Tonic Magazine Articles
Minutes Made Easy: Tips for Recording Meeting Minutes
Author: Megan Thorn Between governing group meetings, there are always actions for governing group members to work on and meetings of working groups or committees to move things forward. Your board meetings provide the opportunity for trustees to discuss, generate...
Bite-Sized Support: 30 Microvolunteering Tasks
Microvolunteering opportunities are small, quick, low commitment and time-flexible actions which take less than 30 minutes to complete. These micro-tasks can have a huge impact and help to break down the barriers to volunteering, especially for busy volunteers....
“I’d love to give but I don’t have any cash.” Making it easier to donate in a cashless society
This is one of Tonic Magazine's most popular articles of 2022 The trend toward fewer cash transactions was happening well before COVID-19. In 2018 Surf Lifesaving NZ shared that revenue from street appeals had dropped 90% over a 6-year period because people no longer...
Writing A Risk Management Plan
Author: The Exult Team Writing a Risk Management Plan can sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. A Risk Management Plan is simply the process of identifying potential risks and putting in place measures to reduce or remove them altogether. When...
Trustees and Funding: Ensuring your organisation is resourced
Author: Megan Thorn Governance refers to the decisions, processes, activities, and relationships of your governing group that make sure your organisation is effectively and properly run. Your governing group, the board of trustees, the committee, management committee,...
Fundraising Inspiration from Around the World
There are many amazing examples from organisations who have had to get creative with raising funds since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Although we have not all had lockdowns to the same level as some countries around the world, the added layer of lockdowns and...
Opportunities Available to Seek Donations
Third Party Mail Outs Ask a local business to include your donation slip or appeal envelope when they send out their monthly invoices. Local Events Ask to be the ‘official charity’ at a local event. Potentially you have thousands of people, all in a good mood, with...
Inspirational Leadership Quotes You Need to Read
Last updated May 15, 2020 "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson “Before...
20 Professional Development Opportunities
Last updated May 15, 2020 Professional development is important for both you and your team. Here are 20 professional development opportunities you can implement in your organisation: Enrol in formal degree programs, courses or workshops Learn new skills relevant to...
Time Management: Planning Ahead and Prioritizing Tasks
Last updated May 15, 2020 A Simple Tool for Prioritizing Tasks How to use the Eisenhower Matrix (Exult’s Version) (click link) Urgent Not Urgent Important Crisis Zone Important and urgent. Respond as required (but exercise caution to what sits in this space). Impact...
5 Ways to Encourage Commitment and Follow Through
Last updated May 7, 2020 Encouraging commitment and follow-through amongst your team is just as much about you as it is about them (hope that makes sense!). Both you and your team play a role in making sure a task is complete. Here are 5 ways you can encourage...
11 Ways to Stay Motivated
Last updated May 7, 2020 More often than not, it is easy to find the motivation to complete any given task (well, maybe not going for a run … but that’s a different story). It is the ability to stay motivated that many people (including me!) find challenging. Here are...
The Importance of Volunteer Feedback
Last updated May 7, 2020 For many organisations, volunteers are the glue that holds everything together. Staying out of touch with your volunteers may lead to that glue becoming unstuck. One of the best ways to ensure you and your team of volunteers are on the same...
Is Your Organisation Ready For Volunteers?
Last updated May 7, 2020 Volunteers start judging their experience with you from the moment they show an interest in being involved. Before you start looking for volunteers, make sure you have… • A staff culture that truly appreciates the value of volunteers. How have...
Dealing with Difficult Behaviour
Last updated May 5, 2020 Whether it is a member of staff, a trustee or a volunteer - the longer you allow bad behaviour to continue, the harder it is to address. This 4-step process is a great way to have difficult conversations about challenging behaviour. Step 1:...
Running a Great Board Meeting
Last updated April 21, 2020 While there is more to Governance than attending meetings, they are where a great deal of the decision making takes place. As such, well-run meetings are essential for good Governance practice. When chairing a Board meeting, make sure you:...
Top Tips for Getting the Right People on your Board
Last updated April 21, 2020 While there is no magic recipe when it comes to getting the right people on your board, there are a few things you can do to ensure you are on the right track. Complete a Trustee Interest Register Maintaining an Interest Register is a...
40 Tips For Attracting and Retaining Donors
Last updated March 26, 2020 A big part of sustainable funding is donations! Below are a bunch of tips for attracting and retaining donors. Some of them cross over both scenarios, like showing appreciation (always important) and having a clear vision and mission. 20...
So you want to host a fundraising concert?
Last updated February 21, 2020 A brief guide to planning your fundraising concert. Build Your Team Hosting a fundraising concert is no small feat. You will need to gather a team of committed, knowledgeable, enthusiastic people. Assign roles to various people and/or...
So you want to host a fundraising dinner?
Last updated February 7, 2020 Fundraising dinners are a fantastic one-time event that has the potential to raise a lot of funds! However, in order for your dinner to be a success, you need to put in the necessary time and effort. This article briefly outlines the in's...