Social Media tactics are great tools for Not-for-Profits.  From Linked IN to Facebook, the opportunity to reach millions is waiting. In this presentation I made for the Salvation Army, a popular question came up about how to identify which tools to use and how can time be managed when using these tools?

Here is my simple list on how to develop a social media plan for any organization:

1.) Identify your two or three goals. (If a SM tool doesn’t compliment these goals, don’t do it)

2.) Identify your audience. Find out who they are and where they are conversing.

3.) Pick 2 or 3 tools that will help you reach your goals and your audience. Once you have successfully implemented those tools, then try new ones.

All in all SM efforts should be seen as strategic marketing/branding initiative.  If you don’t want to get caught up in the black hole that SM can be, go in with a clear goal and only do what makes sense.

More questions about eMedia, Social Media or this presentation, contact Jennifer Hertzig.

Businesses aren’t the only organizations that struggle in a dismal economy. Not-for-profit organizations find that in times like these charitable donations are often minimized. “Overall donations are down compared with 2007, and donations of used clothing and furniture to thrift shops have fallen by 20 percent, “  says Maj. George Hood, a Salvation Army spokesman in an interview with Daniel Gross a senior editor at Newsweek.

Giving back doesn’t always mean giving a monetary donation. Time spent volunteering can make just as big of an impact, you may even be able to receive a tax break. If you are a volunteer worker for a charity, you should be aware that your generosity may entitle you to some tax breaks. (more…)

On April 3, Finance Committee member Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced S. 823, the “Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carryback Act,” which would allow businesses of any size to carryback losses incurred in 2008 and 2009 for five years. Senator Snowe said, “While the recently enacted economic stimulus bill included a modest NOL carryback provision to assist smaller firms, this legislation will help any company that has losses from 2008 or 2009 carry back those losses to offset taxes paid in the previous five years when they were profitable. This will go a long way in helping to keep more workers on payroll and stabilize overall operations.” Snowe was referring to the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which allows qualifying small businesses (whose average annual gross receipts in a test period are $15 million or less) to choose a three- four-or five-year net operating loss (NOL) carryback period for certain losses instead of the usual two-year period.  Snowe had previously attempted to establish such a liberal five year carryback for NOLs in the Senate-passed stimulus bill but the provision was cut back in the House-Senate Conference negotiations and instead capped for businesses with gross receipts of $15 million and less.

The bill would also block companies that receive cash from the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) from utilizing this tax incentive.