Sunday, June 8, 2014

Picks of the Week: June 1 - 7, 2014


Website of the Week -- Opportunity Agenda

The Opportunity Agenda launched in 2006 with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity in America. Focused on moving hearts, minds, and policy over time, the organization works with social justice groups, leaders, and movements to advance solutions that expand opportunity for everyone. Through active partnerships, The Opportunity Agenda synthesizes and translates research on barriers to opportunity and corresponding solutions; uses communications and media to understand and influence public opinion; and identifies and advocates for policies that improve people’s lives. To achieve its mission, Opportunity Agenda focus on racial equity, immigration, economic opportunity, reproductive health and rights, and African-American men and boys. Go to: http://opportunityagenda.org 

Publication of the Week --  The Board Member's Easier Than You Think Guide to Nonprofit Finances by Andy Robinson and Nancy Wasserman

From the publisher: With the possible exception of How do I avoid fundraising? a board member's most commonly unasked question is, What do all these numbers mean and what am I supposed to do with them? Financial planning and budgeting combine all of our money taboos with that common disorder, math phobia. Andy Robinson and Nancy Wasserman help trustees (and their staff colleagues) confront and address this fear with wisdom, clarity, humor, and humility. If you find math mysterious and scary, yet need to understand financial statements to do your job as a board member ... read this book

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com 

Trend of the Week --  Updated U.S. Wealth Transfer Report 
An estimated $59 trillion, distributed among heirs, charities, estate taxes and estate closing costs, will be transferred from more than 90 million U.S. estates from 2007 to 2061, in the greatest wealth transfer in U.S. history, according to a new report issued today by researchers at the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy (CWP) at Boston College. “The baby boomers are in the process of receiving the largest wealth transfer in history and then they will, in turn, provide even a larger wealth transfer to their heirs, to charity, and to taxes,” says Paul Schervish, the Center’s director who authored the report with CWP researcher John J. Havens. “One major finding in this report is that the very wealthy are applying a greater proportion of their net worth to charity during their lifetimes," says Havens.  "More and more money is being put directly into charity and foundations during a donor’s lifetime and not as great a proportion is showing up in the estate.” Among the highlights in the study, titled “A Golden Age of Philanthropy Still Beckons, National Wealth Transfer and Potential for Philanthropy:”

  • The sum directed from final estates (for which there is no surviving spouse) toward charity is estimated at $6.3 trillion, $36 trillion toward heirs,  and $5.6 trillion in Federal estate taxes.
  • Total gifts to charity during the study period are vastly greater, according to the study, which estimates that lifetime giving will yield an additional $20.6 trillion for charity from 2007-2061.

To download the report, go to: http://www.bc.edu 

Resource of the Week –  Community Collaboratives Resource Library
This collection of resources compiled by the Bridgespan Group, shares research that explores the keys to success of community collaboratives and recommends ways to drive more collective impact. It also includes a number of profiles of community collaboratives that have successfully addressed challenges in their communities, as well as three guides that can help collaboratives become more effective in their efforts. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org/getdoc/b3caa71c-9794-4dad-a700-0e66c4438a45/Community-Collaboratives.aspx 

Tech Tip of the Week -- Recolor a Picture or Change the Color or Transparency

In PowerPoint 2010 you can recolor a picture, adjust the color saturation and tone, and more! Here's how:

  • Select the picture you want to recolor
  • Click the Picture Tools Format tab on the Ribbon
  • In the Adjust group, click Color
  • Select one of the many options

This tip works in PowerPoint, Word and Excel 2010.

  • Under Organize Sheets, select Move or Copy Sheet
  • Choose where you want the sheet to be copied or moved to
  • Be sure to select the create a copy box if you do not want your sheet moved