GuideStar ‘Impact Call’ Mirrors Business Practice for Sharing Results

Taking a page from private companies’ periodic “earnings calls” teleconferences to share their financial results, nonprofit data clearinghouse GuideStar recently hosted an “impact call” to tout its 2013 performance, writes The Washington Post.

GuideStar, which publishes the financial reports of nearly 2 million nonprofit groups, highlighted increases in its document postings and consultation calls with charities as well as gains in Web traffic and social-media followers. More than 400 people logged on to the call, which GuideStar said it would repeat in May.

Other nonprofits such as Root Capital and the One Acre Fund, which help finance businesses and farmers in Africa, also do “earnings call”-style sessions. “It’s important [for organizations] to be clear about the linkages between strategic goals, financial results, and social outcomes and have the confidence to talk about them,” said Rebecca Thomas, vice president of consulting group the Nonprofit Finance Fund.