Visit the Blog for commentary on nonprofit news, topical issues about the nonprofit sector, issues affecting charity benchmarking; financial reporting; impact, efficiency, and effectiveness; recruiting and maintaining talent; and more. 

Charities have many management and administrative needs and often limited resources to fulfill them. Sometimes knowing the right questions to ask or the basics of what is required of you as a nonprofit to meet benchmarks or comply with reporting requirements is half the battle. These resources may help you get started:

The Economic Research Institute offers nonprofit compensation data that provides "benchmarks for compensation planning from the most recent publicly available data," according to its site. This can help nonprofits determine the appropriate compensation for their executives that allows them to remain competitive and attract top talent while also being mindful of limited resources.

BoardSource offers an extensive amount of literature on non-profit governance and best practices. Topics range from adopting by-laws, to understanding board member roles, to handling CEO transitions, to fostering a culture of inquiry and healthy debate among board members. It also offers certification and training programs for non-profit professionals. 

National Association of State Charity Officials is "an association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitation in the United States. The requirements and procedures for forming charitable organizations differ from state to state, as do the registration and filing requirements for organizations that conduct charitable activities or solicit charitable contributions. Please consult the US Charity Offices listed on this website for links to state-specific information."

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) "was founded in 1987 to meet the increasing information needs of nonprofits and to convene nonprofits to address issues facing the sector. It is the largest state association of nonprofits in the U.S. Through MCN, nonprofits join together across interest areas to work on issues of common concern to all." MCN provides resources for nonprofit managers and leaders for professional development, public policy education and civic engagement, research, cost saving product partnerships, and advocacy.