Picks of the Week: February 13 - 19, 2011

Website of the Week – Learning for Social Impact
The Learning for Social Impact site, part of McKinsey & Company's Social Sector Office. has been developed to help funders, their grantees, and other essential partners achieve social change by offering best practices, guidelines, tools, insights, and practical help in developing assessment plans that drive social impact. A resource of special note is an interactive workbook to help you create an assessment plan for your portfolio of programs. Go to: http://lsi.mckinsey.com.


Publication of the Week -- The Power Formula for Linkedin Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search by Wayne Breitbarth

From the publisher: This simple, user-friendly guide explains how you can access the full power of LinkedIn--including advice on making lasting business connections, building a unique personal brand, and generating significant business opportunities. Breitbarth demonstrates how you can take advantage of all the features of this professional networking platform. He shows you how to create a compelling profile, use keywords to improve your ability to find and be found by others, build a solid base of connections, solicit valuable recommendations, and much more. His 6-week, 2-hour-per-week startup plan and weekly maintenance plan will motivate you to make the most of your time on LinkedIn. Wayne Breitbarth's pragmatic teaching style and engaging sense of humor are on display throughout The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, and he shares many specific examples, stories, and illustrations that are the direct result of thirty years experience in business consulting and business ownership. Whether you are an entry-level professional, a CEO, or anywhere in between, you can benefit from this practical introduction to a powerful networking tool. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.


Trend of the Week – Arts Funding in the Current Economy

Foundation funding for arts and culture grew at a rate roughly consistent with overall foundation giving in 2008, according to a special report prepared by the Foundation Center for Grantmakers in the Arts. Foundation Grants to Arts and Culture: A One-year Snapshot estimates that arts funding did not suffer disproportionately large losses in 2009. The report also identifies top funders and includes analyses by subject, types of support, and grant size. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.


Resource of the Week – The Role of the Board of Directors in Grantseeking

Because the board of directors is often less engaged in grantseeking than in other fundraising efforts, involving the board in developing a grant strategy can be a challenge for nonprofit organizations. This five-part Tracks to Success series from Grant Station, a free flowing conversation between two experienced board leaders, is intended to shed light on the role of the board of directors in identifying and securing grant funding. To read Part One of the series: "Board Myths... and Misconceptions" go to: http://www.grantstation.com.


Tech Tip of the Week -- Quick Navigation in Excel

• To quickly move to the left, right, top, or bottom cell in a range of data, position the cursor at the beginning of the range and press: Ctrl + a cursor arrow
• To select a range of data, position the cursor at the beginning of the range and press: Shift + Ctrl + a cursor arrow