Finance

11 Best Small Business Insurance Companies for 2026
Clear/concise writing is an important component of the government grants proposal development process. But, as John C. Lauderdale – the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Government Contracts (2009) – points out, there are some tried and true maxims that you should follow to write well. Two of those maxims are: Proposal quality …
Forming an LLC is a smart move to shield your personal assets from business liabilities, but that protection only holds if you keep your finances separate. One of the first and most important steps? Opening a dedicated business bank account. The choices you make early on can have a lasting impact on your business, and …
Tennessee’s vibrant mix of urban centers like Nashville and Memphis, historic small towns, and scenic rural communities means residents need banking solutions as diverse as their lifestyles. Whether you’re a music industry professional, a college student in Knoxville, a retiree in the Smoky Mountains, or a small business owner in Chattanooga, your bank should offer …

More in Finance

Leadership is the key factor in any capital campaign – leadership that energizes the process from its onset. So, to start a campaign, the first donors must be Board Members. These individuals must set an example with their level of giving so they have the credibility/leverage to solicit the other Board Members and so they …
It’s important to understand that, for many nonprofits, the benefits of conducting a successful capital campaign often extend beyond merely raising a specific amount of money. Of course, the purpose of the campaign is to raise the dollars, but an effective/successful campaign will also have a number of very worthwhile side benefits: • The more …
I received an email the other day, from a fellow who identified himself as someone with a sales and marketing background whose company was recently sold. He indicated that he had been approached about taking a development position at a local educational institution, and asked if there is a primer for the fundraising development arena. …
Keeping in mind that only about 5% of all non-governmental giving to nonprofits comes from corporation solicitation programs, you’ll want to use your time and resources cost-effectively. That means not trying to get funding from every corporation that comes to mind. So, first, make a (wish) list of all those corporations, and then gather the …
In considering the creation of a corporate solicitation program (a CSP), the first questions I’d ask of a nonprofit is whether they realize that only five-percent of all “charitable” giving to nonprofits comes from corporations, and (considering “return-on-investment”) how much of their time, energy and assets do they want to dedicate to this effort? Whether …
A thread in a listserve in which I participate addressed the question(s) of Creating-and-Implementing and Finding-and-Compensating a Consultant to help with a Corporation Solicitation Programs. Interestingly, the latter issue stimulated most of the responses/comments, with little attention being paid to the former. So, I’ll address the “more popular” issue first – compensating the “consultant” … …
There is a simple, but not simplistic, description of what major gift fundraising is all about: It’s having the right person, asking the right person, for the right amount, at the right time, under the right circumstances. The two right people are the cultivator/solicitor and the prospective donor. They’ve developed a common interest, a relationship …