Picks of the Week: May 17 - 23, 2009

Website of the Week -- Wegner LLP

Wegner, LLP is a Wisconsin based CPA firm with an extensive nonprofit practice. Wegner has become a well-respected and well-recognized name within the nonprofit world through provision of exceptional services and community involvement. Wegner currently serves over 400 nonprofit organizations including foundations, co-ops, unions, housing development organizations, religious organizations, associations, advocacy organizations, elderly programs, community action programs, humanitarian organizations, voluntary health and welfare agencies, educational institutions, and a variety of other human service agencies. The website includes a helpful list of resources including sample forms and policies as well as links to other websites of interest to nonprofits. Go to: http://www.wegnercpas.com/YNonProfit/index.htm.


Publication of the Week -- Strategic Communications for Nonprofit Organization: Seven Steps to Creating a Successful Plan, 2nd Edition by Sally J. Patterson and Janel M. Radtke

From the publisher: How a nonprofit s strategic communications department defines its issues and policies determines whether the public views it as an effective organization. Strategic Communications for Nonprofit Organizations, Second Edition supports nonprofits in using their resources most effectively. The Second Edition includes a dedicated web site, equipping professionals with the worksheets, forms, surveys, and self-assessment tools needed to create a total communications plan. Plus, the book s step-by-step instructions demonstrate nonprofit communications strategies that work. Practical and clear, this in-the-trenches book provides nonprofit CEOs with expert insights to achieve their mission. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.


Trend of the Week -- Nonprofits Embracing Social Networks

Social networking has become an integral part of nonprofits’ online strategy, according to a survey recently conducted by NTEN, Common Knowledge, and ThePort. In this online survey conducted in March, 2009, 929 respondents representing nonprofits of all sizes and from multiple vertical segments indicate that nearly three-quarters (74.2%) have a presence on Facebook, and 30.9% have one or more social networking communities on their own web site. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://nonprofitsocialnetworksurvey.com.


Resource of the Week -- Nonprofit Management Training Presentations

Complete presentation packages, prepared by the Faculty and participants of the Master in Not-for-Profit Leadership Program at Seattle University, are provided at this site in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Each package comes complete with a script, originals for hand-outs and ready-to-use transparencies.
The presentation text is based on the curriculum of the Not-for-Profit Leadership Program at Seattle University. The subjects were chosen by the faculty in consultation with alumni and current students. The topics focus on strengthening key factors for success in nonprofit organizations. There is no charge. Cooperation with the evaluation process is expected. Go to: http://www2.seattleu.edu.


Tech Tip of the Week -- Changing the Case of Text in Excel

To change the case of text in Excel, use one of the following formulas:

• =UPPER(A1) Changes the text in cell A1 to upper case
• =LOWER(A1) Changes the text in cell A1 to lower case
• =PROPER(A1) Changes the text in cell A1 to proper case

For example: If original text is “The story of stuff”, =UPPER(A1) becomes “THE STORY OF STUFF”; =LOWER(A1) becomes “the story of stuff”; and =PROPER(A1) becomes “The Story Of Stuff”