It’s no secret that volunteers form the backbone of many nonprofits. While the need for nonprofit volunteers remains a constant, the expectations of those volunteers have significantly evolved.
In the past, many nonprofits focused on encouraging donations or bringing in volunteers to serve as the labor needed to pull off big events. But today’s volunteer – whether they’re new to the workforce and just starting their career or a seasoned professional looking to add meaning to their retirement – is often looking for more.
New volunteers are interested in more flexible project-based options. They’re driven by values. And they expect digital connections.
How can your nonprofit deliver emotional fulfillment and career opportunities for new volunteers?
In today’s world, volunteers want to participate on their terms. They’re looking for options such as:
It doesn’t matter whether a volunteer is a Millennial, Gen Z, or even a recently retired professional. In general, they’re all looking for ways they can help make the world a better place.
Reconsidering how your organization structures volunteer opportunities and communicates with these valued team members can give your group the advantage of retaining more volunteers, instead of treading water through constant rounds of volunteer recruitment.
How can your nonprofit meet new volunteers where they are now?
Reworking your organization’s volunteer opportunities to better align with the goals of new volunteers is a smart first move. The next step is letting potential volunteers know about the opportunities available through your nonprofit. That means proactively meeting people where they are now.
This might be an ideal opportunity for a volunteer with a marketing background. They could develop copy and graphics in advance, which your staff would then approve and post. This gives the volunteer a compelling position that aligns with their skills and helps remove some of the workload from staff members.
Their first-hand experience can bring new insights to your nonprofit. At the same time, they might grow to become key members of your organization because they’ll have the empathy that comes from living through the challenges your nonprofit wants to solve.
Encourage established volunteers to bring family members to events where they can see how the volunteer makes a difference to your organization. Consider building “Next Generation” volunteer opportunities, which might allow younger volunteers (or even parents of volunteers) to work together on smaller projects or events.
Think of creative ways your nonprofit could offer one-day volunteer sessions, which might double as corporate team-building events. Be sure to request names and contact information of these volunteers to send them a special thank you for their time, and then to invite them to participate in future volunteer opportunities. Once they’ve given time to your organization, these volunteers may be significantly more likely to become ongoing members of your volunteer team.
Customizing your volunteer experience to the goals of today’s volunteer can be a smart strategy to help your nonprofit build a stable team of enthusiastic volunteers who are dedicated to executing your mission. At the same time, flexible volunteer options that help people feel like they’re making a genuine difference can also help your nonprofit attract today’s new volunteer.
If you’d like more ideas on how your organization can build an effective onboarding program for new volunteers, take advantage of HR Workplace powered by Mineral. It’s free for 60 days and gives your nonprofit full access to a wide range of tools to help get your new volunteers off to a great start.
NOTE: The link above would go to HR Workplace page at: https://www.chooseust.org/ust-hr-workplace/
SOURCES:
“20 Strategies For Recruiting The Next Generation Of Nonprofit Volunteers,” forbes.com, 6/11/24
“17 Effective Volunteer Recruitment Strategies,” VolunteerHub.com, 8/16/24
The nonprofit sector has always been fueled by people—passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, and community champions who show up to make a difference. Yet many nonprofits are struggling to keep those people motivated and engaged amid ongoing political upheaval. Making the situation even more complex? Burnout is on the rise, workforce shortages continue to strain capacity, volunteerism is declining and growing financial pressures from funding cuts.
Reduced AmeriCorps allocations and tightened grant opportunities are forcing many nonprofits to do more with less. For nonprofit employees, this often translates into heavier workloads, fewer resources, and uncertainty about job security. For volunteers, it can mean fewer support systems or structured roles. These financial realities are reshaping how nonprofits think about the future of work, pushing them to explore new models of retention, engagement, and sustainability—even with fewer resources.
Another major concern for nonprofits is turnover… it’s costly for any organization, but for nonprofit organizations, the stakes are even higher. When a nonprofit loses a skilled employee, it’s not just a matter of lost productivity and the costs associated with it. It can disrupt critical programs, weaken relationships with donors and community partners, and dilute institutional knowledge gained over the years. Not to mention that turnover can directly impact a nonprofit’s ability to deliver on its mission.
While all of these financial pressures make it harder to deliver programs, nonprofits across the country are working to ensure consistent, high-quality service and sustainable growth. Now is the time to rethink how your nonprofit structures work, retains talent, and engages supporters to sustain its mission.
Looking Ahead
The future of nonprofit work isn’t about returning to the “old normal.” It’s about building systems that sustain both people and missions in an era of financial uncertainty. As nonprofits continue adapting to these new challenges, many are looking for opportunities to strengthen their teams and reimage how work gets done. Hybrid and flexible work models can help organizations do more with less—offering employees the autonomy they need to balance demanding workloads while staying connected to their mission. At the same time, upskilling allows valuable employees the opportunity to develop current skill sets so they can continue to advance within the organization. And while volunteer engagement is also evolving, organizations who haven’t already, can introduce virtual or skills-based opportunities that allow people to contribute their time and expertise in other meaningful ways.
By embracing innovation and prioritizing their people, nonprofits can build more resilient, adaptive workplaces—ready to meet both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities.
Doing More with Less: Hybrid Work
Hybrid models allow organizations to expand their talent pool, reduce turnover, and offer employees a healthier work–life balance—all critical benefits when budgets are tight.
In fact, while some nonprofits have returned to fully in-person operations, it might be worth reconsidering whether a hybrid approach could better serve both their budgets—and their teams. Amid ongoing funding cuts, hybrid work becomes more than just a convenience—it’s a strategic tool for sustainability. Organizations can reduce overhead costs like rent, utilities, and office supplies, freeing up funds for mission-critical programs and services. And, while limited funding can make it challenging to invest in the technology, training, and infrastructure needed to support hybrid work, forward-thinking nonprofits are finding creative solutions to make it possible—such as leveraging low-cost collaboration tools or forming partnerships to share resources.
By reducing reliance on in-person placements and embracing flexible hybrid solutions, nonprofits can continue to support staff and volunteers through uncertainty while continuing to deliver critical programs and driving long-term impact.
Upskilling and Career Growth
Though professional development is often the first line item cut when funding is uncertain, some organizations are tackling this by tapping into free learning platforms, peer-to-peer mentorships, or collaborative training programs with other nonprofits.
With funding cuts impacting the size of the nonprofit workforce, retaining top performers is more important than ever. It’s not just about keeping those people in place—it’s about helping them grow. Nonprofits that provide professional development opportunities are better positioned to retain staff for the long term. Upskilling opportunities—whether through management training, digital literacy programs, or cross-departmental learning—can increase program efficiency, fill critical skill gaps without adding new positions, and boost morale.
Upskilling doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to be intentional. Prioritizing learning and growth, even in small ways, can transform how employees see their role within the mission—turning everyday challenges into opportunities for innovation, engagement, and long-term sustainability.
The New Volunteer Model
Volunteerism is also evolving but nonprofits can continue advancing their mission by adjusting their approach to what the typical volunteer opportunity looks like. Many people can’t commit in the same way but they still want to contribute. In 2026, nonprofits can experiment with:
It’s true that funding cuts reduce the ability to invest in volunteer coordinators and support programs, which risks making it even harder to keep volunteers engaged. The organizations that will succeed are those that adjust and recognize the volunteer role as vital to sustainability and prioritize engagement—even with lean resources. Next year try tracking volunteer contributions to demonstrate program capacity and attract additional supporters or even more funding partners.
While funding cuts will continue to impact staffing, training, and volunteer support—they’re also pushing nonprofits to be innovative in how they work, lead, and engage communities.
By embracing hybrid models, investing in growth, and reimagining volunteer engagement, nonprofits can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for resilience. The sector’s greatest asset will always be its people. And with the right strategies in place, nonprofits can find balance—ensuring staff and volunteers remain inspired to create impact in the communities that need it most.
UST Workforce Solutions supports over 2,200 nonprofits just like yours. To learn more about UST’s HR and savings solutions, complete your no-obligation savings analysis today.
Question: Are we permitted to ask applicants about their immigration status?
Answer: No, you shouldn’t ask applicants about their immigration status—for example, whether they are a citizen, naturalized citizen, lawful permanent resident, or refugee. Asking about applicants’ immigration status (or any protected class) could lead to discrimination claims in the following ways:
You are allowed to ask questions about an applicant’s lawful ability to work in the United States or their potential need for sponsorship. For example, you could ask, “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?” or “Do you now or will you in the future require employer sponsorship?”.
If you ask either of these questions, do so for all candidates and not just for those you suspect might need visa sponsorship or who may not be obviously eligible to work in the United States. You can add these questions to your job application or screening questions to ensure consistency.
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
This Q&A was provided by Mineral, powering the UST HR Workplace. Have HR questions? Sign your nonprofit up for a FREE 60-day trial here. As a UST member, simply log into your Mineral portal to access live HR certified consultants, 300+ on-demand training courses, an extensive compliance library, and more.
Today’s nonprofits face significant levels of turmoil:
Yet now … during this time of crisis … is exactly when nonprofits should prioritize innovative solutions such as working with UST to help put their organization on more firm financial footing.
Unemployment Claims Can Be A Significant Liability For Nonprofits
Many nonprofit groups fund unemployment claims by paying into their state’s unemployment insurance system. But participating in that pool often means a nonprofit with a steady employment record may be subsidizing the higher unemployment claim experience of businesses with higher levels of employee turnover.
Instead, nonprofits could work with UST Workforce Solutions by taking advantage of the 501c3 unemployment tax alternative. Choosing that solution means the group would be responsible only for the direct costs of their own unemployment claims.
The financial difference can be substantial. Recent research placed the cost of the average unemployment claim in the U.S. at $7,070. But nonprofits working with UST averaged only $4,700 per claim during the same time period.
Continued Savings By Paying Lower Amounts For Your Nonprofit’s Claims
Especially in turbulent times, uncovering significant savings can be important for nonprofits. But working with UST isn’t just about one-time savings. Take the issue of benefit overpayment within the state pools as an example.
From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 13.97% of state unemployment fund claims were paid in error. What was the result? Companies overpaid $4,715,000,000 in unemployment claims.
Unfortunately, the impact of unemployment claims isn’t just an issue for big corporations. Nonprofits shoulder a big portion of these costs.
In 2024 alone, UST worked with 89 nonprofits to audit their unique unemployment liability situations. The result was $1,921,886 in potential savings across those 89 organizations. That’s an average of $21,594 savings for each group.
Another key to ongoing savings is the expertise available to each UST member. It’s common sense that not all unemployment claims are valid. In fact, some experts point to nationwide “protestable” claim rates as high as 43%.
But where do you turn if you want to protest a former employee’s unemployment claim? After all, most nonprofit staff wear many hats. But “unemployment claim expert” usually isn’t one of them.
As a member of UST, you’re assigned a state-specific claims representative for each claim. These experts are well-versed in the latest unemployment laws and claims filing protocols. This knowledge brings results because UST program participants win 86% of their protestable unemployment claims.
The combination of unemployment claim savings and expertise has helped more than 2,200 nonprofits take better control of the cost of their unemployment claims. Take a look at the case study featuring a summer camp with many seasonal employees to learn more about the advantages.
Unemployment Reserve Funds Can Become An Asset For Your Nonprofit
If your nonprofit doesn’t pay into your state’s unemployment insurance fund, where does the money come from if you need to pay a claim? UST makes it easy by helping your group build an unemployment reserve fund.
With more than 40 years of experience in helping nonprofits strategically cut costs on their unemployment claims, UST understands how to set up unemployment reserves so organizations don’t run into challenges when they switch over to their program.
Because groups are building reserves based on their unemployment history – rather than the potentially higher unemployment track records of other companies – the money needed to fund these reserves is generally much lower than the nonprofit would pay into their state unemployment fund each year.
Then, as time goes on and a nonprofit successfully manages their unemployment claims, that reserve fund continues to grow. Eventually, many groups find that their unemployment reserves need only modest contributions each year. This saves the nonprofit money by significantly reducing the amount they pay to fund their reserves.
At the same time, their unemployment reserves are an asset for the nonprofit. During challenging times such as COVID, many UST members were able to tap into their unemployment reserves which helped them continue funding important programs so their organization could confidently bridge the financial difficulty.
Want to learn more about the factors that led other nonprofits to work with UST? Take a look at this case study featuring an organization working with senior citizens to see the group’s initial concerns and the factors that convinced them to give UST a try.
Building Long-Term Financial Health By Embracing Change
Most nonprofit leaders would agree that organizations who successfully survive times of turmoil do so by adapting to their new environment. Groups who keep following the same path … never changing their approach in light of evolving circumstances … often don’t fare as well.
Today’s challenging nonprofit circumstances make reinforcing your organization’s financial picture more important than ever. Making the most of innovative approaches that can deliver initial savings – paired with building valuable reserves over time – could be a key to creating long-term financial stability for your group.
But most importantly, the time to start is now. If you’re interested in learning more about the money your nonprofit could save by working with UST, go to chooseust.org/savings to request your Free Savings Analysis today.
SOURCES:
“Unemployment Insurance Benefit Payment Integrity, United States Department of Labor, 5/29/25
Nonprofit organizations form the backbone of societal change. You work tirelessly to advance your causes despite tight budget constraints. It’s crucial for your organization to implement cost-saving strategies that align with your goals and ethics. Through astute financial planning and strategic decision-making, your nonprofit can amplify its impact and extend the reach of its funding. Leveraging historical stability and pooled knowledge, such as entities like UST, your nonprofit can fortify its financial foundation amidst the ever-evolving economic landscape.
Below, we present ten actionable cost-saving strategies designed to support nonprofit leaders in their ongoing efforts to manage budgets more effectively and channel saved resources back into their mission-critical activities.
1. Streamline Operations Through Technology: In an era where digital transformation is vital, investing in technology can lead to considerable long-term savings. Automating mundane tasks reduces labor costs and increases efficiency, allowing staff to focus on more essential, mission-focused work.
2. Harness the Power of Volunteers: Volunteers are an invaluable asset to any organization. They not only bring passion and dedication, but also help save on personnel costs. However, manage volunteers responsibly to ensure their experiences are rewarding and further your cause.
3. Go Green to Save Green: Implementing eco-friendly practices goes beyond the moral benefits; it is also cost-effective. Cutting down on paper use, optimizing energy consumption, and recycling can lead to substantial savings.
4. Opt for Second-Hand Equipment: Before rushing to buy new equipment, consider purchasing quality second-hand items. Not only is this more economical and sustainable, but often you can find barely used resources at a fraction of the cost.
5. Leverage Free or Discounted Services for Nonprofits: Many companies offer discounted or even free services to nonprofits, including software subscriptions, marketing tools, and professional development resources. Take advantage of these opportunities.
6. Invest in Staff Development: While this may seem counterintuitive as a cost-saving measure, training your staff can actually reduce costs by improving efficiency and reducing turnover – both of which are costly in the long term.
7. Collaborate with Other Organizations: Forming alliances with similar nonprofits can lead to sharing of resources, joint grant applications, and mutual support, thereby reducing costs associated with events and projects.
8. Conduct Regular Financial Reviews: Assessing your financial practices regularly can help identify inefficiencies and areas for cost reduction. Keep abreast of financial management best practices and remain compliant with regulations.
9. Optimize Your Fundraising Practices: Ensure your fundraising efforts are as effective as possible by cutting unnecessary costs and using data-driven strategies. Tailor your campaigns to target the most engaged sectors of your donor base.
10. Reevaluate Your Space Needs: If remote work is sustainable, consider downsizing office space or renegotiating lease terms. This can be one of the most immediate ways to reduce fixed costs while maintaining productivity.
Taking these steps can contribute significantly to reducing expenses, but achieving optimum efficiency often requires tailored solutions. That’s where we can step in to assist you further. UST is well-versed in the unique challenges faced by nonprofit organizations and offers expert advice to help you save money, mitigate risk, and increase efficiency.
Don’t leave potential savings on the table. For a more detailed exploration of how these strategies can benefit your organization, and to discover additional, customized solutions for cost-savings, complete ourfree savings analysis. Fill out our free savings analysis form today and start charting a course towards financial sustainability for your nonprofit.
At UST, we’re committed to helping you make every dollar count, underscore your mission, and amplify the change you envision.
Question: We’re planning to close the office a few days a week to save money. Do salaried exempt employees still get their full pay during these furloughs?
Answer: Yes, salaried exempt employees must be paid their full weekly salary if they do any work during your designated seven-day workweek, including tasks as quick as checking work email or voicemail. As your goal is to save money, be sure the furlough covers the full workweek and that affected exempt employees understand they’re not to do any work while on furlough.
Nonexempt employees, however, only need to be paid for actual hours worked, so single-day or partial-week furloughs can be implemented without worrying about pay implications.
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
This Q&A was provided by Mineral, powering the UST HR Workplace. Have HR questions? Sign your nonprofit up for a FREE 60-day trial here. As a UST member, simply log into your Mineral portal to access live HR certified consultants, 300+ on-demand training courses, an extensive compliance library, and more.
With summer vacations coming to a close and children getting ready to go back to school within a few weeks, August may not initially appear to be the best month for hiring new employees. But it’s actually a fantastic time to attract fresh college graduates to your organization.
Today’s Job Market Can Be Tough for New Graduates
Companies across the country have pulled back on their hiring plans in recent months. According to research conducted last fall by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, many companies had planned to ramp up their hiring for 2025. But when the group updated their research this spring, companies were now reporting plans to scale back their hiring instead.
This change in the job market has hit recent college graduates particularly hard. Companies which are hesitant to bring on new hires often prefer candidates with experience who require less training and bring an ability to contribute to company goals right away.
This perception may give your nonprofit an advantage in the current job market. New graduates who have struggled to land interviews with traditional companies may be extremely open to working for a nonprofit group – especially once they learn about the opportunities for skill development and career mobility.
By offering new employees a diverse range of responsibilities and the chance to develop a wide variety of skills, nonprofits can be highly attractive to recent grads who are focused on gaining valuable experience while exploring different areas of interest. In fact, this broader range of responsibilities could be critical in helping them expand their careers in the future.
More College Graduates Are Looking for Jobs During the Late Summer Months
When you combine the large number of students who typically graduate from college in May with the additional graduates coming into the job market just a few short months later during summer graduations, the result often means a larger pool of applicants competing for entry-level positions.
Many nonprofit groups have found that this situation gives them the ability to attract and hire talented new graduates who may not have considered working for a nonprofit prior to their graduation.
IMPORTANT TIP: A well-planned onboarding program can be key to setting new graduates up as successful additions to your organization. UST invites you to take advantage of the 60-Day Free Access to HR Workplace powered by Mineral for helpful training modules and other ideas to get new employees off to a great start.
Fewer Job Opportunities Mean Recent Graduates Are Now Accepting Jobs at Lower Salaries
Budgets are notoriously tight in the nonprofit sector. But thanks to today’s tight job market, many new graduates are finding themselves forced to lower their salary expectations.
The job-search firm ZipRecruiter surveyed 2025 graduates about their starting salaries for their first job. The results revealed a larger-than-normal gap between the salaries new graduates had anticipated earning for their first job and the paychecks they actually received. In fact, almost 30% of new graduates reported that they were earning less than expected.
This situation is another opportunity for nonprofit organizations. Your group may find themselves in a position to hire a “superstar” graduate who brings exceptional skills to your mission … at a salary that is more likely to fit within the parameters of a nonprofit’s limited budget.
New Graduates Often Prioritize Having A Meaningful Impact
Today’s graduates belong to a generation which is strongly motivated to make a positive impact on the world around them. As a result, they actively seek opportunities that align with their values or causes they believe in.
As a nonprofit, your group may stand out from other companies in your community because recent graduates can easily visualize how joining your organization gives them a direct avenue toward making the world a better place.
In essence, a job with your organization would ideally give a new graduate the opportunity to put the skills they learned in college to work in real-world situations that can make a big difference to a cause they’re passionate about.
Reaching Out to Future Graduates for Fall Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
If you don’t currently have a full-time position available, August and September might be ideal times to reach out to local colleges or universities about internship and volunteer activities.
Working with students can be a smart way to expand your group’s workforce at an economical cost. Your nonprofit can benefit from the extra hands and new ideas students bring to your events and projects. The student gains experience which can help them stand out from other job applicants once they graduate.
In addition, internships and volunteer activities allow you to build a pipeline of potential new employees who could join your group with a firm understanding of your mission and a dedication to making a difference through their work.
Whether you’re looking for a new full-time employee or want to fill internship positions or volunteer activities, late summer can be the perfect time to attract new college graduates to your nonprofit. With today’s highly competitive job market, you just may find yourself in a position to hire energetic college graduates who may eventually grow into your nonprofit’s future leaders.
Would you like ideas on building a benefit package that’s attractive to new graduates? You can get helpful recommendations through HR Workplace. This online resource is available at no cost for 60 days through UST.
SOURCES:
“Panicking: Why recent college grads are struggling to find jobs,” NPR.org, 7/13/25
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/13/nx-s1-5462807/college-graduates-jobs-employment-unemployment
“The Graduate Divide: Expectations vs. Reality For The Class of 2025,” ZipRecruiter.com
https://www.ziprecruiter-research.org/annual-grad-report
“4 Reasons New Grads Should Consider Working At A Nonprofit,” RippleMatch.com, 7/28/23
https://ripplematch.com/career-advice/reasons-new-grads-should-consider-working-at-a-nonprofit
Filing unemployment tax returns can often be a time-consuming and expensive endeavor, leaving many nonprofit organizations stretched thin. UST provides nonprofits with an alternative approach that not only saves significant time but also reduces unemployment costs—by up to 60%.
Learn how UST Trust empowers nonprofit organizations to take control of their unemployment claims, lower expenses, and streamline workforce management.
Why UST Trust is a Game-Changer for Nonprofits
Nonprofits face unique challenges compared to for-profit businesses, especially when managing unemployment expenses. Many nonprofit organizations pay state unemployment taxes based on a preset rate, which often surpasses their actual unemployment costs. UST Trust enables nonprofits to opt out of the traditional state tax system and instead reimburse the state only for actual unemployment claims, dollar for dollar, yielding substantial savings. Here are some standout ways UST helps nonprofits save time and money:
1. Significant Cost Savings—Up to 60%: One of the biggest advantages of partnering with UST is the immediate and long-term financial savings. By joining the trust, your nonprofit becomes a reimbursing employer and can save up to 60% in the first two years compared to paying state unemployment taxes. Unlike standard tax payments, where funds are directed to the government without a clear return, contributions to the UST Trust accumulate in a reserve account. This account is owned by the nonprofit, turning those dollars into a tangible financial asset. Whether you’re a small nonprofit with a handful of employees or a larger organization, the cost benefits of UST make this program an essential asset for budget-conscious organizations.
2. Expert Claims Management for Better Efficiency: Managing unemployment claims can be complex and time-consuming, especially if you’re tasked with auditing charges or disputing inaccurate claims. With UST’s expert claims management, nonprofits can focus on their mission while letting the professionals handle the technical details.
UST offers:
These services ensure nonprofits pay only for legitimate claims, reducing the risk of overpayments and saving additional money.
3. Comprehensive Workforce Solutions: Beyond unemployment cost management, UST provides a range of tools to help nonprofits address broader workforce challenges. Their service offering includes:
This well-rounded support system helps nonprofits not only minimize unemployment expenses but also strengthen their workforce management, adding value at every level.
Key Benefits of Working with UST Trust
UST Trust offers a breadth of services and features that make it a reliable and effective partner for nonprofits. Here’s what you can expect as part of your UST Trust membership:
1. Dedicated Account Management: Each UST member benefits from having a designated account manager who provides personalized support. From quarterly financial statements to prompt assistance with urgent issues, UST ensures you always have someone in your corner.
“Raquel is terrific to work with. She provides excellent customer service and support for our organization. She is very responsive and knowledgeable, and I enjoy working with her.” – feedback from a UST Member
2. Stop-Loss Protection for Stability: Unexpected spikes in unemployment claims can severely disrupt a nonprofit’s finances. UST offers stop-loss protection to shield your organization from the unpredictable, providing financial security when it’s needed the most.
3. Cash-Back Refunds: Every year, UST reviews its members’ accounts to optimize fund usage. Any excess reserves remaining in your account can be refunded or retained for future security and asset growth. This proactive approach reinforces your nonprofit’s financial stability over time.
4. Low Administrative Costs: UST proudly offers the lowest administrative costs of any unemployment trust nationwide. This focus on minimizing overhead ensures that the maximum amount of your contributions goes toward supporting your organization’s goals—not administrative fees.
5. Surety Bonds at No Extra Cost: To meet state requirements, nonprofit organizations need collateral in the form of a surety bond. UST provides this bond at no additional charge, giving you one less expense to worry about.
How UST Helps Nonprofits Plan for the Future
Cost-saving strategies are essential for nonprofits to maintain their mission-driven work. UST Trust offers meticulous actuarial planning, forecasting potential unemployment claims and structuring reserve contributions accordingly. This ensures that nonprofits are prepared for future expenses without overcommitting their budgets. Additionally, funds in your UST Reserve Account are conservatively invested, allowing your organization to grow its assets over time.
For nonprofits already functioning as reimbursing employers, UST offers enhanced claims management services and cash flow tools to further optimize your unemployment cost strategy.
Is UST Trust Right for Your Nonprofit?
Thousands of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across diverse sectors have already switched to UST Trust to simplify their unemployment tax filings and maximize savings.
To determine whether your organization could benefit from UST, start with a Free Savings Analysis. By analyzing your unemployment claim history, tax rate information, and workforce data, UST can provide a two-year savings projection and establish a quarterly deposit plan tailored to your needs.
Act Now and Save with UST Trust
Filing unemployment tax returns doesn’t have to be a drain on your nonprofit’s time and resources. With UST, you’ll gain access to expert claims management, unparalleled cost savings, and value-added workforce solutions designed to set your organization up for long-term success.
Take the Next Step:
If you’re ready to save thousands while reducing the headaches of managing unemployment tax filings, it’s time to connect with UST. Visit www.chooseust.org/savings/ or call (888)-249-4788 to get your Free Savings Analysis today. Don’t leave your potential savings on the table—partner with UST Trust and streamline your way to greater financial stability.
Question: We know we need to plan for our leaders to leave the organization. How do we start succession planning?
Answer: It’s wise to think about succession planning before you need to fill leadership roles—this will make a potentially stressful time easier to manage. Succession planning prepares your current employees to move into leadership and other critical roles, easing their transition and inspiring confidence in their ability to succeed. Here are a few steps we recommend taking to get started with your succession planning for key positions you’ve identified:
You can find more information on succession planning on the platform.
This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.
This Q&A was provided by Mineral, powering the UST HR Workplace. Have HR questions? Sign your nonprofit up for a FREE 60-day trial here. As a UST member, simply log into your Mineral portal to access live HR certified consultants, 300+ on-demand training courses, an extensive compliance library, and more.
What’s one of the best ways to bring your nonprofit’s mission to life? A well-planned event.
Events can stand as a real-life demonstration of the critical difference your organization makes within your community. Plus, they can be an unparalleled way to generate excitement and inspiration among your staff, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors. In fact, 56% of donors say they regularly attend fundraising events and view them as a positive way to support the causes they believe in.
What’s the downside? Events aren’t always easy to execute successfully.
Too often, nonprofit staff members find themselves tasked with throwing a big event – in addition to all the other responsibilities they regularly juggle. But you can increase your chances of success by guiding team members through a deliberate planning process.
6 Months – 4 Months before Event: Building the Framework
Big events can be a lot of work. Months of planning and preparation go into an event that’s quickly over in a day or a weekend. But the effort invested in the time leading up to your event will have a significant impact on its ultimate success.
If it’s the first time your organization has staged this type of event, consider reaching out to other community groups who may have sponsored similar events. You might also want to contact local vendors to get multiple estimates to get a baseline view of current costs.
4 Months – 2 Months before Event: Ironing Out the Details
As the date of your event draws closer, you’ll begin nailing down financial details and setting your communications strategy. Getting a firm handle on your costs at this point can be important in developing the types of promotional activities your organization may be able to afford.
Determine if your event budget can include costs for advertising in traditional media such as newspapers and radio. You can also work with local media to generate publicity through on-air interviews or articles.
Don’t forget tools such as email, social media and online event calendars. Emails sent to your organization’s members, volunteers and other contacts can be an effective way to build enthusiasm for your event. Posting event notices through social media such as Facebook and Instagram can be another tool that stretches your promotional budget farther. Be sure to submit your event to online event calendars to catch the eye of community members who may be looking for activities within a certain timeframe.
Are you looking for more information on building a communications strategy? Take a closer look at “5 Steps to Create an Effective Nonprofit Communications Strategy” in this blog post for UST members.
When developing the website, make sure the web designer understands the goal and traffic expectations of the site. For instance, if you plan to sell tickets via the website, the designer needs to build that process into the site – including setting up a secure online purchase experience.
Additionally, it’s critical that the website is mobile-optimized. Studies show that approximately 60% of web traffic is viewed on phones.
2 Months – 2 Weeks before Event: Getting Ready to Host Your Event
As the date of your event draws closer, your event planning will become more specific. You’ll focus on telling community members about the event, lining up volunteers to help everything run smoothly and renting equipment you may need for the big day.
Once you’ve deployed these communication pieces, don’t hesitate to reach out to local media personalities your group may have worked with in the past. Their previous interviews or stories may be an idea starting point, and your personal contact could help draw more attention to the media packet.
Week of Event: Putting the Finishing Touches on Last Minute Details
The last few days before your event are the time to “dot your ‘i’s and cross your ‘t’s.” Attention to details will be a top priority.
Day of the Event: Breathe and Enjoy
After months of planning, your event vision is coming to life. While unexpected issues invariably arise, your weeks of planning have most likely kept them to a minimum. Focus on embracing your organization’s mission and making the most of your event.
1 Week – 2 Weeks after Event: Evaluate How Everything Went
Your reflections on the event can help provide your nonprofit with a solid base as it considers future events. Documenting the steps your team took, the timeline they used and other details can be an invaluable tool.
If you’d like more details on how UST helps nonprofit organizations plan for and budget events, claim your 60-day free trial of HR Workplace powered by Mineral. You’ll get full access to a wide range of templates and guides designed to help your nonprofit support your mission through successful events.
SOURCES:
“The Importance of Nonprofit Event Planning”, Charitybids.com, viewed 7/2/25
https://www.charitybids.com/blog/nonprofit-event-planning#why
“The Ultimate Event Planning Checklist,” Eventbrite, downloaded 6/30/25
The Ultimate Event Planning Checklist | Eventbrite
“Nonprofit Event Management: Checklist and Tips for Success,” Kindful.com, viewed 6/30/25
https://kindful.com/nonprofit-glossary/nonprofit-event-management/
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UST maintains a secure site. This means that information we obtain from you in the process of enrolling is protected and cannot be viewed by others. Information about your agency is provided to our various service providers once you enroll in UST for the purpose of providing you with the best possible service. Your information will never be sold or rented to other entities that are not affiliated with UST. Agencies that are actively enrolled in UST are listed for review by other agencies, UST’s sponsors and potential participants, but no information specific to your agency can be reviewed by anyone not affiliated with UST and not otherwise engaged in providing services to you except as required by law or valid legal process.
Your use of this site and the provision of basic information constitute your consent for UST to use the information supplied.
UST may collect generic information about overall website traffic, and use other analytical information and tools to help us improve our website and provide the best possible information and service. As you browse UST’s website, cookies may also be placed on your computer so that we can better understand what information our visitors are most interested in, and to help direct you to other relevant information. These cookies do not collect personal information such as your name, email, postal address or phone number. To opt out of some of these cookies, click here. If you are a Twitter user, and prefer not to have Twitter ad content tailored to you, learn more here.
Further, our website may contain links to other sites. Anytime you connect to another website, their respective privacy policy will apply and UST is not responsible for the privacy practices of others.
This Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use for our site is subject to change.
