Organizations like nonprofits and academic institutions that rely on donations need to be hyper aware of the importance of due diligence. Screening current and potential donors for political and financial vetting is a crucial step in any donor-funded company, but even the most extensive checks can sometimes have pitfalls. If a team accepts money from an organization or individual that ultimately backfires and garners...
We are already more than halfway through 2023, so if your business isn’t up to date on all the newest trends and shortcuts in the realm of risk mitigation and compliance, suffice it to say you’re falling behind. This year, there is an even greater push on ESG compliance, protection from rising technology like AI and Crypto, and the general need for due diligence to avoid working with sanctioned third parties...
It goes without saying that for nonprofit organizations, fundraising is a massive component of labor. And while anyone can imagine that the organization of galas, coordination of annual drives, and communication with regular donors are all key parts of the job, there are still many aspects that go overlooked—like donor due diligence. In this blog post, we will explore what it means to go beyond recruitment and...
Sanctions are often hot topics of international news reports, especially as they relate to foreign governments and international relations. But, you may not realize that sanctions can be levied to any entity that violates regulations. Sanctions are also important to businesses, and working with those who have been sanctioned can have serious consequences. As such, monitoring and understanding sanction lists is a key...
Alleged compliance breaches have led to combined fines and settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Q2 of 2023. Regulators have taken enforcement action against companies over their activities in jurisdictions spanning four continents. In this blog, we look at some of the most significant regulatory interventions in recent months and suggest how companies should retool their compliance approach to mitigate...
These days, nearly every company must have a social media presence to survive and thrive in this market. The prioritization of digital footprints comes at a high cost, though, as there are plenty of potential errors related to posting content, engaging with consumers, and even simply managing public relations (PR). Fortunately, most of the potential pitfalls for PR and social media crises fall into similar categories...
When you think of fundraising, you probably think of fancy galas, charity 5Ks, or cocktail parties with the board. But in the past ten years, crowdfunding has changed the fundraising game. It’s extremely popular with Gen Z and Millennial donors , who are quickly becoming a majority of the donorbase, by offering transparency and immediate solutions. But nonprofits who’ve traditionally raised money with events...
The Federal Corruptions Policy Act was established to address and end corruption and bribery in US business dealings with foreign officials. The FCPA seeks to keep legitimate businesses from losing contracts to companies engaged in corruption and bribery. The act does not solely speak to first tier businesses—it further requires all businesses have a process of due diligence to assure corruption and bribery is not...
ESG screening, or environmental, social and governance screening, is becoming an increasingly important part of due diligence for companies around the world. Legislation mandating ESG due diligence is being introduced in many countries, and even where it is not yet required, consumers, investors, and employees are demanding ethical practices from companies. Improving ESG due diligence processes is essential for companies...
If you work in the nonprofit sector, you’re probably already familiar with the term “CSR,” or “Corporate Social Responsibility,” which often describes how companies incorporate social and environmental concerns into their business. As SEC regulations change, CSR (which is an internal process) is being replaced by ESG, or “Environmental Social Governance.” This is a framework...
As nonprofit organizations aim to increase their funding and support during a time of economic uncertainty, it is c rucial to pay attention to the emerging donor demographic: Generation Z (better known as Gen-Z) . Gen-Z is the largest generation in the world and is set to have a significant impact on the future of charitable giving, especially as they are known for their active push for change. Like Millennials, Gen...
With the rise of mandatory due diligence legislation, it is no longer sufficient for compliance officers to screen a third party for indicators of bribery and corruption alone. Effective due diligence in the modern business environment should also encompass Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors like a company’s human rights record and environmental impact. More countries have adopted—or are...
Wealth screening is the practice of gathering financial data on potential donors to find hidden wealth and donation opportunities . This is a crucial step in raising funds, as it often helps an organization prioritize and craft more effective outreach strategies. All of that important data is hard to find unless you’re working with a third-party vendor, though. Not only do wealth screening tools offer large databases...
Undoubtedly, COVID-19 significantly catalyzed a technological shift at universities worldwide. Today, academia and education are undergoing one of their most substantial transformations. Millions of students, tutors, and professors have had to adapt to online classes to continue their research and studies. Nevertheless, research suggests technological transformation was already underway in academia before the global...
When most people think about nonprofits, they’re thinking about social or human services nonprofits—food banks, shelters, family services and other organizations that help meet basic human needs and build a more equitable society. While some are large and well-funded, many are so consumed by their daily responsibilities that raising awareness and donations becomes a second thought. How can you research donors...
Initiatives related to Environmental Social Governance (ESG) have grown in popularity over the last few decades. Businesses are now making it a point to become more sustainable, and they are doing that in very public ways. According to our research, 88% of publicly traded companies had ESG programs in 2022, as did 67% of privately owned businesses. This number is expected to continue growing, and growing with it is...
The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing us today. Rising CO2 levels, melting ice caps and deforestation threaten humans and wildlife. And with each passing year, the threat grows. If you’re fundraising for an environmental nonprofit, there is no more relevant and pressing need. But how do you find and retain donors when there are thousands of environmental nonprofits out there? How do you present...
For decades, consumers have steadily increased their prioritization of buying goods from companies that value human rights and environmental sustainability—this includes every step of the supply chain. Ethically sourced food involves a wide range of sustainability initiatives, from responsible packaging and energy efficient transportation to environmentally sustainable growth practices and efficient returns management...
When it comes to fundraising, nonprofits and academic institutions often have the uphill battle of finding where to apply their efforts. No business wants to waste time and resources hosting a donor event or even dispersing newsletters to people totally uninterested in helping their efforts. Once the interested populations are identified, there is then the process of figuring out the potential amount that could even...
Fundraising for a nonprofit healthcare organization should be easy. What nobler cause is there than fighting childhood cancer? Who wouldn’t want to donate to the Red Cross or the American Heart Association? Isn’t curing debilitating diseases a goal everyone wants to support? Of course it is. And yet, when you work in healthcare fundraising, raising awareness for your cause can prove challenging, especially...
Consumer attitudes have shifted dramatically since the onset of the pandemic, bringing a striking increase in their desire for transparency in supply chain ethics. From the consumer level to the statutory level, there is a greater focus on ensuring these laws are enforced and embraced across the whole of the supply chain: from farm to fork. In 2021, a global study found that 78 percent of consumers prioritize buying...
A multinational telecommunications company has pleaded guilty to breaching the anti-bribery provisions of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and must pay a $206 million penalty. In this blog, we look at the judgement by the US Department of Justice, and highlight the legal, financial, reputational and strategic risks of a compliance failure. We also outline how Nexis® Solutions can help companies to improve their...
There are significant advantages to fundraising for higher education, whether it be for a distinguished university or a small, rural college. These institutions have an extensive network of prospective donors who already have a relationship with the school, either as current or former students. But with so much competition for their time and attention, how do you find alumni and engage them in a meaningful way? And how...
When you work at an arts nonprofit, it might feel like you’ve landed your dream job. Your days are spent doing something you love with people who are equally passionate about the cause. While your profession is intensely creative and rewarding, keeping the organization financially solvent (and thriving) might sometimes prove challenging. Meeting your fundraising goals year after year can turn into an all-consuming...
Once your work is live in the wild, that doesn’t mean the job is done. Modern PR campaigns are living, breathing things, with feedback incoming from a range of sources. And much like trees need sunlight, air and water to grow, your campaign needs data, analysis and refinement in order to flourish. These efforts should go far beyond old-school media monitoring, correlating media coverage with key business outcomes...