Like former New York mayor Ed Koch, who was famous for his catchphrase, “How’m I doing”, we here at MindEdge and Skye Learning are always looking for feedback from the public.

Comments from our learners, both positive and negative, help us work continuously to improve our courses and certificate programs. And so our question to the public is a simple one: What sort of impact are our courses having on the lives and careers of our learners?

The answer, based on the findings of our first Learner Outcomes survey, appears to be overwhelmingly positive.

Like for-profit businesses, nonprofits range in size from small and medium organizations to very large, well-established organizations. These differences in size affect the way that nonprofits conduct every aspect of their operations, including fundraising, developing volunteer programs, establishing financial processes, and selecting a board of directors.

Regardless of a nonprofit’s size, the board plays an essential role in the organization’s success.

Even with the rise of social media and text messaging, good old-fashioned email remains one of the most effective marketing tools used in the for-profit world—and it continues to play a significant role in nonprofit fundraising, as well. Why? There are many reasons, but arguably the most compelling is cost. In general, it is estimated that it costs about 80 percent less to send a cultivated prospect an email than a printed direct mail package.

For nonprofit organizations, donor acquisition is the necessary foundation for every fundraising program. Two of the most common ways to identify new donors and also to re-engage existing contributors are direct mail and telemarketing.

Perhaps the most effective way to acquire a large number of first-time donors is to solicit their support by mail. Nonprofits use mail solicitation most frequently for annual campaigns. Using direct mail successfully, however, is not easy.

Nonprofit leaders can employ the strategic planning process to keep the organization focused on its mission and goals. Strategic plans can be helpful in anticipating and responding to changes, building consensus within the organization, and keeping the operations of the nonprofit aligned with its mission. For example, leaders can target spending only on those programs and projects that are identified as vital, and they can link fundraising and applications for grants to the nonprofit's strategic vision.

People disagree; it's simply human nature. But learning how to settle disagreements does not come naturally to everyone. 

There are multiple avenues available to people who are seeking to settle a dispute or conflict. According to the American Bar Association, there are 22 different methods of dispute resolution commonly in use. The ABA's number may seem higher than what many other authorities cite because it includes several legal methods and strategies that would typically be grouped together under the single heading of "Sue the Bastards!"

Successful grant writing offers nonprofits a way to attract outside funding, and it also helps to support the organization's vision and goals. Strategic grant writing looks to align identified needs of the nonprofit (and its clients) with funding sources, whether foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individuals. Check out our latest infographic for ten best practices to help you while writing your next grant.

Starting a nonprofit can be a daunting venture, but don’t let the potential negatives overshadow the positives. There can be many social advantages to starting a nonprofit, including providing a service, protection from personal interests, sustainability, volunteer involvement, and invested employees. There are also financial benefits, including tax exemption, grant support, foundation support, and tax deduction for donors. Check out our latest infographic, which goes into more detail about the social and financial benefits of starting a nonprofit.

The most significant difference between nonprofits and for-profit organizations lies in their purpose: nonprofits have a social mission, while for-profits aim to offer products and services that are valuable to consumers and generate revenue. Nonprofits also receive certain tax breaks. Check out these seven key differences between nonprofit and for-profit organizations in our latest infographic.

Anyone trying to navigate today’s job market knows how important it is to stand out from the competition. That’s why defining and developing your own personal brand can be critical to your career success. But personal branding is about more than simple self-promotion, as our latest Skye Learning video explains.