GreatNonprofits.org -A (Free!) Promotional Tool for Your NPO

by Jennifer L. Shields, CPA, CGFM, Audit Partner

Posted on January 9, 2015

If you are anything like me, you probably receive so many emails on a daily basis that newsletters often get overlooked, are put into a folder or are otherwise marked for follow up when you have time, or the worst of all <gasp> are deleted without being opened.

I cannot say for certain what caused me to open this particular Guidestar newsletter, perhaps I had nothing to do, I could have been waiting for a software program to launch, or maybe a keyword jumped out and caught my eye. Whatever the reason, I learned about a website that I hadn’t heard of before, despite being an active participant in a nonprofit organization. This website, GreatNonProfits (www.GreatNonprofits.org), is a resource for the public to research non-profits by posting reviews, comments and stories from people familiar with these organizations.

Being curious, I went to GreatNonProfits.org and found it the website very user-friendly. I was able to type in the name of the nonprofit that I work with most and read comments that others had left about multiple topics, including interactions with the staff, events that had been attended, and most importantly the benefit of services received. Like you, I am proud of the work that I do with my nonprofit organization, and it was a joy to read the positive effect that our organization has on so many people.

As nonprofit executives and board members, we are always striving to find ways to increase awareness and raise much needed funds to support our missions. The concept of GreatNonprofits is that your current supporters can write reviews about interactions with your organization. A review from someone who has first-hand knowledge can inspire others to donate and volunteer.

At the beginning of a new year, let’s take a moment and remember why we are inspired to do the work we do and share that inspiration with others.