Companies operating in today’s global business environment must navigate ever-strengthening anti-bribery and corruption regulations. Some of the most significant recent enforcement actions against companies arose from alleged due diligence failures, leading to fines, legal action, strategic risks and reputational damage. Meanwhile, there are growing expectations around companies’ understanding of their Environmental...
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...
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in a multitude of ways. It’s no secret that we are no longer living in the same society that existed in 2019. Because of the events of the last few years, we are now dealing with things like growing inflation, industry-agnostic mass layoffs , and a massive increases in remote offices. That last point is unique in that it’s something people are often rooting for, as employees...
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...
Change management is a crucial, yet daunting, part of a company’s life cycle. Whether it’s in response to exciting growth or disappointing pitfalls, adaptation is often necessary when it comes to moving forward, and the need to adapt is only increasing as the marketplace becomes more unpredictable. Change management is especially important when it comes to research. Research teams are often shifting their...
While the ability to multitask can seem like a positive skill, there is a lot of research into the actual downsides of having too much on one’s plate at once. The act of “ task switching ,” or moving in between two separate tasks, often results in lost time and focus, making it an impediment to productivity. This is particularly the case in research, when employees shift between searching and archiving...
In the three years since the corporate world shifted to a remote-forward work culture, employees have been able to see into the lives of their coworkers. With video conferencing, people can view someone’s living room, their family walking around in the background and, most importantly, the way their browser looks when they share a screen. So, it’s safe to say that everyone knows by now that there’s always...
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 workforce has changed a lot over the last few years. Many factors have forced companies to change their old practices: hybrid and long-term remote work options, ongoing recession fears, and inflation are just a few motivators toward large overall shifts. That means optimizing workflow — a process which removes hurdles and streamlines daily work to ultimately lower the cost of operations—is more important...
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...
Creating a Workflow process is one of the best ways businesses can keep up with the changing landscape of office life. Workflows are being implemented across industries for good reason; according to a study by Gartner , automated workflows increase productivity, reduce errors and lead to overall lower operational costs for businesses. They make employees’ lives simpler and improve the customer service experience...
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...
Workflow management software is becoming increasingly popular across industries. Research conducted by the Market Research Future concluded that the market for Workflow Management Systems is worth over $55 billion and will grow 30.5% between 2020 and 2030, and that growth makes it an absolute necessity for today’s businesses, no matter the industry. But what is business workflow? The automation of business practices...
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...