Picks of the Week: August 9 - 15, 2009

Website of the Week -- Resilient Organizations Fund

The Resilient Organizations Fund was established by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation to provide capacity building support to their grantee organizations, helping them tap into and enhance their own powers of resiliency. The site includes an extensive resource directory designed to connect you with tools that can make a difference in your nonprofit organization. While the website focuses on Minnesota organizations, many of the resource will be useful to any nonprofit. Go to: http://www.resilientnonprofits.org.


Publication of the Week -- Chief Executive Transitions: How to Hire and Support a Nonprofit CEO by Don Tebbe

From the publisher: When a nonprofit finds itself in need of a new chief executive, managing the transition effectively is crucial to the organization’s future impact and continued success. Properly handled, the process can be an opportunity to enhance the organization and add to its effectiveness. Chief Executive Transitions will not only help boards navigate the hiring process but also oversee a successful leadership transition. It includes checklists, key questions board members will need to answer as they go through the process, and practical real-life examples. The accompanying CD-ROM includes 13 helpful documents, including a resume scoring sheet, sample timeline, sample interview questions, and a sample 90-day entry plan to help ensure the success of the newly hired chief executive. This publication was awarded this year’s McAdam Book award by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.


Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit Professionals Expect the Recession to Have Long-Term or Permanent Negative Effect

America's nonprofits, including the "lifeline" organizations that many depend on for food, shelter, and other basic services, are strained to the breaking point, according to a survey released by Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF). The survey of over 1,100 nonprofit leaders in markets nationwide captures the financial state and particular challenges facing these organizations. Key findings include:

• Only 12% of all respondents expect to operate above break-even this year.
• Just 16% anticipate being able to cover their operating expenses in both 2009 and 2010.
• 31% don’t have enough operating cash in hand to cover more that one month of expenses, and another 31% have less than three months’ worth.
• In 2009: 43% anticipate a decrease in funding from government; 62% anticipate a decrease in funding from foundations; 52% of respondents expect the recession to have a long-term (2+ years) or permanent negative financial effect on their organizations.
• 93% of lifeline organizations that provide essential services anticipate an increase in demand in 2009.

For additional survey information, go to: http://www.nonprofitfinancefund.org.


Resource of the Week -- Capacity Building Resources

The Fieldstone Alliance has compiled an extensive collection of capacity building resources including links to all types of providers active in the field of capacity building. Go to: http://www.fieldstonealliance.org.


Tech Tip of the Week -- Save All and Close All Open Files in Word 2007

Prior to Word 2007 there was a quick way to close all open files. However, this trick does not work in Word 2007. But it can be added to the Quick Access Toolbar. Here's how:

1. Click the Office button
2. Click the Word Options button at the bottom of the menu
3. Click Customize in the left-hand pane
4. Click the small arrow next to the Choose Commands From box and select Commands Not In Ribbon
5. Scroll down to Close All and click to select
6. Click the Add button
7. Scroll down to Save All and click to select
8. Click the Add button
9. Click OK.

Now you can click these icons in the Quick Access Toolbar to use the Save All and Close All commands. Click here to view the trick for doing this in earlier versions.