Monday, November 19, 2012

Picks of the Week: November 18 - 24, 2012

Website of the Week --  Nonprofit Finance Fund
As one of the nation's leading community development financial institutions (CDFI), Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) makes millions of dollars in loans to nonprofits and pushes for fundamental improvement in how money is given and used in the sector. Since 1980, NFF has worked to connect money to mission effectively so that nonprofits can keep doing what they do so well. NFF provides a continuum of financing, consulting, and advocacy services to nonprofits and funders nationwide. In addition to loans and lines of credit for a variety of purposes, NFF organizes financial training workshops, perform business analyses, and customize its services to meet the unique financial needs of each client. For funders, NFF provides support with structuring of philanthropic capital and program-related investments, manages capital for guided investment in programs, and provides advice and research to help maximize the impact of grants. Through offices -- in New York, Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, and Los Angeles -- NFF staff also speak out, write, and conduct research to help advocate for positive change nationwide.  As the only national CDFI focused exclusively on nonprofits, NFF has lent over $250 million and leveraged $1.4 billion of capital investment on behalf of our clients. For more information, go to: http://nonprofitfinancefund.org.

Publication of the Week --    Developing a Learning Culture in Nonprofit Organizations by Stephen J. Gill
From the publisher: How can today’s nonprofits demonstrate effective use of funds? How can they motivate employees and volunteers and combat burnout and high turnover? How can they ensure that they are performing in accordance with their mission and purpose? Author Stephen J. Gill answers these questions and more in Developing a Learning Culture in Nonprofit Organizations. Filled with practical tips and tools, the book shows students and managers of human services, arts, education, civic, and environmental agencies how to implement a learning culture with individuals, teams, the organization as a whole, and the larger community. Key features include:
·         Demonstrates how to create a culture of intentional learning that uses reflection and feedback, focuses on successes and failures, and builds a strong organization that motivates employees and volunteers
·         Offers specific, hands-on tools for each level of the organization, from the individual and team to the whole organization and the community
·         Discusses not only the need for a learning culture but also the barriers that may stand in the way
·         Takes a step-by-step approach that facilitates managers’ and students' understanding and learning
·         Incorporates practical tools that can be used in nonprofit management and in actual field instruction
Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

 
Trend of the Week – Poverty Increases As Measured by Census Bureau Supplemental Poverty Measure -- The ranks of America's poor edged up last year to a high of 49.7 million, based on a new census measure that takes into account medical costs and work-related expenses. The numbers released by the Census Bureau are part of a newly developed supplemental poverty measure. Devised a year ago, this measure provides a fuller picture of poverty that the government believes can be used to assess safety-net programs by factoring in living expenses and taxpayer-provided benefits that the official formula leaves out. Based on the revised formula, the number of poor people exceeded the 49 million, or 16 percent of the population, who were living below the poverty line in 2010. That came as more people in the slowly improving economy picked up low-wage jobs last year but still struggled to pay living expenses. The revised poverty rate of 16.1 percent also is higher than the record 46.2 million, or 15 percent, that the government's official estimate reported in September. Due to medical expenses, higher living costs and limited immigrant access to government programs, people 65 or older, Hispanics and urbanites were more likely to be struggling economically under the alternative formula. Also spiking higher in 2011 was poverty among full-time and part-time workers. For more information, go to: http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p60-244.pdf. 

Resource of the Week – Sample Request for Proposal for Audit Services for Nonprofit Organizations

Wipfli, Ullrich & Company is one of the largest CPA and consulting firms in the United States, with offices across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, and India. The firm offers a Sample Requests for Proposal - Audit Services for Nonprofit Organizations available at no charge. This document is designed to simplify the process of going out for bid, creating a scoring system, and asking the right questions of CPA firms. To download the sample RFP, go to: http://www.wipfli.com/form_ngp_sampleauditrfp.aspx.


Tech Tip of the Week -- Broadcasting PowerPoint 2010 Presentations

An amazing new feature in PowerPoint 2010 is the ability to Broadcast your slideshows to anyone, anywhere.  Here's how:

·         Make sure you have signed up for a Windows Live ID
·         Open your slide show
·         Click the Slide Show tab on the Ribbon
·         Click the Broadcast Slide Show button in the Start Slide Show group
·         PowerPoint prepares your slide show 
·         The Broadcast Slide Show screen is displayed with a link to your presentation
·         Email the link to anyone you want to attend your presentation
·         Now click the Start Slide Show button and remote viewers can view your presentation

The following articles can help you learn this powerful new tool:

·         PowerPoint Blog: IntroducingBroadcast Slide Show

·         PowerPoint Blog: Broadcast yourPresentation with PowerPoint 2010


 

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