs. As a non-profit, OpenAI faced limitations in fundraising, potentially hindering its progress. The for-profit structure allowed them to tap into traditional investment opportunities and attract talent through competitive compensation packages, fueling their research efforts.

    Microsoft played a crucial role in enabling this transformation. In 2019, they invested $1 billion in OpenAI Global, the for-profit subsidiary, providing them with significant financial backing. This partnership not only provided capital but also access to Microsoft’s robust Azure cloud platform, crucial for the immense computational power required for advanced AI research.

    While the switch to a “capped-profit” model addressed resource concerns, it also raised concerns about profit becoming the central focus, potentially compromising OpenAI’s commitment to its original mission of safe and beneficial AGI. To address these concerns, OpenAI implemented safeguards. The “capped-profit” structure limits the financial returns for investors and employees, ensuring that profit maximization isn’t the sole driving force. Additionally, OpenAI maintains its non-profit arm, which continues to focus on research for the public good and acts as a check and balance against the for-profit arm.

    OpenAI’s journey highlights the complex challenges in navigating the ethical and financial demands of cutting-edge research, particularly in a field as promising and potentially disruptive as AGI. Their unique “capped-profit” model represents an attempt to bridge the gap between securing resources and upholding their mission of responsible AI development. Only time will tell whether this novel approach will be successful in achieving both its goals, but it has undoubtedly sparked important discussions about the future of AI research and the role of profit in shaping innovation.

    Me: Create a graphic for this article.

    Infographic for: OpenAI’s Transformation: Balancing Profit and Purpose in the Race for AI

    Central Image:

    • A scale balancing on a fulcrum, with one side labeled “Profit” and the other labeled “Purpose.”
    • On the “Profit” side, place a money bag icon.
    • On the “Purpose” side, place a brain icon.

    Left Side:

    • Title: OpenAI’s Transformation
    • Subtitle: Balancing Profit and Purpose in the Race for AI

    Right Side:

    • Non-Profit (2015):
      • Limited resources for research
      • Transparency and ethics focus
    • Capped-Profit (2019):
      • Increased resources through Microsoft investment
      • Access to advanced computing power
      • Safeguards to maintain ethical focus

    Bottom Section:

    • Key Takeaway: OpenAI’s unique model highlights the challenges of balancing resources and ethics in AI research.
    • OpenAI Logo

    You:  Create an infographic for this article. (ChatGPT)

    NOTE: This is the cover graphic using ChatGPT DALL-E. Note that it many spelling errors inside the graphic, assuring that everyone can tell it is computer, not human, generated.

    ChatGPT 4.0 . The infographic titled “The Evolution of OpenAI: From Nonprofit to Microsoft Partnership” has been created to visually summarize the article’s key points, including OpenAI’s founding, its transition to a for-profit entity, and the significant partnership with Microsoft. It features a timeline of milestones, illustrations of each phase of OpenAI’s evolution, and a vision of the future of AI collaboration and innovation.

  • Donor: Giving Tuesday

    Donor: Giving Tuesday

    It is giving season, with Giving Tuesday after the long Thanksgiving weekend. Now is the best time of the year to reach into your coffers and give to your favorite charities. Also consider that donations can help reduce your taxes.  GivingTuesday.org  #GivingTuesday

    GivingTuesday.org is an “open source” environment to encourage giving and the philanthropic ecosystem. Find resources for individuals and nonprofits here: https://www.givingtuesday.org/participate/

    As you consider what charities to support, remember to give a quick review with the assessment organizations to make sure that no issues are surfacing with your favorite charities. Also, consider if there may be better charities to support while you are at it. (Local/small charities require a little different approach.)

    Assessment Organizations for Large Nonprofits

    The assessment organizations help people review and evaluate large(r) charities. CharityNavigator is always a good place to start. (See NonprofitPlan.org/links-resources/, also repeated below.)

    Smaller Nonprofits and Local Charities

    Smaller charities will not be reviewed by the assessment organizations, but they still should be reviewed every year before giving. If the local charities is a regional/local chapter of a large charity (often called a Non-Governmental Organization, NGO), then check out the parent first; but realize that the parent will typically do different things than local orgs which do the real work of the charitable concept.

    Maybe a quick Google search? Check to see if they have ratings on social media, etc. Review their web site for donor information. Check to make sure they are in compliance; that they have been filing with the IRS (informational 990 tax returns). You might actually look at the latest tax filing to see if there are any red flags. If the charity provides financial information, get financial and impact information from the website and brochures. (The IRS information is behind, and the 990 forms are hard to read.)

    Best practices for charities are to provide transparency, financial information, impact metrics and privacy policies. This information should be readily available to donors and volunteers one their website and donation materials.

    Impact. And, as always, how impactful do you believe this charity is? And how does this charity match with your personal passion for giving?

    And Then Give…

    Okay. I’m sorry. The spontaneity of the giving – and joy derived from giving – has been interrupted. Ideally, the review process of charities for donations (time & money) should be done at a time during the year when you get the best information (about them) and have plenty of time to review. Remember that donors are essentially the investors in the world of nonprofits. The best causes, and the best charities within those causes, should thrive.

    Giving is part science, and part art. Giving will be better as we all become more informed, plus it elevates the entire philanthropic ecosystem.

    Virtuous Giving Cycle. Consider giving where you will create, or perpetuate, a virtuous cycle. As it pertains to youth, for example; a little help early with health, wellness, or education might create a lifetime of benefit for the kids… and for the community… and for the economy. Possibly, pay-it-forward giving. I’ll help you build your house this year… you help someone else build their house next year. A parable, with a little modification, is:

    Give a kid to fish, feed the kid for a day; teach a kid to fish, feed the adult (and family) for a lifetime.

    Check out Hall & Hinkelman’s book on Nonprofit Planning and Impactful Giving for more on fundraising and philanthropic ecosystems.

    #GivingTuesday #PhilanthropicEcosystem #TheArtOfGiving #GiveForward #PayItForward #PerpetualInnovation #VirtuousCycle

    Hall, E. B. & Hinkelman, R. M. (2022). Perpetual Innovation™: Strategic planning for nonprofits and the art of impactful giving: the gift of giving, the art of caring. ISBN: ‎ 979-8842614615
    Retrieved from: Amazon.com/dp/B0BF8MB13X (Available on Kindle eBook as well.)

    Assessment Organizations

    The assessment organizations help people review and evaluate large(r) charities. CharityNavigator is always a good place to start. (See NonprofitPlan.org/links-resources/, also repeated.)

    • CharityNavigator.org ranks charities within categories. This is the most important site for someone considering which causes to select for charitable giving. Ranks larger Nonprofits. Encompass® rating to rate governance and transparency on impact. Great starting point.
    • CharityWatch.org rates many bigger nonprofit organizations. Great starting point.
    • GuideStar.org does a deeper dive into the non-profit, reporting, officers and programs. Large organizations including many in US and UK. Good starting point. (Candid is the umbrella organization for the Foundation Center and GuideStar, offering more than 88 years of service related to nonprofits.)
    • Give.org, by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, provides a Better Business Bureau type of list Nonprofit organizations. It also provides a BBB-type of environment for reviews and complaints. (As with BBB, use this customer complaint feature carefully. A very large national or international organization might have thousands of complaints but only a tiny fraction of all customers served.)
    • IRS.gov has a searchable database of charities that qualify for charitable tax deductions. Since most people like the added benefit of a tax deduction from their charitable giving, Non-Profits must remain vigilant in maintaining their tax-exempt status as well as their qualifications as a charitable organization. (But, remember, the IRS filings are always a year or more behind. This year’s tax forms are for last year, and organizations can defer filing for months. The IRS takes time, usually 3-years, before removing an organizations tax-exempt status for non-filing. Smaller orgs don’t have to provide as much information.)
    • Canada. Charity Intelligence (Ci) Canada: https://www.charityintelligence.ca
      (Wikipedia on Charity Intelligence Canada.)
    • Charity Commission of England & Wales (register and information): https://www.gov.uk/charity-commission
    • United Kingdom Charities: GuideStar.org (Candid) UK (and other countries)
    • An overview article of Charity Assessment organizations on Wikipedia (current article, no editorial issues).