Nonprofit Picks of the Week

Picks of the Week: January 15 - 21, 2012

2012-01-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- The Future of Philanthropy

This website contains the results of a partnership between the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The partnership was initiated by Tom Reis, a program director within the Philanthropy and Volunteerism unit at Kellogg, and by Barbara Kibbe, then the director of Packard’s Organizational Effectiveness and Philanthropy Program and now vice president for program and effectiveness at the Skoll Foundation. As representatives from two of the very few funders doing grantmaking to build the capacity of philanthropy and nonprofits, Reis and Kibbe were troubled by their perception that the U.S. nonprofit sector was not keeping up with the pace of change. This website is designed for individuals who want to do a better job of using their own resources (money, time, expertise) and for those who are employed as philanthropy professionals or advisors. It is primarily constructed to help improve the practice of philanthropy. But it also contains material for those who are working to change philanthropy. Go to: http://www.futureofphilanthropy.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards, 2nd Edition by Murray Dropkin, Jim Halpin, and Bill La Touche

From the publisher: This best-selling nuts-and-bolts workbook, now in its second edition, has become the gold standard for nonprofit managers and boards who must work through the budget cycle. The book offers practical tools and guidance for completing each step of the budgeting process. Designed to be comprehensive and easy to use, The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits provides everything budgeters and nonfinancial managers need to prepare, approve, and implement their own budgets. Includes new chapters on Zero-Based and Capital Budgeting as well as a CD with spreadsheets, worksheets and a new budget-building software, the CMS Nonprofit Budget Builder, designed to help you implement the concepts in the book. The software includes an expandable standard chart of accounts (COA) and will aid in building, organizing, tracking and planning budgets.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundation Funding for Hispanics/Latinos

According to Foundation Funding for Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and for Latin America, released by the Foundation Center in collaboration with Hispanics in Philanthropy, total grant dollars targeting Latinos in the U.S. between 2007 and 2009 averaged about $206 million per year, while funding for Latin America averaged roughly $350 million per year. Human services (27 percent) and health (26 percent) captured the largest shares of grant dollars awarded for Latinos in the U.S. Of the grants targeting Latin America, Mexico and Brazil received the largest shares. Among other key findings in the report:

• The top 10 funders awarding grants for Latinos in the U.S. from 2007 to 2009 accounted for close to 40 percent of grant dollars.
• Recipient organizations in the Western region of the United States received the largest share (42 percent) of foundation dollars intended to benefit Hispanics. Over 80 percent of this funding went to organizations in California.
• The largest share of grant dollars for Latin America was for the environment and animals (33 percent), followed by international affairs (20 percent).
• Roughly half of funding for Latin America went directly to recipient organizations located in Latin America, while the other half was awarded through U.S.-based international programs.

To download the free report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Finding the Right CEO

BoardSource has released a new white paper: Finding the Right CEO. According to this guide, when looking for the next chief executive, the search committee should remember that what counts is the diversity of a candidate’s experience. Qualifications, lists of achievements, proofs of expertise are the facts of an individual candidate’s suitability, and all are important. But the truth behind those lists resides in the character of a candidate’s experience — in the variety and complexity of the situations the candidate has encountered and how the candidate dealt with the encounters. To download a copy of the white paper, go to: http://www.boardsource.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Excel 2010 Sparklines

A new feature in Excel 2010 called Sparklines can help you spot trends in your data. Sparklines are tiny charts that sit on top of a cell. Here’s how to create them:

• Select an empty cell or group of empty cells where you want to insert Sparklines
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Sparklines group, click the type of Sparkline you want to create
• In the Data box, enter the range of cells that contain the data to base the Sparklines on

Picks of the Week: January 8 - 14, 2012

2012-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Stanford Social Innovation Review

The Stanford Social Innovation Review has re-launched its website. Stanford Social Innovation Review is an award-winning magazine and website that covers cross-sector solutions to global problems. SSIR is written for and by social change leaders in the nonprofit, business, and government sectors who view collaboration as key to solving environmental, social, and economic justice issues. Published at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at Stanford University, SSIR bridges academic theory and practice with ideas about achieving social change. SSIR covers a wide range of subjects, from microfinance and green businesses to social networks and human rights. Its aim is both to inform and to inspire. Go to: http://www.ssireview.org.

Publication of the Week -- Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference by Antony Bugg-Levine and Jed Emerson

From the publisher: This is the first book to chart the catalytic path of this new industry, explaining how it is and can be a positive disruptive force. It shows how impact investing is a transformational vehicle for delivering "blended value" throughout the investment spectrum, giving a single name to a set of activities previously siloed in enclaves, revealing how they are linked within what is becoming a new field of investing. Written by two leaders in the growing field of impact investing, the book defines this emerging industry for participants on all sides of the funding equation (investors, funders and social entrepreneurs).

• Filled with illustrative examples of impact investing success stories
• Reveals how the field can expand in order to address the most critical so social and environmental issues of our day
• Explores the wide-ranging applications of impact investing as well as entrepreneurial opportunities

The authors do not take a normative approach to argue how investors should behave like an investment guide might but show how entrepreneurial people and institutions are already offering an integrated alternative.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Key Predictions and Trends for the Nonprofit Sector in 2012

Convio announced its key predictions and expected trends that will have the biggest impact on the nonprofit sector in 2012: social and mobile continuing to mature; peer-to-peer engagement having greater influence; and donors dictating terms of interaction. Key Predictions and Trends for the Nonprofit Sector in 2012 include:

• Online fundraising was up 40 percent from 2009. Online will continue as the fastest growing giving channel.
• Online's influence outside of transactions is growing as older donors engage in web-based communications and advocacy.
• Acceleration in new media channels and devices (social and mobile) will have significant increase in material importance for nonprofits.
• Direct communications by nonprofit organizations will have less impact on the giving decisions of donors than in years past.
• Donors will increasingly rely on referrals and guidance from friends, family and co-workers to make decisions, particularly the younger generations.
• Nonprofits will want to tap their most vocal and loyal supporters to be active promoters.
• Information overload will continue as individuals receive mail, email and other communications from marketers with increasing intensity, making it challenging for nonprofits to have their messages heard.
• Text messages, RSS feeds, tweets and Facebook posts only compound the problem.
• Tailored communications that resonate with donors will be critical.
• Nonprofit supporters want to be able to define and customize how they are communicated to (e.g. go paperless, set frequency of emails and filter for content).
• The burden of expectation for nonprofits is being set by the for-profit sector.

For more information, go to: http://www.convio.com.

Resource of the Week – GrantWatch.com

GrantWatch.com posts federal, state, city, local and foundation grants on one website, categorized by type and updated daily. All our grants are current and expired grants are archived daily. Members can sign up for free to receive a weekly email of new grants posted. Members can also tour archives for free. To view complete details of new and current grants, including the complete application, there is a low subscription rate. All posts on GrantWatch.com include the important grant information, full applications, deadlines and contact person information. Go to: www.GrantWatch.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Text Case in Word

To change the case of text in Word, try this:

• Select text
• Press Shift + F3 until it changes to the desired case style

Pressing Shift + F3 toggles the text case between sentence case, UPPERCASE, lowercase, and capitalize each word. Be sure to hold down the Shift WHILE you press F3. Also, it works in all versions of Word. However, if you include text with punctuation at the end, it will skip the option to capitalize each word. You can also try this in PowerPoint.

Picks of the Week: January 1 - 7, 2012

2012-01-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Creative Capital

Creative Capital provides integrated financial and advisory support to artists pursuing adventurous projects in five disciplines: Emerging Fields, Film/Video, Literature, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. Working in long-term partnership with artists, Creative Capital’s pioneering approach to support combines funding, counsel and career development services to enable a project’s success and foster sustainable practices for its grantees. In its first decade, Creative Capital has committed more than $20 million in financial and advisory support to 325 projects representing 406 artists, and has reached an additional 3,700 artists through its Professional Development Program. Go to: http://creative-capital.org.

Publication of the Week -- Giving 2.0 by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

From the publisher: Giving 2.0 is the ultimate resource for anyone navigating the seemingly infinite ways one can give. The future of philanthropy is far more than just writing a check, and Giving 2.0 shows how individuals of every age and income level can harness the power of technology, collaboration, innovation, advocacy, and social entrepreneurship to take their giving to the next level and beyond. Major gifts may dominate headlines, but the majority of giving still comes from individual households—ordinary people with extraordinary generosity. Based on her vast experience as a philanthropist, academic, volunteer, and social innovator, Arrillaga-Andreessen shares the most effective techniques she herself pilots and studies and a vast portfolio of lessons learned during her lifetime of giving. Featuring dozens of stories on innovative and powerful methods of how individuals give time, money, and expertise—whether volunteering and fundraising, leveraging technology and social media, starting a giving circle, fund, foundation, or advocacy group, or aspiring to create greater social impact—Giving 2.0 shows readers how they can renew, improve, and expand their giving and reach their fullest potential. A practical, entertaining, and inspiring call to action, Giving 2.0 is an indispensable tool for anyone passionate about creating change in our world.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week -- State Budget Losses Expected to Cause Problems for Nonprofits Through 2013

Despite signs the economy is improving, nonprofits that rely on state money should brace for at least two more years of tough times, a new report warns. The report, prepared by Changing Our World, a philanthropy consulting firm, traces the evolution of the economic crisis, assesses its impact on state budgets, and explores whether philanthropy can make up for the loss of government spending on social programs. The report offers the following tips to help nonprofits respond to the current economic downturn and prepare for the next one:

• Tap unemployed people to work as volunteers, possibly with an honorarium. The organization benefits from their experience while they gain a position that will make them more attractive to potential employers.
• When raising money, emphasize the positive. Instead of saying the organization is hurting financially, explain the impact a gift could make. Develop a strategy for measuring results if one does not already exist to be prepared for the next crisis.
• Consider adding to the board people who have financial expertise and relevant government experience.
• Get educated about domestic and international business and economic trends. Read the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.
• Set up a board committee that meets when an economic measure, like unemployment or consumer confidence, hits a designated number.
• Make sure no more than 60 percent of any program’s budget comes from government money.

To access the full report, go to: http://www.changingourworld.com.

Resource of the Week – Greenlights Nonprofit Management Resource Library

Greenlights for Nonprofit Success is a management service organization dedicated to improving the management effectiveness of the Central Texas nonprofit sector. Services include customized consulting and coaching, organization and board advancement, information and referral, interactive education, and nonprofit convening events. Greenlights has compiled an extensive collection of free downloadable resources that will be useful to all nonprofits. To access the library, go to: http://www.greenlights.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Record Templates for Office

Trying to set up records for the coming year? Microsoft offers free templates for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office programs, which can help you set up records in a number of categories:

• Academic records
• Financial records
• Home records
• Human Resources records
• Journals
• Ledgers
• Logs
• Medical and health care records

And more. Click to download record templates.

Picks of the Week: December 25 - 31, 2011

2011-12-27T08:06:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Center for Nonprofit Management

As one of the nation's leading management support organizations, the Center for Nonprofit Management brings the most current tools for best practices in nonprofit management to thousands of nonprofit boards, staff and volunteers each year. The mission for the Center is to build stronger communities by increasing the performance and impact of nonprofit organizations. In the late 1970's, the Meadows Foundation in Dallas recognized a significant need for staff development and management assistance to charitable organizations. In 1980, with the support of other local funders, Meadows provided the seed funding to establish the Center for Nonprofit Management. Today, the Center receives support from donations, grants, fees for services and annual membership dues at a minimal cost and is a United Way service provider. The site houses an excessive collection of resources for nonprofits. Go to: http://www.cnmdallas.org/about_the_center.aspx.

Publication of the Week -- Shift and Reset: Strategies for Addressing Serious Issues in a Connected Society by Brian Reich

From the publisher: In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever for nonprofits to focus on shaping policy, building capacity, developing talent, improving their marketing and promotion, fundraising, and developing partnerships/collaboration for organizational success. Shift & Reset: Strategies for Supporting Causes in a Connected Society teaches the nonprofit/social change/philanthropy/cause community how to take advantage of rapidly changing technologies and new communication ecosystem that exist in our connected society.

• Addresses the most critical challenges facing the nonprofit/social change/philanthropy/cause community
• Re-envisions how we support causes and address serious issues in our connected society
• Outlines how organizations must operate—and what happens when they don't re-think their work
• Features interviews with over twenty-five leading thinkers/authors/organizational leaders

Innovative and right on time, Shift & Reset equips nonprofit professionals with a set of three core principles, a five-step checklist of immediate action items, as well as a list of ten "must-read" items.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Growth of Suburban Poverty

The Brookings Institution released a report on the growth of poverty in the suburbs of four major metropolitan areas in the US and how foundations have reacted to these changing demographics. Using data from local funders in the Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Detroit regions, as well as interviews with practitioners, the report found several key takeaways from philanthropy’s involvement in suburban poverty. Most of the community foundations in the suburban areas are smaller and newer, and do not give out enough grants compared to their urban counterparts proportional to the poverty levels in the areas they served. Additionally, the report highlighted the need for capacity building in suburban social service nonprofits, but noted that most suburban funders are not providing this necessary support. To download the report, go to: http://www.brookings.edu.

Resource of the Week – Board Leadership Resources

Consultant Robert C. Harris has complied an excellent collection of practical tools for managing various aspects of board operations. Go to: http://www.rchcae.com/board-leadership-dowbloads.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Calendar Templates for Office

Gearing up for the new year? Microsoft has a collection of templates for creating calendars using Word, Excel. PowerPoint, Access, and other programs. You can download them for free. Check it out. Click to download free calendar templates. http://office.microsoft.com.

Picks of the Week: December 18 - 24, 2011

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- onPhilanthropy.com

onPhilanthropy.com is a global resource for non-profit, philanthropy and corporate social engagement professionals. It is free of charge and features the industry’s leading e-mail newsletter. onPhilanthropy.com is published by CauseWired Communications, a communications firm specializing in helping nonprofits and causes effectively communicate and secure the support to advance their mission. Thanks to our dedicated staff and contributors, onPhilanthropy.com has become one of the leading online resources connecting a community of voices for change. More than 100,000 non-profit and philanthropy professionals visit OnPhilanthropy's web site, blogs, and newsletters each month. Go to: http://onphilanthropy.com.

Publication of the Week -- Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow by Jill Friedman Fixler, Sandie Eichberg and Gail Lorenz

From the publisher: Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow is everything nonprofits need to engage skilled Boomer volunteers. This innovative book provides a step-by-step guide for engaging Boomers as volunteers to build organizational capacity. The authors offer a new framework through which nonprofits can capitalize on the vast skills and resources of the 78.2 million Baby Boomers. The guidebook includes a comprehensive, easy-to-understand synthesis of the body of research on the Baby Boomer generation, featuring information that is current and relevant to volunteer engagement. The book also includes 14 downloadable interactive PDF worksheets that focus effort on measurable results. With this inspiring and practical guide for reengineering volunteer programs, nonprofits will not only survive in a changing world, but also thrive in the future. Through collaborative volunteer engagement with the Baby Boomer generation, organizations will have the capacity to fulfill their missions and achieve their dreams.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundation Giving Trends 2011 and Beyond

According to the Foundation Center's The Foundation Yearbook, 2011 edition, giving by this country’s more than 76,000 grantmaking foundations stabilized at $45.7 billion in 2010, nearly unchanged from 2009. This followed a record 2.1 percent decline in giving between 2008 and 2009. Numerous factors contributed to the relative stabilization of giving
following the unprecedented 17 percent drop in foundation assets in 2008, including the beginning of a stock market resurgence in the latter half of 2009, the commitment of many foundations to maintaining their grants budgets or reducing the extent of reductions relative to their assets losses, and new resources provided by recently established or newly large foundations. The Foundation Center estimates that foundation giving returned to modest growth in 2011. As the economic recovery remains shaky, the outlook for 2012 and beyond remains uncertain. Nonetheless, while it may take some time to return to the levels of giving recorded prior to the Great Recession it seems unlikely that foundations will institute further pronounced reductions in their giving. To download a summary of the Foundation Yearbook, 2011 Edition, go to: http://foundationcenter.org. To order a copy of the yearbook, go to: http://foundationcenter.org/marketplace.

Resource of the Week – Next Generation Organizations: 9 Key Traits

According to Compasspoint Nonprofit Services based in San Francisco, We have heard much about next generation leaders but little about the way their leadership styles are embodied inside organizational walls. What exactly does next generation leadership entail, how are their organizations structured, what practices are in place, what do their boards look like, and how are operations adapted? CompassPoint has identified a set of 9 characteristics that we think demonstrate how next generation leaders are transforming their organizations to operate in a fundamentally different way to raise the bar on mission impact. To access a monograph describing the Next Generation Organization featuring case examples as well as a companion self assessment tool, go to: http://www.compasspoint.org/nextgenorgs.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Status Bar Sums in Excel

• Select the cells you want to sum
• Check the Status Bar in the lower right
• All versions will display a Sum. By default, in Excel 2007 and 2010, the Count, Average and

Sum will be displayed. But this default can be changed by right clicking on the Status Bar to display the Customize Status Bar menu.

Picks of the Week: December 11 - 17, 2011

2011-12-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Insight Labs

The Insight Labs is a pro bono strategy development platform for non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations and government agencies. An Insight Lab is a structured, three-hour strategy session benefiting a non-profit organization, government agency or industry. Participants are corporate leaders from varied industries, representatives from the benefiting entities, “wildcard” participants (such as professional writers, artists, or scientists), and Insight Lab staff who moderate the discussion. Non-profit organizations and agencies that partner with Insight Labs must meet three criteria for eligibility. They must:

1. Acknowledge the value of the process.
2. Have resources to execute the strategy that the session produces.
3. Have an issue that is compelling to Insight Lab staff.

The Insight Labs staff choose participants from the creative, corporate and academic world for their strategic and creative thinking. These individuals are able to lend these skills to the issue addressed at the Lab without concern for the current limitations of the partner organization. Insight Lab Founder and Dean Jeff Leitner argues that including intelligent individuals who are not impacted directly by the outcome of the session allows for more creative solutions. For more information, go to: http://www.theinsightlabs.org/about.

Publication of the Week -- Banding Together for a Cause: Proven Strategies for Revenue and Awareness Generation by Rachel Armbruster

From the publisher: Experience the yellow wristband campaign from the beginning and learn how to position your nonprofit for success Passionate and inspiring, Banding Together for a Cause will help you identify ways to generate funds for your programs and missions through valuable and meaningful partnerships. In it, author Rachel Armbruster dissects the LIVESTRONG campaign, from timing and brand, to partners and visionary thinking. Engaging and informative, this reliable guide contains interviews and insights with key executives at both LIVESTRONG and Nike. Along the way, this remarkable book takes you behind-the-scenes of the spectacularly successful Lance Armstrong Foundation campaign. It starts with a simple big idea, the yellow wristband, and examines how you can find similar success within your own nonprofit.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Bleak Fundraising Picture for 2012

A new study by the by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative, a joint project by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and five other organizations, paints a bleak fundraising picture for nonprofits in 2012. The survey included numerous questions about levels of demand, plans for 2012 and signals of fiscal stress. Data from this study alert managers and donors alike to consider the priorities facing the nonprofit sector in 2012. Responding charitable organizations of all sizes are starting next year with:

• Increases in demand, as reported by 65 percent of respondents, which was consistent across all subsectors—but statistically significantly higher (at 69 percent) for respondents that received government funding in 2010;
• Modest plans to increase operating budgets, at 4 in 10 responding charities;
• Declining philanthropic support this year at 28 percent of respondents and flat philanthropic support at 31 percent of respondents;
• Lower levels of funding from sources other than philanthropic giving, reported by 46 percent of survey respondents;
• Lower government funding among the 55 percent that had government funding, where 54 percent reported declines in government funding in 2011.
• Among signs of fiscal stress, about half of responding organizations have cash reserves for less than three months’ of operating expenses or say they are over‐reliant on a limited number of funders (48 percent each).

This analysis suggests that in the United States, large numbers of nonprofit, charitable organizations— and particularly the smaller entities, as discussed below—are struggling to secure funding for the vital services they provide in their communities. To download the study, go to: http://www2.guidestar.org.

Resource of the Week – Energize, Inc. "News in the Volunteer Field" Blog

Energize, Inc. has launched the "News in the Volunteer Field" Blog. The newest post will always be visible from the Energize, Inc. Web site homepage. This blog is a place for leaders of volunteers to share and talk about timely, noteworthy events, resources, programs, and people in volunteerism. Connect with this Blog to keep informed about:

• Trends or events having an impact on volunteering
• New ideas in volunteer management
• Free or low-cost materials for leading volunteers effectively
• News-to-use in daily work with volunteers

Go to: http://blog.energizeinc.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Animation Painter in PowerPoint 2010

The Animation Painter button is a new feature in PowerPoint 2010. It works the same way as the Format Painter button except it copies animations from one object to another. Here’s how to use it:

• Select an object with animations
• Click the Animations tab on the Ribbon
• Select the Animation Painter button in the Advanced Animation group
• With a single click you can transfer all the animations and settings to another object
• If you double-click the Animation Painter button, you can paint multiple objects

Picks of the Week: December 4 - 10, 2011

2011-12-05T11:38:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Independent Sector

Independent Sector is the leadership network for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good in America and around the world. Our nonpartisan coalition of approximately 600 organizations leads, strengthens, and mobilizes the nonprofit and philanthropic community in order to fulfill our vision of a just and inclusive society and a healthy democracy of active citizens, effective institutions, and vibrant communities. Included in the website is the new Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice containing more than 250 materials to help organizations improve their operations. Go to: http://www.independentsector.org/about

Publication of the Week -- The Volunteer Management Handbook: Leadership Strategies for Success by Tracy D. Connors (Editor)

From the publisher: Completely revised and expanded, the ultimate guide to starting—and keeping—an active and effective volunteer program. Drawing on the experience and expertise of recognized authorities on nonprofit organizations, The Volunteer Management Handbook, Second Edition is the only guide you need for establishing and maintaining an active and effective volunteer program. Written by nonprofit leader Tracy Connors, this handy reference offers practical guidance on such essential issues as motivating people to volunteer their time and services, recruitment, and more. Up-to-date and practical, this is the essential guide to managing your nonprofit's most important resource: its volunteers. Now covers volunteer demographics, volunteer program leaders and managers, policy making and implementation, planning and staff analysis, recruiting, interviewing and screening volunteers, orienting and training volunteers, and much more. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundation Giving Trends

Among the major areas of activity, education, health, human services, and public affairs/society benefit captured the largest shares of grant dollars awarded by sampled foundations in 2009, according to Foundation Giving Trends (2011 Edition). By number of grants, human services continued to rank first, with sampled funders allocating 27 percent for this area. Key findings include:

• Foundations awarded 186 grants of $10 million or more in 2009. Of the 10 largest, five were awarded by the Gates Foundation, mainly for health and education.
• International giving — which cuts across all areas and includes grants awarded directly to overseas recipients and to U.S.-based international programs — accounted for nearly 24 percent of total grant dollars awarded.
• Among specific populations, the economically disadvantaged benefited from the largest share of grant dollars (29 percent) and grants (25 percent).

To download the report highlights, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Collaboration Database

In addition to identifying and showcasing exceptional nonprofit collaboration efforts, The Collaboration Prize, supported by the Lodestar Foundation, provides models and best practices for the field through the Nonprofit Collaboration Database, a resource for everyone seeking real-life examples of how nonprofit organizations are working together. The database is housed with the Foundation Center. The database contains detailed information on 250 collaborations nominated for the 2009 Prize, and will be further expanded to include new collaboration models resulting from the 2011 Prize process, as well as other examples that are not part of The Collaboration Prize project of nonprofits working together. Information is arranged by searchable categories, including ways to collaborate, reasons to collaborate, challenges and outcomes. Go to: http://collaboration.foundationcenter.org/search.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Create a List with Clickable Checkboxes in Word 2010

Last week we covered a simple way to create a checkbox list for printing. This week's tip covers a more advanced technique for creating checkbox lists which you can click on to check. Here's how:

•If the Developer tab is not displayed on your Ribbon you will need to add it:
1. Click the File Menu
2. Click the Options button at the bottom of the left pane
3. Click Customize the Ribbon in the left pane
4. Click to select Developer under the Main Tabs pane on the right

• To add the checkbox, click the Developer tab on the Ribbon
• Click the checkbox in the control group

Click the checkbox control to select (or deselect). We recommend using a table for this type of a list, placing the checkbox in a column beside the list items.

Picks of the Week: November 27 - December 3, 2011

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Website of the Week -- FourthSector.org

Over the past few decades, the boundaries between the public (government), private (business), and social (non-profit) sectors have been blurring as many pioneering organizations have been blending social and environmental aims with business approaches. There are many expressions of this trend, including corporate social responsibility, microfinance, venture philanthropy, sustainable businesses, social enterprise, privatization, community development and others. As this activity matures, it is becoming formalized as a ‘Fourth Sector’ of the economy. This website provides important links to a resource library, a directory of organizations engaged in giving form and direction to the Fourth Sector, a legal document library, and more. Go to: http://www.fourthsector.net.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit's Guide to Human Resources: Managing Your Employees & Volunteers by Jan Masaoka

From the publisher: The nonprofit workplace has a culture of its own, shaped largely by the organization's mission and the staff attracted to the mission, which can include large numbers of volunteers. And with many of today's nonprofits operating on a slim budget, chances are you're fulfilling more than one role in the organization and can use some focused guidance! Geared to this unique culture, The Nonprofit's Guide to Human Resources provides legal and "good practice" information for anyone in charge of HR at small to medium sized organizations. Whatever your title and experience level, you'll learn how to identify, face and resolve daily legal issues related to:

• hiring, including screening, testing, background checks and interviewing
• salaries and benefits, including FMLA and comp time
• firings, layoffs and time reductions
• determining suitable volunteer positions and recruiting and training for them
• employee communications and other administrative tasks
• managing a multi-racial, multicultural and multi-generational workforce
• handling an organization in crisis

The Nonprofit's Guide to Human Resources offers the sound legal information found in Nolo's other books for employers while addressing specific nonprofit issues you're likely to encounter, such as the board of directors' role in HR, and managing volunteers. Throughout the book you'll find helpful tips and lessons learned (the hard way!) from expert advisers in various areas of HR management, from hiring to unions.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Why Americans Use Social Media

Two-thirds of online adults (66%) use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn. These internet users say that connections with family members and friends (both new and old) are a primary consideration in their adoption of social media tools. Roughly two thirds of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these sites, while half say that connecting with old friends they’ve lost touch with is a major reason behind their use of these technologies. Other factors play a much smaller role—14% of users say that connecting around a shared hobby or interest is a major reason they use social media, and 9% say that making new friends is equally important. Reading comments by public figures and finding potential romantic partners are cited as major factors by just 5% and 3% of social media users, respectively. To read or download the full report: http://pewinternet.org.

Resource of the Week – Non-Profits: Sample Forms and Policies

The new IRS Form 990 requires the organization to adopt a number of policies in order to comply with the standards of governance, accountability and transparency. The following samples have been compiled and developed by Wegner CPAs based in Wisconsin. Go to: http://www.wegnercpas.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Create a List with Checkboxes in Word 2007/2010

Here's an easy way to add a list with checkboxes in Word:

• Create a bulleted list
• Select the list
• On the Home tab, in the Paragraphs group, click the arrow on the Bullets button
• If a checkbox does not appear on the Bullets drop-down menu, click Define New Bullet
• Under Bullet Character, click the Symbol button
• From the Symbol menu, click on a checkbox symbol and click OK
• You can also select another font, such as Wingdings, and choose a checkbox from this font before clicking OK

This is a quick and simple way to create a checkbox list for printing. However, it does not allow you to click the checkbox on the screen and check the item off the list. Next week's tip will cover this more advanced technique for creating checkbox lists in Word.

Picks of the Week: November 13 - 19, 2011

2011-11-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- Online Compendium of NPO Regulations

This Web site provides a central resource for nonprofit organization (NPO) administrators, regulators and the interested public to find information about the laws and regulations controlling NPOs in the U.S. The site has three major sections: a set of informational pages about various general topics, a section of pages each dedicated to an individual jurisdiction (e.g. states) that describe the regulations of those jurisdictions, and a section devoted to current issues in NPO regulation and the efforts being made to minimize the regulatory burden that NPOs face. Go to: http://www.muridae.com/nporegulation.

Publication of the Week -- Content Rules by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman

From the publisher: Blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other publishing platforms are giving everyone a "voice," including organizations and their customers. So how do you create the bold stories, videos, and blog posts that cultivate fans, arouse passion for your products or services, and ignite your business? Content Rules equips you for online success with a one-stop source on the art and science of developing marketing content that people care about. This coverage is interwoven with case studies of companies successfully spreading their ideas online-and using them to establish credibility and build a loyal customer base.

• Learn the art of storytelling and the science of journalism
• Find an authentic "voice" and craft bold content that will resonate with prospects and buyers and encourage them to share it with others
• Leverage social media and social tools to get your content and ideas distributed as widely as possible
• Boost your online presence and engage with customers and prospects like never before with Content Rules.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Computer and Internet Use at Home

Exploring the Digital Nation - Computer and Internet Use at Home updates and expands last year’s report, Exploring the Digital Nation: Home Broadband Internet Adoption in the United States, based on data from the Census Bureau’s most recent Current Population Survey (CPS) School Enrollment and Internet Use Supplement. Key findings include:

• As of October 2010, more than 68 percent of households used broadband Internet access service, up from 64 percent one year earlier
• Cable modem (32 percent) and DSL (23 percent) ranked as the most commonly used broadband technologies. Other technologies, including mobile broadband, fiber optics, and satellite services, accounted for a small, but growing, segment of households with broadband Internet access service.
• Over three-fourths (77 percent) of households had a computer – the principal means by which households access the Internet – compared with 62 percent in 2003. Low computer use correlates with low broadband adoption rates.
• Broadband Internet adoption, as well as computer use, varied across demographic and geographic groups. Lower income families, people with less education, those with disabilities, Blacks, Hispanics, and rural residents generally lagged the national average in both broadband adoption and computer use. For example, home broadband adoption and computer use stood at only 16 percent and 27 percent, respectively, among rural households headed by a Black householder without a high school diploma. Also, households with school-age children exhibited higher broadband adoption and computer use rates than other households (Section 4.1, Figure 7).
• The most important reasons households without broadband Internet or dial-up service gave for not subscribing were: (1) lack of need or interest (47 percent); (2) lack of affordability (24 percent); and (3) inadequate computer (15 percent)

For more information and to download the full report, go to: http://www.esa.doc.gov.

Resource of the Week – Tools for Capacity Building

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) has compiled an excellent collection of capacity building tools and resources for nonprofits. Go to: http://www.councilofnonprofits.org.

Tech Tip of the Week Using Date Functions in Excel 2007/2010

There are many ways to use the Date functions in Excel. Previous Tech Tips have included: Calculate a Person's Age in Excel; Calculate Remaining Days in the Year; and Calculate the Days, Months or Years between Dates in Excel.

A lesser known date function is NETWORKDAYS, which returns the number of work days between two dates. The format for this function is: NETWORKDAYS(start_date,end_date,[holidays]). Holidays is optional.

The following tutorials can help you learn to use of the Date functions in Excel:
Excel 2007 / 2010 Date Functions: Working with Dates in Excel from www.about.com.

Microsoft Excel 2007 to 2010: The Date Function in Excel from www.homeandlearn.co.uk.

Picks of the Week: November 6 - 12, 2011

2011-11-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week -- National Human Services Assembly

The National Human Services Assembly is an association of the nation’s leading national non-profits in the fields of health, human and community development, and human services. Many of the member organizations are national offices of large networks of local health & human service organizations. Others are national research or resource organizations or national programs. The National Assembly is a learning community where leaders with parallel responsibilities at different national nonprofit human service organizations (e.g., CEOs, HR directors) share knowledge and expertise about their work in this sector. The Assembly envisions “a just and caring nation which effectively addresses the development and care of its citizens.” And it envisions itself as a force attempting to make that vision a reality. Goals of the Assembly include:

• Provide collective leadership to shape national human development/health & human service strategies.
• Serve as a catalyst for sharing of resources for the purposes of individual/professional development and organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Increase awareness of the importance of and trust in the nonprofit health & human service sector.

For more information, go to: http://www.nationalassembly.org/Default.aspx.

Publication of the Week -- Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up by Paul Schmitz

From the publisher: Paul Schmitz, CEO of Public Allies, shares unique experiences and lessons his organization has learned from two decades of identifying and developing thousands of diverse young leaders across the country. With inspiring stories and practical examples, the author shares what it means to lead today. He tells the story about how the Public Allies model emerged (including Michelle Obama's important role) and demonstrates the organization's approach through illustrative stories of its graduates and of his own unusual leadership journey. The author surveys America's democratic and civil rights history, current trends, and leadership theory to demonstrate how collaboration among citizens has always been core to social change. The book also delves into five leadership values essential today: recognizing and mobilizing assets, diversity and inclusion, teamwork and collaboration, continuous learning, and integrity. Everyone Leads offers a hopeful path for citizens, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations wanting to build and engage the diverse leadership our communities and our democracy badly need.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Nonprofit Employers Don’t Meet Workers’ Needs for Job Satisfaction

As reported by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, two recent reports show a disconnect between what nonprofits provide to their workers and what employees say is essential to their job satisfaction. The survey reports gathered data from about 3,500 nonprofit workers in the New York and Washington metropolitan areas and were conducted by the staffing firm Professionals for NonProfits. Key findings include:

• Seventy percent of workers in two surveys said their jobs were either disappointing or only somewhat fulfilling. That might be a reason 25 percent of workers said they were considering looking for a job outside the nonprofit world.
• Four out of 10 workers in both cities said that the factors they ranked as most essential are not on display at their nonprofits:—“respect, trust, and support by management” as well as a sense that their organization has “a compelling mission.”
• About half of all workers said they felt recognition and reward for their hard work and outstanding performance were essential. And yet 60 percent of workers in Washington and 65 percent in New York said hard work was not valued at their organization.
• The pay cuts that many nonprofit workers have taken during the economic downturn may be exacting a cost in employee satisfaction: About half of workers in both surveys said a salary reduction would be a reason to leave and a more important motivation for departure than a change in work expectations or job description. For more information about the reports, go to: http://tiny.cc/nq6y1.

Resource of the Week – Accounting Procedures Manual Template

Blue Avocado Magazine has provided a template for developing an accounting procedures manual for your nonprofit. It was developed by Deborah Cooper of the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN), along with Meredeth Clark (also from CAN) and Steve Zimmerman, C.P.A., of Spectrum Nonprofit Services. Go to: http://www.blueavocado.org.

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: Introducing Broadcast Slide Show

PowerPoint Blog: Broadcast your Presentation with PowerPoint 2010

Picks of the Week: October 30 - November 5, 2011

2011-10-31T06:56:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- Partnership for Philanthropic Planning

Originally created in 1988 as the National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG), the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (the Partnership) is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to help people and organizations create charitable giving experiences that are the most meaningful in achieving both charitable mission and the philanthropic, financial, family and personal goals of the donor. The Partnership achieves its mission through research, education, advocacy, community dialogue and the setting of standards and best practices in philanthropic planning. The Partnership strives to engage all constituents in the charitable gift planning process: planned giving and major gifts professionals, nonprofit managers and trustees, financial and estate planners, trust managers and administrators. To access the Resource Center, go to: http://www.pppnet.org.

Publication of the Week -- Implementing and Sustaining Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Nonprofit Organizations by John M. Bryson Sharon Roe Anderson and Farnum K. Alston

From the publisher: Based on John Bryson's acclaimed comprehensive approach to strategic planning, the Implementing and Sustaining Your Strategic Plan workbook provides a step-by-step process, tools, techniques, and worksheets to help successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot an organization's strategy over the long haul. This new and immensely practical workbook helps organizations work through the typical challenges of leading implementation for sustained change. It spotlights the importance of effective leadership for long-term successful strategic plan implementation. The authors include a wealth of tools designed to help with goal and objective setting, budgeting, stakeholder analysis, priority reconciliation, strategies in practice, special leadership roles, cultural changes, and more. The workbook's conceptual framework, step-by-step process, and worksheets can be applied in a variety of ways. It can be used as a whole, or selected parts can be used by board members, boards of directors, senior management teams, implementation teams, and task forces on a regular basis throughout the process of sustained implementation. The workbook's individual worksheets, or combinations of worksheets, can be used as needed to address a variety of implementation-related tasks. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Latest Trends in Corporate Giving

Based on data from 184 companies, including 63 of the top 100 companies in the Fortune 500, the 2011 Edition of Giving in Numbers is the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy's seventh annual report on trends in corporate philanthropy. The sum of contributions across all respondents of the 2010 Corporate Giving Survey (CGS) totaled over $15.5 billion in cash and product giving. In this report, CECP not only presents a profile of corporate philanthropy in 2010, but also seeks to answer the pivotal question: How has corporate giving changed since the onset of the economic downturn? Key findings include:

• 94% of companies offered at least one matching gift program in 2010
• 89% of companies had a formal domestic employee volunteer program
• 81% of companies reported having a corporate foundation
• Health, education, and community and economic development were top priorities for the typical company

For more information about the key findings and to download a copy of the full report, go to: http://www.corporatephilanthropy.org.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Tips Phone App

From the publisher: Smart tips at your fingertips. Whether you work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization – or would like to – this app is for you. Need to chair a committee? Planning a fundraising event or board retreat? Thinking about joining a board? Want to know more about nonprofit budgets? View a daily tip that can help you and your favorite cause be more effective and efficient. Search related categories and terms. Designate favorites and add notes to stimulate discussion at your next meeting. Or simply share a smart thought with colleagues and friends. Features Display a daily tip with brief commentary. Touch a category to view related tips or search by keyword or tip number. Save or share a tip or edit your favorites list. Add and save your notes about a tip. Shake your device to reload the current day. Go to: http://appshopper.com/business/nonprofittips.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using IF Functions in Excel 2007 and 2010

In a previous tip Using IF Functions in Excel we covered the basic If function which can be used in all versions of Excel. About.com explains the use of the If function and provides step-by-step tutorials on how to enter this function in 2007 and 2010:

Using the Excel 2007 IF Function

Using If Functions in Excel 2010

Download the If Function Worksheet and learn about the more complex uses of If functions.

Picks of the Week: October 23 - 29, 2011

2011-10-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- The Community Tool Box

The Community Tool Box is a widely used Internet-based resource for promoting community health and development. The Community Tool Box is a service of the Work Group for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. Development of the Community Tool Box has been ongoing since 1994, and is a public service of the University of Kansas. The Tool Box provides more than 7,000 pages of practical information to support community health and development work. The focus is on specific practical skills, such as conducting a meeting or participatory evaluation, that help create conditions for health and human development. Go to: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/About.aspx.

Publication of the Week -- Driving Social Change: How to Solve the World's Toughest Problems by Paul C. Light

From the publisher: This important book illustrates how to create the social breakthroughs needed to solve urgent global threats such as poverty, disease, and hunger. It then turns to three alternative, but complementary, paths to social breakthrough: social protecting, social exploring, and social advocacy, providing a detailed map of the journey from initial commitment to a world of justice and opportunity. This publication:

• Examines the current condition of the social impact infrastructure
• Offers strategies for how to remedy the steady weakening of our social-impact infrastructure
• Provides tactics to build strong social organizations and networks
• Illustrates dynamic methods to respond to constant economic and social change

Author Paul Light believes we should be less concerned about the tools of agitation (social entrepreneurship, social protecting, social exploring, and social advocacy) and more concerned about the disruption and replacement of the status quo. Timely in its urgency, this book describes the revolutionary social impact cycle, which provides a new approach for framing the debate about urgent threats. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Lack of Diversity in Arts Giving

Most foundations make grants to big arts organizations that serve a well-to-do, predominantly white audience, according to a new study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. The study says organizations with annual budgets exceeding $5-million, representing about 2 percent of cultural organizations, collected 55 percent of arts grants in 2009. The biggest recipients tend to be museums, operas, and symphonies, which have seen attendance decline while demand is rising for community-based cultural programs, according to the watchdog group, which has challenged foundations to step up support for all types of groups that serve the needy. Arts philanthropy has not kept pace with demographic changes and “is using its tax-exempt status primarily to benefit wealthier, more privileged institutions and populations,” said Holly Sidford, the study’s author. To download an executive summary of the report, go to: http://www.ncrp.org.

Resource of the Week – Top 10 Tips for Running a Good Nonprofit Hiring Process

Any hiring process takes thoughtful planning. But for nonprofit organizations, which often face time and money constraints, and whose staff are highly driven by passion and commitment to a cause, the planning process takes on new meaning. It becomes even more important in this type of environment to ensure that the hiring process is done efficiently, and reaps the best candidates for the senior roles that nonprofits seek to fill. To explore how to run a good process, The Bridgespan Group interviewed Tom Friel, the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. and a senior advisor to The Bridgespan Group. In this article, he shares his top 10 tips on running an effective hiring process. Go to: http://www.bridgestar.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Add a Drop Cap in Word 2010

A drop cap is used to display the first letter of the paragraph in a large font. To add a drop cap to a paragraph in Word 2010:

• Click in the paragraph where you would like to apply a drop cap
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the text group, choose Drop Cap

From the Drop Cap list, click to select the style or choose options for additional choices

Picks of the Week: October 16 - 22, 2011

2011-10-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- Social Edge

Social Edge is a global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. While Social Edge is sponsored by the Skoll Foundation, Social Edge has no connection to its grantmaking programs. Social Edge launched in June 2003 with the mission to:

• Connect social entrepreneurs, their partners and allies to discuss cutting-edge issues shaping the field.
• Foster frank dialogue, mutual respect and a sense of community among all in the sector.
• Promote learning from the best, promising and disastrous practices.

Social Edge has become a site where social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. The site attempts to strike a balance between the visionary and the practical, with its spirited discussions and online workshops and features. Go to: http://www.socialedge.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Board Members Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy by Marcia Avner

From the publisher: The Nonprofit Board Member's Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy shows board members how to use their power and privilege to move their organization's work forward. The book includes: Concepts, principles, and strategies specific to board members of 501 (c)(3) charities; An eight-step process that enables boards to plan for advocacy to be proactive instead of reactive; First-person success stories and from-the-field advice from board members across the U.S.; Three ways to influence the executive branch of government; Four facts about lobbying with foundation grant funds; Twenty frequently asked questions about lobbying; Information about the laws that govern lobbying by nonprofits; Detailed worksheets that lead readers through critical processes; An appendix of lobbying tips and tactics; Encouragement to make advocacy and lobbying core to a board's active leadership .Hands-on worksheets and resources guide you Detailed worksheets lead you through critical processes from creating a public policy readiness profile, selecting lobbying strategies, identifying key decision makers, identifying resources, and drafting a public policy work plan. An annotated list of helpful resources includes publications, organizations, and web sites.
Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Social Media Trends

Clear Verve Marketing LLC based in Wisconsin partnered with McGrath Marketing Associates to launch a study on the social media habits of nonprofit organizations in Southeast Wisconsin. Key findings include:

• Ninety percent of nonprofits use social media, but only 36 percent have a policy regarding its use.
• Although nonprofits have generally embraced the use of social media, many have discovered challenges and in some cases, abandoned the use of social media altogether.
• While lack of resources was often cited by the organizations that abandoned the use of social media, it is also important to note that this same issue was also cited as a major challenge for the organizations that are still using social media.

To access the survey, go to: http://e2ma.net.

Resource of the Week – Finding Your Funding Model: A Practical Approach to Nonprofit Sustainability

The Bridgespan Group’s latest guide, "Finding Your Funding Model: A Practical Approach to Nonprofit Sustainability," outlines a six-step journey to identifying and building the funding model that is right for your organization. Building on years of primary research and consulting experience with dozens of nonprofits, The Bridgespan Group has developed an approach to help organizations identify and develop funding models that can best position them to achieve programmatic aspirations. Finding Your Funding Model provides practical guidance for the steps required, and the decisions and tradeoffs to be made, that will confront nonprofit leaders along the way. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Selecting a Range in Excel 2007/2010

In Excel, a range is a group of connected cells. When working in Excel you often need to select a range. Here is a simple trick for quickly selecting a range:

• Click anywhere within the range
• Press Ctrl + A
• The range is selected

If the worksheet does not contain data, Ctrl + A selects the entire worksheet. Another way to select the entire worksheet is to click the button in the upper left corner of the worksheet

Picks of the Week: October 9 - 15, 2011

2011-10-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- Tides

Tides partners with individuals and institutions to support values-based social change throughout the world. Tides pursues multiple, related strategies to promote this mission. From green nonprofit centers to programmatic consulting, donor advised funds to fiscal sponsorship, grants management to risk management and more, Tides gives members of the nonprofit and philanthropic community freedom to focus on the change it wants to see. For more information, go to: www.tides.org.

Publication of the Week -- Building Nonprofit Capacity: A Guide to Managing Change Through Organizational Lifecycles by John Brothers and Anne Sherman

From the publisher: This important resource shows nonprofit leaders how to effectively shepherd a change process within their organization. Based on research from TCC's (formerly The Conservation Company) organizational effectiveness studies and results from the core capacity assessment tool (CCAT, used with over 1000 organizations), the book provides an assessment's lifecycle score that reflects the organization's current stage of development. Filled with case studies, the book provides an outline of the trajectory of organizations along the lifecycle and best practices of how to move successfully through the lifecycle, including the use of templates and resources to assist their movement. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – The State of Nonprofit Transparency: Voluntary Disclosure Practices

Guidestar has published a report summarizing the current state of voluntary disclosure policies in the nonprofit sector. Key findings include:

• A high percentage (93 percent) of nonprofits are embracing the Internet to disclose information about their programs and services. In addition, nearly three-quarters of the organizations provided the names of the people who serve on their governing boards and the key staff who manage their organizations and oversee the delivery of programs and services.
• Only 43 percent of the nonprofits surveyed posted their annual reports on their Web sites. Organizations with higher income levels were more likely to make their annual reports available via the Web.
• Only 13 percent posted their audited financial statements on their Web sites. The results of our survey show a reluctance to disclose audited financial statements publically. Although not all nonprofits obtain audits of their financial statements, our survey sample reflects organizations of the size for which an audit is both prudent and a necessary tool for assessing management’s financial capabilities and the organization’s financial health.
• Only 3 percent posted their respective IRS letters of determination on their Web sites. The results of our survey show great reluctance to disclose this basic document authenticating an organization’s tax-exempt status, even though every tax-exempt organization is required to make available for public inspection its application for exemption, any supporting documentation, and any letter or document issued by the IRS concerning the application.

Guidestar recommend five simple steps that will greatly advance nonprofit transparency. For the recommendations and to download a free copy of the report, go to: http://publications.guidestar.org. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.)

Resource of the Week – Best Practice Briefs

Between 1998 and 2005, University-Community Partnerships at Michigan State University's Office of University Outreach and Engagement published a series of 34 Best Practice Briefs. The briefs were designed to summarize research-based information about human service concepts, processes, models, and tools for funders, policy makers, and service organizations. The full series is archived here in PDF format. Use the navigation bar on the left of the webpage to browse the series by topic, or link directly to the PDF files listed at the site. Go to: http://outreach.msu.edu.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Text Case in Word

To change the case of text in Word, try this:

• Select text
• Press Shift + F3 until it changes to the desired case style

Pressing Shift + F3 toggles the text case between sentence case, UPPERCASE, lowercase, and capitalize each word. Be sure to hold down the Shift WHILE you press F3. Also, it works in all versions of Word. However, if you include text with punctuation at the end, it will skip the option to capitalize each word. You can also try this in PowerPoint.

Picks of the Week: October 2 - 8, 2011

2011-10-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- Foundation Center Online Learning Lab

The Foundation Center offers an array of online training courses to help you succeed in your fundraising efforts. You can find these online courses listed in the Center's "Virtual Classroom". Go to: http://www.grantspace.org/Classroom.

Publication of the Week -- The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management, 3rd Edition by David O. Renz (Editor) and Robert D. Herman

From the publisher: The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management brings together leading experts in the nonprofit and management fields to describe effective practice in all the important functions, processes, and strategies of nonprofit management. Based on the most current research, theory, and experience, this comprehensive edition offers useful advice for managing nonprofit organizations and addresses key aspects of practice such as board development, strategic planning, lobbying, marketing, fundraising, volunteer management, financial management, risk management, and compensation and benefits. New chapters include information and knowledge in areas that have developed and changed substantially since the second edition was published, including: social entrepreneurship, financial leadership and capital structure, demands for new levels of accountability and transparency, and the changing political and legal climate and context. David O. Renz is the Beth K. Smith/Missouri Chair in Nonprofit Leadership and the Director of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, a leadership development and research center at the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Childhood Poverty Among Hispanics Sets Record, Leads Nation

The spread of poverty across the United States that began at the onset of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and accelerated last year hit one fast-growing demographic group especially hard: Latino children. More Latino children are living in poverty -- 6.1 million in 2010 -- than children of any other racial or ethnic group. This marks the first time in U.S. history that the single largest group of poor children is not white. In 2010, 37.3% of poor children were Latino, 30.5% were white and 26.6% were black, according to an analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. This negative milestone for Hispanics is a product of their growing numbers, high birth rates and declining economic fortunes. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Hispanics today make up a record 16.3% of the total U.S. population. But they comprise an even larger share (23.1%) of the nation's children, a disparity driven mainly by high birth rates among Hispanic immigrants. Read the full report for discussion of the factors explaining this trend and how the recession reversed a pattern where more white children lived in poverty than Hispanic children prior to 2007. The report also explores the varied impact of the recession on different subgroups of Latino children. Go to: http://pewhispanic.org.

Resource of the Week – Stepping Up, Staying Engaged: Succession Planning and Executive Transition Management for Nonprofit Boards of Directors

Staying Engaged, Stepping Up is the fifth volume of a monograph series on executive transitions and executive transition management, funded by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Family Fund and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This publication focuses particularly on board leaders. It provides a set of practical perspectives, hands-on tools, brief case studies, and useful resources to help board chairs, officers, and members take a proactive approach to preparing their organizations for a transition. To download a copy, go to: http://www.aecf.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value in Excel

To freeze a formula into its current value:

• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter

Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, including 2007 and 2010!

Picks of the Week: September 25 - October 1, 2011

2011-09-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Website of The Week -- Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is a national network of young people professional s and people involved in the work of organized philanthropy. EPIP's mission is to support and strengthen the next generation of grantmakers in order to advance social justice philanthropy. Go to: http://www.epip.org/index.php.

Publication of the Week -- Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time by Claire Diaz-Ortiz

From the publisher: As recent events in Japan, the Middle East, and Haiti have shown, Twitter offers a unique platform to connect individuals and influence change in ways that were unthinkable only a short time ago. In Twitter for Good, Claire Diaz Ortiz, Twitter’s head of corporate social innovation and philanthropy, shares the same strategies she offers to organizations launching cause-based campaigns. Filled with dynamic examples from initiatives around the world, this groundbreaking book offers practical guidelines for harnessing individual activism via Twitter as a force for social change.

• Reveals why every organization needs a dedicated Twitter strategy and explains how to set one
• Introduces the five-step model taught at trainings around the world: T.W.E.E.T. (Target, Write, Engage, Explore, Track)

Author @claired is the head of corporate social innovation and philanthropy at Twitter, collaborating with organizations like Nike, Pepsi, MTV, the American Red Cross, charity:water, Room to Read, the Gates Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, the Case Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, Kiva, the United Nations, Free the Children, Committee to Protect Journalists, Partners in Health, FEMA, Ushahidi, The Acumen Fund. With more than 200 million users worldwide, Twitter has established itself as a dynamic force, one that every business and nonprofit must understand how to use effectively. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – High Levels of Civic Engagement Builds Economic Resilience of Communities

A report released today by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) finds that states with higher levels of civic engagement are more resilient in an economic downturn. The report identifies five measures of civic engagement – attending meetings, helping neighbors, registering to vote, volunteering and voting – which appear to protect against unemployment and contribute to overall economic resilience. Of these five civic health indicators, working with neighbors was the most important factor in predicting economic resilience, as an increase of one percent in neighbors working together to solve community problems was associated with a decrease of .256 percent in the unemployment rate. Public meeting attendance emerged as the second most important factor, followed by volunteering and registering to vote as top important predictors of unemployment change. The NCoC report found that of the states with the highest rates of volunteering and working with neighbors, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and South Dakota had the smallest increase in unemployment between 2006 and 2010. Of the states with the lowest rates of volunteering and working with neighbors, Alabama, California, Florida, Nevada and Rhode Island had the highest increase in unemployment. The report calls on community and business leaders to use these findings to inform a public discussion of how civic health can help improve the economy. For more information, go to: http://www.ncoc.net/unemployment-release.

Resource of the Week –Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact (TRASI)

TRASI is a project of the Foundation Center, developed in partnership with McKinsey & Co. and with input from experts in the field, to address the growing interest in measuring impact. The TRASI database of tools and resources includes information on approaches to impact assessment, guidelines for creating and conducting an assessment, and ready-to-use tools for measuring social change. You can browse over 150 tools, methods, and best practices in the TRASI database. Sort by name, sponsor, or approach type. For a complete overview of an approach, click on its name. For more information, go to: http://trasi.foundationcenter.org/browse.php.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Compress Pictures in PowerPoint 2010

If you’ve ever tried to email a PowerPoint presentation containing several pictures, you have probably discovered that the file size can be quite large. There is a way to reduce the file size. Here’s how:
• Select a picture to display the Picture Tools Format tab
• In the Adjust group, click the Compress Pictures button to display the Compress Pictures dialog box
• If you want ALL pictures compressed make sure the Apply only to this picture box is NOT selected
• In the Target Output section there are three compression options
• Choosing the last option, Email (96 ppi), will result in the smallest file size
• Click OK to apply the settings and close the dialog box

Remember that the more you compress the pictures the less quality there is for printing. But if you just want to share these photos online, give it a try. The procedure in PowerPoint 2007 is nearly identical.

Picks of the Week: September 18 - 24, 2011

2011-09-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- ArtsReady

Premiering Fall 2011, ArtsReady is a web based emergency preparedness platform designed to provide arts organizations with customized business continuity plans for post crisis sustainability. A national initiative of South Arts, the ArtsReady readiness, response and recovery tool was developed in partnership with the University of California/Berkeley and Fractured Atlas with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Mississippi Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, go to: http://www.artsready.org.

Publication of the Week -- Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement, 3rd Edition by John M. Bryson

From the publisher: When it was first published more than sixteen years ago, John Bryson's Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations introduced a new and thoughtful strategic planning model. Since then it has become the standard reference in the field. In this completely revised third edition, Bryson updates his perennial bestseller to help today’s leaders enhance organizational effectiveness. This completed updated 3rd edition:

• Features the Strategy Change Cycle—a proven planning process used by a large number of organizations
• Offers detailed guidance on implementing the planning process and includes specific tools and techniques to make the process work in any organization
• Introduces new material on creating public value, stakeholder analysis, strategy mapping, balanced scorecards, collaboration, and more
• Includes information about the organizational designs that will encourage strategic thought and action throughout the entire organization
• Contains a wealth of updated examples and cases

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Dramatic Affect of Recession on Nonprofit Executive Compensation

GuideStar-- a leading source of nonprofit information--today published its 2011 GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report, the only large-scale analysis of its kind that relies exclusively on data reported to the IRS. The report, which was GuideStar's first look at how the "Great Recession" affected salaries and benefits across the nonprofit sector, showed that the economy undoubtedly played a role in lessening compensation. In 2008, median increases in incumbent CEO compensation were generally 4 percent or higher. In 2009, increases were generally 2 percent or less. Highlights of the 2011 report include:

• Median compensation of females continued to lag behind that of males when considering comparable positions at similar organizations. The gap ranged from 13.4 percent for CEOs at organizations with budgets of $250-$500 thousand to 24.6 percent at organizations with budgets of more than $50 million. Since 1999, though, these gaps have narrowed for most sizes of organizations. The notable exception is organizations in the $1-$5 million range, where the gap has actually increased.
• Since 1999, the percentage of female CEOs has increased for organizations of all sizes. The majority of organizations with budgets of $1 million or less have women as CEOs, although female representation in that role declines as budget size increases. Only 16 percent of organizations with budgets of more than $50 million have female CEOs.
• As usual, health and science organizations had the highest overall median salaries. Food, religion, and youth development organizations brought up the rear.
• For the sixth straight year, Washington, D.C., had the highest overall median salaries of the 20 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), and Riverside-San Bernardino, California, had the lowest. Adjusted for cost of living, New York replaced San Francisco as the MSA where nonprofit executives had the lowest median buying power, whereas those in Boston had the highest.

For more information, go to: http://www2.guidestar.org.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Voter Engagement Webinars

Nonprofit VOTE hosts webinars on a variety of voter engagement topics, designed specifically with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit community in mind. Topics range from how to plan and execute voter engagement activities at your nonprofit to best practices for encouraging clients and constituents to vote on election days. Use the links provided to watch the recorded webinar online, or download each webinar's PowerPoint presentation and associated audio file. Select a topic from the menu provided or simply browse through the webinar offerings. Go to: http://www.nonprofitvote.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Disable Auto Resize of Fonts in PowerPoint 2007/2010

In PowerPoint 2007/2010 Auto Resize intentionally shrinks the size of text as large amounts are added to a slide. One of the top complaints about PowerPoint slide presentations is that text is too small. PowerPoint Design Themes were created to force good design by setting font size automatically. The AutoFit feature defeats this purpose and actually encourages too much text on slides by shrinking it as you type, allowing people to use fonts too small to be seen. To turn this feature off:

• Click the Microsoft Office Button in 2007 or the File tab in 2010
• Click the PowerPoint Options button
• Click Proofing
• Click AutoCorrect Options
• Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab
• Click to clear the check boxes for AutoFit Body text to placeholder and AutoFit title text to placeholder if you want to disable both the body text AND the title text from auto sizing

Picks of the Week: September 11-17, 2011

2011-09-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week -- Nonprofit VOTE

Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America's nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. The organization is a leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services. Nonprofit VOTE's goals include:

• Providing high quality resources for nonprofits and social service agencies to help them incorporate voter engagement activities into to their ongoing work.
• Building lasting capacity for nonpartisan, nonprofit voter participation.
• Promoting sustained increases in voter participation, especially among voters new to the process or with a recent history of lower participation.
• Engaging voters where they gather to work, learn, advocate and receive services.
• Broadening support for the revitalization of democracy and election reforms; and
• Strengthening the nonprofit sector and encouraging new civic leadership.

Nonprofit VOTE partners with state nonprofit associations, national service provider networks, foundations and other nonprofit conveners. We provide partners with programmatic support as well as access to our online resources, free printed materials and other voter engagement resources. Go to: http://www.nonprofitvote.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox: A Complete Guide to Program Effectiveness, Performance Measurement, and Results by Robert M. Penna

From the publisher: The Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox identifies stages in the use of outcomes and shows you how to use specific facets of existing outcome models to improve performance and achieve meaningful results. Going beyond the familiar limits of the sector, this volume also illustrates how tools and approaches long in use in the corporate sector can be of great analytical and practical use to nonprofit, philanthropic, and governmental organizations . An outstanding resource for organizational and program leaders interested in improving performance, there is nothing else like this work currently available.

• Shows how to identify and set meaningful, sustainable outcomes
• Illustrates how to track and manage with outcomes
• Offers guidance in assessing capacity, and using outcome-based communications
• Features a companion Web site with the tools found in this book

Providing the tools and explanations needed to achieve program success, this book is a complete resource for the nonprofit, governmental, or philanthropic professional striving for greater effectiveness in programs or organizations.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Use of Mobile and Location-based Services Rising

According to a new Pew Internet Project report, more than a quarter (28%) of all American adults use mobile or social location-based services of some kind. This includes anyone who takes part in one or more of the following activities:

• 28% of cell owners use phones to get directions or recommendations based on their current location.
• A much smaller number (5% of cell owners) use their phones to check in to locations using geosocial services such as Foursquare or Gowalla. Smartphone owners are especially likely to use these services on their phones, with 12% doing so.
• 9% of internet users set up social media services such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn so that their location is automatically included in their posts on those services.

Taken together, 28% of U.S. adults do at least one of these activities either on a computer or using their mobile phones—and many users do several of them. These figures come from a new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and represent Project’s most expansive study of location services to date. To read or download the full report, go to: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Location.aspx.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Law Blog

The Nonprofit Law Blog Is published by Gene Takagi and Emily Chan of the NEO Law Group. The blog includes a number of nonprofit law articles and resources that will be of great use to staff and board members of nonprofit organizations. Go to: http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/home.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Creating a PowerPoint Presentation Using Word 2007/2010

To use a Word document to create a PowerPoint presentation:
• Format the document using Word heading styles
• PowerPoint uses the heading styles in your Word document to set up the slides in a presentation ̶ each Heading 1 becomes the title of a new slide, and each Heading 2 becomes the first level of text
• You must apply a heading format to the text you want to include in a slide
• You can manually insert heading styles or create a document using Word outline

To create a Word Outline:
• Click the View menu
• Click Outline in the Document Views group
• Type your outline using Tab to add subheadings (promote)
• Press Shift Tab to decrease the indent (demote)
• You can also use the Promote and Demote buttons on the Ribbon
• Save your outline

To Insert Outline Text from Word into PowerPoint:
• In PowerPoint, click the Outline tab in the left pane
• Click the Home tab of the Ribbon
• In the Slides group, click the arrow next to New Slide
• Click Slides from Outline

Picks of the Week: August 28 - September 10, 2011

2011-08-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Capaciteria

Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of capacity-building resources for nonprofits. It promotes peer review because members can comment on and rate individual resource links, as well as add useful new links. Capaciteria was developed by Jonathan Peizer, Chief Technology Officer of the Open Society Institute. Go to: http://capaciteria.org.

Publication of the Week -- Social Media for Social Good: A How-to Guide for Nonprofits by Heather Mansfield

From the publisher: Based on more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit communications and 15,000+ hours spent utilizing social and mobile media, Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits is a comprehensive 256-page hardcover book packed with more than 100 best practices covering Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 nonprofit communications and fundraising. From building your e-newsletter list to finding your "Twitter voice" to launching a mobile website and texting campaign on a small budget, this guide presents a step-by-step strategic plan for launching and maintaining successful social media and mobile marketing campaigns.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Latest Volunteer Trends

Volunteers provide a powerful economic and social benefit to communities across the nation, with 62.8 million adults serving almost 8.1 billion hours through organizations in 2010, according to research released today by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The agency’s annual Volunteering in America research finds that America’s volunteers provided services valued at nearly $173 billion to communities and the nation last year, using Independent Sector’s estimate of the dollar value of volunteer time. Notably, Generation X volunteers (born 1965-1981) devoted more time to service in 2010 than they ever have before, giving more than 2.3 billion hours—an increase of almost 110 million hours over 2009. Generation X members more than doubled their volunteer rate between 1989 and the present day, from 12.3 percent in 1989 to 29.2 percent in 2010. This rise demonstrates a shift that researchers are seeing across the “volunteer lifecycle”—the arc of civic involvement that tends to increase as citizens feel a deeper connection to their communities through personal networks, their workplace, and their children’s schools. While the overall national volunteer rate dipped slightly from 26.8 percent in 2009 to 26.3 percent in 2010, the number of hours volunteers served remained approximately the same at 8.1 billion hours, indicating many volunteers committed more hours to service. The proportion of volunteers who serve 100 hours or more appears to have increased between 2009 and 2010 from 33.2 percent to 33.8 percent, and the median number of hours served per volunteer appears to have increased from 50 to 52 per year. For more information, go to: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.

Resource of the Week – Finding Your Funding Model: A Practical Approach to Nonprofit Sustainability

Developing a funding strategy that leads to financial sustainability is central to any nonprofit's ability to increase its impact. Building on years of primary research and consulting experience with dozens of nonprofits, The Bridgespan Group has developed an approach to help organizations identify and develop funding models that can best position them to achieve programmatic aspirations. Finding Your Funding Model provides practical guidance for the steps required, and the decisions and tradeoffs to be made, that will confront nonprofit leaders along the way. This detailed guide outlines a six step journey to identify and build the funding model that is right for your organization. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Recording Narrations in PowerPoint 2010

In a previous tip we covered recording narrations in PowerPoint 2007. In PowerPoint 2010, here's how:
• Click the Slide show tab on the Ribbon
• In the Set Up group click the Record Slide Show icon
• In the Record Slide Show dialog box, select what you want to record
• Click Start Recording

Picks of the Week: August 21 - 27, 2011

2011-08-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – National Center for Children in Poverty

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is the nation’s leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic security, health, and well-being of America’s low-income families and children. NCCP uses research to inform policy and practice with the goal of ensuring positive outcomes for the next generation. NCCP promotes family-oriented solutions at the state and national levels. Founded in 1989 as a division of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, NCCP is a nonpartisan, public interest research organization. Go to: http://www.nccp.org/about.html.

Publication of the Week -- Finance Fundamentals for Nonprofits, with Website: Building Capacity and Sustainability by Woods Bowman

From the publisher: A complete guide to the financial requirements a nonprofit organization must follow to indefinitely maintain the volume and quality of their services. An organization may have plenty of capacity in the long run, but in the short run, donor restrictions and limited financing options are constraining. Here-and-now liquid assets are the only resources available. Finance Fundamentals for Nonprofits: Building Capacity and Sustainability shows how to measure a nonprofit organization's financial capacity in different time frames and how to measure its ability to sustain capacity in each case.

• Explains how nonprofits differ from businesses and how they promote values-centered management
• Reveals how to improve financial capacity and sustainability
• Written by a nonprofit scholar

Filled with real-world case studies and actionable advice relating financial health to financial capacity and sustainability, this book is essential reading for every nonprofit professional.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Child Poverty Rates Increase in US

According to data released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in its annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book, over the last decade there has been a significant decline in economic well-being for low income children and families. The official child poverty rate, which is a conservative measure of economic hardship, increased 18 percent between 2000 and 2009, essentially returning to the same level as the early 1990s. This increase means that 2.4 million more children are living below the federal poverty line. Data also reveals the impact of the job and foreclosure crisis on children. In 2010, 11 percent of children had at least one unemployed parent and 4 percent have been affected by foreclosure since 2007. For more information, go to: http://datacenter.kidscount.org.

Resource of the Week – Outcome Indicators Project

The Outcome Indicators Project provides a framework for tracking nonprofit performance. It suggests candidate outcomes and outcome indicators to assist nonprofit organizations that seek to develop new outcome monitoring processes or improve their existing systems. The Outcome Framework is applied to 14 program areas. For each program, there is a sample mission statement, an outcome sequence chart, a table of candidate program-specific outcomes, and data collection strategies with suggested data sources for each outcome indicator. For convenience, the outcome sequence chart and table of candidate program-specific outcomes are available for download. The sequence chart is an MS Word document and the table is an MS Excel spreadsheet. The program reports are available as PDFs. An excellent resource. Go to: http://www.urban.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Keep a Table Row from Breaking in Word 2007/2010

To keep a table row from breaking between pages in Word 2007/2010:

• Select the row you want to keep together on the same page
• Below the Table Tools tab on the Ribbon, click the Layout tab
• In the Table group, click Properties to open the Table Properties dialog box
• Click the Row tab
• Clear to de-select the Allow row to break across pages check box
• Click OK

Picks of the Week: August 14 - 20, 2011

2011-08-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – GrantStation.com

GrantStation.com, Inc. (GrantStation) offers nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies the opportunity to identify potential funding sources for their programs or projects as well as resources to mentor these organizations through the grantseeking process. GrantStation provides access to a searchable database of private grantmakers that accept inquiries and proposals from a variety of organizations; federal deadlines, which are updated twice a week; links to state funding agencies; and a growing database of international grantmakers. In addition, GrantStation publishes two e-newsletters highlighting upcoming funding opportunities; the weekly GrantStation Insider, which focuses on opportunities for U.S. nonprofit organizations; and the monthly GrantStation International Insider, which focuses on international funding opportunities. Go to: http://www.grantstation.com.

Publication of the Week -- You and Your Nonprofit: Practical Advice and Tips from the CharityChannel Professional Community by Norman Olshansky and Linda Lysakowski

From the publisher: You And Your Nonprofit has been written for those who want to learn more about the nonprofit sector or improve their knowledge and skills related to nonprofit leadership, management and fundraising. Peer-reviewed articles selected for inclusion in this book have been contributed by nationally known experts within the nonprofit sector, all of whom participate on CharityChannel.com as part of its distinguished professional community. You And Your Nonprofit explores planning issues that are often a challenge to nonprofit organizations; provides models for improvement of management, governance and leadership; presents best practices related to the science and art of fundraising; addresses many of the day-to-day issues that confront nonprofit leaders and professionals; and provides practical and replicable problem-solving suggestions. You And Your Nonprofit is one in a series of IN THE TRENCHES books published by CharityChannel Press. In his foreword to the book, Bob Carter, CFRE, Chair-Elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, wrote, "This is surely the book I wish I had decades ago."

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Under 40 Leaders' Perspectives on Cross-Sector Collaboration

A new report summarizes findings of a survey sponsored by Independent Sector and the American Express Foundation. The report highlights the potential power of an emerging group and an important approach for improving lives across the country and around the world. The group is NGen—people under 40 who are America's next generation of leaders. The approach is collaboration—the ability to work across sectors in order to combine the resources and skills of the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. Both have already made substantial contributions to enriching lives and solving problems in communities everywhere. But this
report — based on the survey that asked more than 2,000 NGeners for their perspectives on leadership development, cross-sector collaboration and how to solve society’s most pressing problems — suggests that with more opportunities for leadership training and further engagement across sectors, that impact can be much greater. The five key findings of the survey are:

• Ngeners mostly agree on the top issues facing communities, the nation, and the world
• Ngeners feel collaboration across sectors is very important but do not know the people, the leaders or the methods to facilitate collaboration
• The majority of Ngeners could not identify a single leader under the age of 40 who is effectively solving a societal problem
• Ngeners believe the nonprofit sector is best positioned to take the lead in engaging other sectors to solve problems
• Ngeners believe they need more, organized leadership development opportunities

For the full report, go to: http://buildingmovement.org.

Resource of the Week – Red Beans & Rice Newsletter

Red Beans & Rice is a weekly e-mail of interesting articles, funding resources, professional development opportunities and other areas related to the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. The newsletter is edited by John Brothers, Principal of Cuidiu Consulting. An excellent resource! Go to: http://archive.constantcontact.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Section Breaks in a Word 2007/2010 Document

Section breaks are used to:

• Change the layout from a single-column to two columns
• Change the orientation from portrait to landscape
• Separate chapters/sections of a document to control page numbering
• Create a different header or footer for a section of your document

To insert a section break:

• Click where you want to insert a Section Break or select a portion of the document around which to insert a pair of section breaks
• Click the Page Layout tab on the Ribbon
• In the Page Setup group, click Breaks

Picks of the Week: August 7 - 13, 2011

2011-08-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – National Center for Charitable Statistics

The National Center for Charitable Statistics, a project of the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. Lobbying expenditure data for all 501(c)(3) organizations that are required to file Form 990 are available. Data are available from 1989 to 1998. The new "digitized" database will soon be available and will provide richer information on all 501(c)(3)s, including their advocacy activities. Go to: http://www.nccs.urban.org.

Publication of the Week -- Scaling Social Impact: New Thinking by Paul N. Bloom and Edward Skloot

From the publisher:"Scaling Social Impact could not be released at a more opportune moment. When resources to support social change seem more limited than ever, two of our field's most significant thought leaders collaborate to bring us some of the best, most current and engaging perspectives on a topic that to this point one might argue has been more fad than strategy. By presenting us with writings from a host of researchers and experienced field builders, Bloom and Skloot offer us not only vision but informed, research-based insights into the concept and complications of what it means to attain the highest potential of effective social programs. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Online Giving Trends

On an ongoing basis, Blackbaud publishes the Index of Charitable Giving. According to the Q1 & Q2 2011 Online Giving Index overall giving increased for both Q1 2011 and Q2 2011, compared to the same periods in 2010. Charity website giving saw mixed results across the first half of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010. Charity websites with branded donation pages achieved five times more donation dollars, on average, than sites with generic donation pages. . To download the Q1 & Q2 2011 Online Giving Index, go to: http://www.blackbaud.com.

Resource of the Week – Best Web Sites To Find Grants

The Best Web Sites To Find Grants has been compiled by Don Griesmann. The list includes links to U.S. foundations and corporations and for the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. There are data banks aimed at international NGOs. There are specialized banks for animals, women, human rights, health, the environment and international development. Griesmann has included what he considers to be the best data banks for U.S. government funds including funds for international purposes. Some of the data banks require a user name, a password and an e-mail address. In some instances your account will require activation through a return e-mail to you to be returned to them or clicking on a link. To access this amazing resource, go to: http://dongriesmannsnonprofit.blogspot.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Move or Copy Sheets between Workbooks in Excel 2007/2010

• Open the sheet you want to move or copy
• Click the Home tab on the Ribbon
• In the Cells group, click Format
• 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

Picks of the Week: July 31 - August 6, 2011

2011-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship

A research and education center based at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) promotes the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact through the thoughtful adaptation of business expertise. Numerous nonprofits are adopting the language and tools of business and some are actually converting to for-profit status. At the same time, for-profit firms are competing directly with nonprofits by moving into social sector arenas, ranging from education to economic development to environmental conservation. This rash of sector-blurring activity has created an opportunity for leading business schools to have significant social impact by constructively exploring the adaptation of business concepts for the social sector. CASE was founded to capitalize on this opportunity while building upon a deep respect for the talent, passion, and dedication of the countless individuals who have devoted their lives to working for the common good. For more information about CASE and to access related resources, to go: http://www.caseatduke.org.

Publication of the Week -- Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business by Ann Handley, and C.C. Chapman

From the publisher: Blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other publishing platforms are giving everyone a "voice," including organizations and their customers. So how do you create the bold stories, videos, and blog posts that cultivate fans, arouse passion for your products or services, and ignite your business? Content Rules equips you for online success with a one-stop source on the art and science of developing marketing content that people care about. This coverage is interwoven with case studies of companies successfully spreading their ideas online-and using them to establish credibility and build a loyal customer base.

• Learn the art of storytelling and the science of journalism
• Find an authentic "voice" and craft bold content that will resonate with prospects and buyers and encourage them to share it with others
• Leverage social media and social tools to get your content and ideas distributed as widely as possible

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Federal Expenditures on Children

Kids' Share 2011: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2010, a fifth annual report, looks comprehensively at trends over the past 50 years in federal spending and tax expenditures on children. Key findings suggest that the size and composition of expenditures on children have changed considerably, but children have not been a budget priority. Federal expenditures on children in 2010, were 11 percent of the federal budget, slightly higher than in 2009. This increase is temporary, however, with the children's share of the budget expected to shrink to less than 8 percent by the end of the next decade. Absent reform of current law, federal spending on children is projected to fall over the next several years, whether measured in real dollars, as a share of the federal budget, or as a share of the economy. Between 2010 and 2015, for example, outlays on children are projected to fall from $374 billion to $339 billion, a decline of 9 percent. As the temporary boost in spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) comes to an end, federal spending on education and certain other programs for children will fall dramatically. To download the report, go to: http://www.urban.org.

Resource of the Week – Using Social Media Platforms to Amplify Public Health Messages

In partnership with Ogilvy PR, Alexandra Hughes of the Georgetown University's Center for Social Impact Communication researched and developed a white paper that examines how to leverage the opportunities social media provides by identifying tenets and best practices for public health-driven social media, as well as provides insights into how to reach and engage key consumer and provider audiences. Using Social Media Platforms to Amplify Public Health Messages was informed by a review of the publicly-available public health and social marketing literature, strategies and tactics employed by public health campaigns that have successfully utilized social media to affect audience attitudes, behaviors and/or awareness of an issue, and one-on-one interviews with public health, social marketing and social media subject-matter experts across the country. To download the white paper, go to: http://smexchange.ogilvypr.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Run PowerPoint 2010 Slide Show in a Window

Have you ever wanted to be able to run a PowerPoint slideshow in a window? This can be done by adding a button to the Quick Access Toolbar. Here’s how:

• Click the File tab on the Ribbon
• Click the Options button at the bottom
• Click Quick Access Toolbar in the left pane
• Under Choose commands from, select Commands Not in the Ribbon
• Scroll down and select Slide Show in a Window
• Click Add to add this button to the Quick Access Toolbar
• Click OK

To run a slideshow in a window simply click the "slideshow" button on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Picks of the Week: July 24 - 30, 2011

2011-07-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – The Communications Network

Formed nearly 20 years ago as a membership association, the Communications Network today is a stand-alone nonprofit organization that promotes the use of consistent, strategic communications as an integral part of effective philanthropy. The Network connects communications professionals working in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector to each other for guidance and mentoring and regularly sponsors learning and networking opportunities through webinars and the annual conference. Today, the Network’s membership represents a wide range of foundation communications leaders and consultants who work to advance communications strategies and practices in all mediums. For more information, go to: www.comnetwork.org.

Publication of the Week -- Leap of Reason: Managing to Outcomes In an Era of Scarcity by Mario Morino

From the publisher: Leap of Reason is the product of decades of hard-won insights from philanthropist Mario Morino, McKinsey & Company, and top social-sector innovators. It is intended to spark the critically important conversations that every nonprofit board and leadership team should have in this new era of austerity. The authors make a convincing case that the nation’s growing fiscal crisis will force all of us in the social sector to be clearer about our aspirations, more intentional in defining our approaches, more rigorous in gauging our progress, more willing to admit mistakes, more capable of quickly adapting and improving—all with an unrelenting focus on improving lives.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Use of Social Media by Foundation Communicators

93 percent of foundation communicators use social networks in their jobs, according to a new survey of the people who handle communications for 155 private and community foundations. As reported by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, forty-four percent of communications staff members said they spend up to 10 percent of their time “posting content, interacting with audiences through interactive media, adapting content, producing media, and developing new-media campaigns.” About 45 percent of foundation communication officials said they devoted 11 to 50 percent of their time to social media, and 3 percent said they spent more than half of their time on social media. The survey was conducted by the Communications Network, a group that represents grant makers. Other key findings include:

• Web sites and electronic communications accounted for 24 percent of the communications budgets of those surveyed, more than any other category.
• About 29 percent of foundation communications staffs said Twitter was the most effective social-media tool, followed by Facebook (27 percent) and YouTube (10 percent).
• About 18 percent said no social-media tool had been useful.
• Foundation officials believed that the best way to reach current grantees is through group e-mails or newsletters (78 percent), followed by a Web site or blog (77 percent), direct e-mail or phone calls (59 percent), or social media (53 percent).
• More than three-quarters of staff members (76 percent) said their organization was using online video.

To access the full report, go to: http://comnetwork.org (large file).

Resource of the Week – Succession Planning for Nonprofits: Free Tools, Templates and Guides

The transition of a nonprofit’s executive director can have enormous impact on an organization’s sustainability. CompassPoint’s Executive Transitions Program has produced a number of free downloadable resources that will provide your organization some practical guidance to use in succession planning. To access templates, surveys, guides and checklists, go to: http://www.compasspoint.org/et.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value

To freeze a formula into its current value:

• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter

Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, including 2007 and 2010!

Picks of the Week: July 17 - 23, 2011

2011-07-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Brandeis University Civic Practices Network

The Civic Practices Network is a project led by Brandeis University's Center for Human Resources at the Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare. The project provides online information with case studies, stories, and other materials about civic education, responsible community action, and democratic policy-making. Go to: http://www.cpn.org.

Publication of the Week -- Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Managers and Leaders: Developing People to Achieve Your Mission by Judith Wilson and Michelle Gislason

From the publisher: Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Leaders offers practical steps for coaching leaders to greatness and complements the academic and theoretical work in nonprofit leadership theory. The book can be used by the coaching novice as a thorough topical overview or by those more experienced with coaching as a quick reference or refresher. Based on the Inquiry Based Coaching approach, Coaching Skills will strengthen and expand the reader's ability to drive organization mission, while retaining the intrinsic values of the nonprofit culture and working towards outcomes that create a culture of discipline and accountability and empower others to be even more responsible, accountable, and self-motivated. This book uses accessible language, examples, case studies, key questions, and exercises to help:

• Promote better relationships
• Know when to delegate, direct and coach.
• Balance directive and supportive styles of leadership for productive partnerships
• Overcome fears and deal head-on with difficult situations and conflict.
• Use coaching for performance improvement and on-the-job development.
• Support independent thinking and personal reflection
• Gain commitment and accountability from others and build teams

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Perceptions of Diversity in the Nonprofit Workforce

The Voice of Nonprofit Talent: Perceptions of Diversity in the Workplace is a new study produced by Commongood Careers and Level Playing Field Institute that focuses on ethnic and racial diversity in the nonprofit workplace. The study examines the repercussions of what happens when organizations do nothing to change this reality. Key findings include:

• While almost 9 out of 10 employees believe their organization values diversity, more than 7 out of 10 believe their employer does not do enough to create a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Among employees who believe their employers value diversity, only one-fourth (25%) believe that their organization has actively demonstrated their commitment to creating a racially diverse environment. This disconnect was particularly evident among employees of color, who were more likely than were white employees to hold negative views of their organizations’ actions towards creating a racially diverse environment (25% compared to 16%).

Two common themes emerged from the responses of employees who believed their organizations were not doing enough to create racially diverse environments: (1) reliance on “empty talk” but not action, and (2) the lack of staff diversity itself. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.cgcareers.org. Also see commentary on the study by Rosetta Thurman at http://www.ssireview.org.

Resource of the Week – Organizing Toolbox

The New Organizing Institute is offering their Organizing Toolbox online at no charge. The extensive collection of training materials, first written by Marshall Ganz of Harvard’s Leading Change Project, and refined by thousands of organizers in the field, provide the basic tools for effective organizing that can result in concrete change. Under each lesson you’ll find a video of a trainer leading that session, a participant guide to walk you through key teachings and small group practice sessions. If you want to train others you’ll also find the PowerPoint and trainer’s notes to help you out. Go to: http://neworganizing.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Add Text to Displayed Numbers in Excel 2007 or 2010

To add text to a number in a cell:

• Select the cells you want to add text to
• From the Home tab on the Ribbon, in the Cells group, click "Format"
• Select Format Cells from the drop-down menu
• Select Custom from the Category list
• In the Type box, select the default value General
• After the word General, enter a space and a quote, next enter the word you want to display and another quote. For example, General "Pounds" or "Inches"
• Click on OK

The format you create will put the word after any number you enter into the cell, but Excel will still treat the value as a number, not text.

Picks of the Week: July 10-16, 2011

2011-07-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

The Shriver Center on Poverty Law develops its advocacy agenda in accordance with the needs of the low-income communities that it serves. Through policy, advocacy, and legal resources, the organization "identifies, develops, and supports creative and collaborative approaches to help achieve social and economic justice." The major clearinghouse on poverty law, the center's Web site provides access to an enormous collection of publications and case studies. The site also has information about advocacy, news, and an advanced search function. Go to: http://www.povertylaw.org.

Publication of the Week -- Market Rebels: How Activists Make or Break Radical Innovations by Hayagreeva Rao

From the publisher: Rao, professor of organizational behavior and human resources at Stanford University, explores the role of collective action in promoting or hindering business innovation. Drawing heavily on theories of social movements, the author posits a cycle of hot causes, unexpected events or innovations, and cool mobilization, activities that channel emotional responses into popular mass actions that anchor new identities embracing or rejecting the hot cause. Rao presents several case studies in which activist behavior either encouraged or impeded the creation and expansion of new markets, technologies or new organizational structures. For example, early 20th-century automobile enthusiasts were able to placate fears about car safety (the hot cause) by staging hundreds of reliability contests that demonstrated the car's safety and practicality to a wide audience (the cool mobilization). Though dryly written and repetitive, the case studies themselves are fascinating and challenge traditional economic models that privilege individual consumer choice while ignoring broader social mobilizations. A final chapter offers advice and strategies for would-be market rebels looking to harness collective action, making this book a useful resource for both citizen activists and corporate leaders and marketers seeking popular support for their products

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Involvement in Causes Can Trigger Individual Behavior Changes

Americans who donate, volunteer or otherwise support a cause may be looking to impact the world around them, but new research shows that they may find that the experience of being involved in a cause actually impacts their own behavior as well. According to new findings from the Dynamics of Cause Engagement study, conducted jointly by Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, more than half of Americans (52%) say they have changed their actions or behavior because of their involvement in a cause. The study examined trends in cause involvement among American adults age 18 and over, as well as the role of a variety of activities in fostering engagement with social issues. Nearly half of Americans (48%) report changing their voting behavior as a result of being involved in a cause, making it the most common type of behavior change. Changing recycling habits (40%), becoming more energy efficient (34%) and becoming more tolerant of differing opinions (25%) also neared the top of the list. Health-related behaviors, such as changing one’s physical activity (12%), visiting a medical professional (9%) or requesting a specific medical test or screen (8%), fall lower on the list. For more information, go to: http://csic.georgetown.edu.

Resource of the Week –The Online Fundraiser's Checklist 2.0

Network for Good has put together a collection of 10 checklists that cover essential basics of online fundraising: your website home page, donation form, writing style, email lists, email campaigns, thank-you programs, and creating and marketing your next event. Check the boxes on these worksheets, and if you don’t score well, use the helpful (and free!) resources listed on the bottom of the page to improve your online fundraising practices. To download this resource, go to: http://www.fundraising123.org.

Tech Tip of the Week - Presenting with PowerPoint

Trying to improve your PowerPoint-driven presentations? Check out Presenting with PowerPoint: 10 dos and don'ts, published on the Microsoft.com website. This article discusses the following tips for improving your presentations:

• Hold up your end with compelling material
• Keep it simple
• Minimize numbers in slides
• Don't parrot PowerPoint
• Time your remarks
• Give it a rest
• Use vibrant colors
• Import other images and graphics
• Distribute handouts at the end — not during the presentation
• Edit ruthlessly before presenting

Picks of the Week: July 3-9, 2011

2011-07-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – CreateAthon

CreateAthon is a 24-hour, work-around the clock creative blitz during which local advertising agencies generate advertising services for local nonprofits that have little or no marketing budget. Since the program’s expansion from a single market to an international effort in 2001, 40 agencies have joined the CreateAthon network, holding CreateAthon events in their cities. This effort has benefited 833 nonprofit organizations with 1,809 projects valued at $7 million. Go to: http://www.createathon.org.

Publication of the Week -- Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organization's Toughest Challenges by Andrew McAfee

From the publisher: "Web 2.0" is the portion of the Internet that's interactively produced by many people; it includes Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, and prediction markets. In just a few years, Web 2.0 communities have demonstrated astonishing levels of innovation, knowledge accumulation, collaboration, and collective intelligence. Now, leading organizations are bringing the Web's novel tools and philosophies inside, creating Enterprise 2.0. In this book, Andrew McAfee shows how they're doing this, and why it's benefiting them. Enterprise 2.0 makes clear that the new technologies are good for much more than just socializing-when properly applied, they help businesses solve pressing problems, capture dispersed and fast-changing knowledge, highlight and leverage expertise, generate and refine ideas, and harness the wisdom of crowds. Most organizations, however, don't find it easy or natural to use these new tools initially. McAfee brings together case studies and examples with key concepts from economics, sociology, computer science, consumer psychology, and management studies and presents them all in a clear, accessible, and entertaining style. Enterprise 2.0 is a must-have resource for all C-suite executives seeking to make technology decisions that are simultaneously powerful, popular, and pragmatic.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Donor Preference Trends

An in-depth study commissioned by Russ Reid Company shows only a minority of religious donors support specifically religious work through non-profit organizations. The study also shows Black donors are twice as likely as White donors to support higher education. And the causes people choose to support are often quite dependent on their political views. These findings are from Heart of the Donor conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting of Phoenix, Arizona. The study explores how Americans interact with nonprofit organizations. “Donors” refers to people who had made a financial contribution to a nonprofit organization other than a church or place of worship in the 12 months prior to the study. Key findings include:

• One of the myths that proved to be untrue is that religious people only support specifically religious causes. Among donors who attend religious worship services on a regular basis, just 41% supported a cause they described as “religious,” other than any contributions they made to a place of worship. In fact, donors who attend religious services are more likely to have given toward disaster relief (68%), domestic hunger or poverty relief (66%), helping people with disabilities (56%), health care or medical research (54%), and veterans’ causes (52%) than they are to have supported specifically religious work.
• The study also demonstrates that there are substantial differences in the kinds of charitable work different types of donors support. Political liberals are more likely than conservatives to put their donor dollars toward animal welfare, the environment, human rights, education, cultural, and public policy causes, while political conservatives are more likely to give toward veterans and religious causes.
• Younger donors favor human rights, child development, childhood education, and cultural causes more than do older donors, while older donors are more likely than younger ones to support domestic hunger and poverty, religious, disabilities, and particularly veterans’ causes.

Additional detail and data can be found at http://www.greymatterresearch.com.

Resource of the Week – Daring to Lead 2011 — National Study on Executive Leadership

CompassPoint has just released Daring to Lead 2011–a national study of more than 3,000 nonprofit executives. Two out of three leaders anticipate leaving within 5 years, though some have delayed transition because of the recession. Indeed the recession has raised executive anxiety levels and forced one in four leaders to shrink their organizations. To download the complete report and access an interactive website where you can search all of the findings on compensation, turnover, and more, go to: http://daringtolead.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- AutoFill with Week Days

Hopefully you are already familiar with the Excel AutoFill feature for filling ranges with the months or days of the week. But what if you need to fill an Excel range with just weekdays? Here’s how:

• Enter the starting day into a cell
• Place the pointer over the lower right corner of the cell until you see the copy/fill handle (a thin black plus)
• Right click the handle and drag to select the range you want to fill with weekdays
• When you let up on the mouse button a menu will appear
• Select Fill Weekdays

This tip works in Excel 2007 and 2010, as well as earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: June 26 - July 2, 2011

2011-06-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Urban Institute - The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy

The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) explores the role and impact of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in democratic societies. CNP is developing the Nonprofit Advocacy Initiative, a five-year project that brings together people and institutions with diverse expertise to examine how the advocacy activities of nonprofit organizations affect public attitudes and civic participation, political discourse, public policy, and social change. Go to: http://www.urban.org/center/cnp/index.cfm.

Publication of the Week -- Net Work: A Practical Guide to Creating and Sustaining Networks at Work and in the World by Patti Anklam

From the publisher: Patti Anklam provides a guide for leaders and participants to work within and lead purposeful social networks "in the world." Awareness of "networks" and "networked organizations" has reached the mainstream of the business publishing world, as evidenced in the increasing number of articles in such publications as the Harvard Business Review and the Sloan Management Review. Formal networks include civic organizations like Rotary International, alumni groups, and business and professional groups. There is yet another class of network that is not yet well defined, and for which the norms and governance models are emerging--networks such as inter-company and intra-company learning and collaboration networks; independent consultants who share common interests and passions who want to remain independent but work collaboratively and consistently with like-minded others. They can be geographically local business networks; web-based virtual learning groups and communities; or global action networks destined to make the world a better place. The purpose of this book is to provide a taxonomy and guidebook to these "emergent" networks, with a specific focus on helping leaders and participants to create and sustain successful networks. It will address the need for articulating a governance model and norms, selecting and using appropriate tools, and expectations for how the network will grow and change over time. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Giving USA 2011 Highlights

After a steeper drop than was previously believed - 13.2 percent between 2007 and 2009 - charitable giving rose slightly in 2010 to $290.89 billion, according to Giving USA 2011, the annual report on philanthropy released today by the Giving USA Foundation. While this year's inflation-adjusted increase of 2.1 percent is a promising sign, it also signals the need for modest expectations: at this rate, it could take another five to six years for giving to return to pre-recession levels. Other highlights of the Giving USA 2011 study include:

• Even with this year's uptick, total philanthropy only returned to levels from the year 2000, accounting for inflation, as demonstrated on the graph below.
• Giving remained above 2 percent of GDP for the fourteenth consecutive year - a testament to philanthropy's place as a core American value.
• Religion continued to receive the largest share of contributions in 2010, followed by education.
• On the whole, most sectors experienced growth over 2009 levels of philanthropy. Most notably, international affairs received 13.5 percent more contributions (adjusted for inflation), driven primarily by Haiti relief efforts and grants from the Gates Foundation.
• After two years of decline, arts and culture showed a healthy uptick of over 4 percent.

To download an executive summary of Giving USA 2011 free of charge, go to: http://www.givingusareports.org/free.php.

Resource of the Week – Ten Tactics for Engaging the Public

How can online tools help you engage citizens in public decision-making and problem-solving? What are the most common mistakes being made by public managers and other leaders as they try to work with the public online? In a given scenario, which tools and tactics seem most appropriate and effective? Using Online Tools to Engage – and be Engaged by – the Public, a new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, delves into these questions, describes a range of scenarios and tactics, and gives real-world examples of online engagement. It highlights over 40 different technologies in use today to support various kinds of public participation. Though it was compiled for use by governments, the report and the tools listed in this table are also worth considering for nonprofits that wish to engage their stakeholders online. To download this resource, go to: http://www.businessofgovernment.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Copy Formatting in Word

A previously published tip Fast Formatting covered using format painter (the paintbrush icon) to copy the format of text. Since I am a fan of shortcut keys, and sometimes format painter seems a bit erratic when using it to repeatedly copy the same format, here's how to do the same thing using shortcut keys:

• Click on the text which you want to copy a format from
• Press Ctrl+Shift+C (copy format) to copy the text formatting of the area where the cursor is located
• Select the text you want to copy the format to and press Ctrl+Shift+V (paste format)

This method is even more flexible than using the paintbrush. You can paste the format as many times as you want, since the format copy is saved in a memory area like the clipboard, and still do other things in between copies. And it appears to work in all versions of Word.

Picks of the Week: June 19 - 25, 2011

2011-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – City University of New York: Center for the Study of Philanthropy

The Center for the Study of Philanthropy administers the Global Network on Women's Advocacy and Civil Society. The Network disseminates information on women's issues among research centers, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups. Network users have access to an active bibliography of resources, a discussion listserv, and other research studies. Go to: http://www.philanthropy.org.

Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Consulting Essentials: What Nonprofits and Consultants Need to Know by Penelope Cagney

From the publisher: Author Penelope Cagney is an active consultant and principal of The Cagney Company. A recognized authority on nonprofit consulting, she is a sought-after presenter for international conferences and webinars, as well as a frequent contributor to publications worldwide. Everyone seems to have a different idea of what it means to consult or be a consultant, especially in the charitable sector. Finally, we have a book, Nonprofit Consulting Essentials that really delves into the assumptions and truths and the roles and responsibilities of consultants. This really is an essential guide to nonprofit consulting and capacity building in the current climate of dramatic and discontinuous change. Whether you are just entering the sector or looking to refresh your skills, this book is a must-read. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Obstacles to Nonprofit Innovation and Performance Measurement

In early 2010, the Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project conducted a survey focused on nonprofit innovation and performance measurement. This survey produced three important findings:

• The adoption of innovative practices is widespread among nonprofits. In fact, the vast majority (82 percent) of all Sounding respondents reported implementing at least one innovative program or service over the past five years.
• Although innovation is widespread within the nonprofit sector, it is not as widespread as it could be. Thus, more than two‐thirds of the organizations reported having at least one innovation in the past two years alone that they wanted to adopt but were unable to, and most attributed this inability to a lack of funding.
• Especially troubling was respondents’ inability to move promising innovations to scale. Reasons included a lack of “growth capital,” narrow govern‐mental funding streams, and the tendency of foundations to encourage innovations but then not sustain support for them.

This survey demonstrated that a key challenge for nonprofits isn’t a dearth of innovative ideas, but rather a lack of much‐needed resources to develop and sustain them. To explore this problem in greater depth and gain a better understanding of how nonprofits can overcome this obstacle, in December 2010 the Listening Post Project held an online webinar which brought together nonprofit experts, representatives of nonprofit intermediary organizations, and practitioners from a diverse set of nonprofit organizations. A new report summarizes the major findings that emerged from the session and proposes strategies that could help nonprofits to deploy innovative services and programs despite scarce resources. To read the report on this webinar or last year's survey findings that it discussed, please visit: http://www.ccss.jhu.edu.

Resource of the Week – Imagine Canada's Nonprofit Library

Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization whose mission is to support and strengthen Canada’s charities and nonprofits so they can, in turn, support the Canadians and communities they serve. Imagine Canada’s Nonprofit Library is the largest online resource center for people who work in Canada's charities and nonprofits. The Nonprofit Library offers recommended resource lists and a searchable database to the John Hodgson Library collection, the most comprehensive collection of Canadian research and practical resources in the following areas: governance & accountability, philanthropy & fundraising, organizational management, human resources and volunteerism. Non-Canadian nonprofits will find Imagine Canada’s library to be of great support to their work as well. To access this extensive Library, go to: .

Tech Tip of the Week -- Create Equations in Excel 2010

In Excel 2010 you can insert common mathematical equations into your worksheets or build your own equations with the new equation editing tools. Here’s how:
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Symbols group, click the arrow next to Equation
• Select from the equation gallery and the equation is inserted in a text box

To build your own equation:
• Insert a text box (or shape)
• Click to select the text box (or shape)
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Symbols group, click Equation
• The Equation Tools Design Ribbon is displayed

Picks of the Week: June 12-18, 2011

2011-06-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Renaissance Journalism Center

The Renaissance Journalism Center (RJC), a project of San Francisco State University’s Journalism Department, incubates innovative approaches to journalism and storytelling that serve, strengthen and empower communities. Created in 2009, the Center provides grants, technical assistance and training, and forges entrepreneurial partnerships with journalists and their news organizations, ethnic media and hyperlocal news sites, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, scholars and students. The Center is operated in partnership with ZeroDivide, a foundation that leverages technology to benefit people in low-income, minority and other disadvantaged communities. Go to: http://rjcmedia.org. The Renaissance Journalism Center created a toolkit to help community/ethnic media outlets and nonprofit organizations to become more adept users of new media – from video and audio, to the various social media, blogs, SEO, and monitoring and metrics. To access the Toolkit, go to: http://newmediatoolkit.org.

Publication of the Week -- Fundraising for Social Change, 6th Edition by Kim Klein

From the publisher: New edition! This bestselling book is one of the most widely used in the field by nonprofit organizations across the country. A soup to nuts description of how to build, maintain and expand an individual donor program, this book is often called "the Bible of grassroots fundraising." Since it was first published in 1988, Fundraising for Social Change has become one of the most widely used books on fundraising in the United States. Fundraising practitioners and activists rely on it for hands-on, specific, and accessible fundraising techniques, and it has become a required text in dozens of college courses around the country. This new edition offers the information that has made the book a classic: proven know-how on asking for money, planning and conducting major gifts campaigns, using direct mail effectively, and much more. The book has been significantly changed to include new technology—e-mail, online giving, and blogs—and contains expanded chapters on capital and endowment campaigns, how to feel comfortable asking for money, how to recruit a team of people to help with fundraising, and how to build meaningful relationships with donors. In addition, this essential resource contains new information on such timely topics as ethics, working across cultural lines, and how to create opportunities for fundraising more systematically and strategically. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Nonprofits' Use of Facebook

In February 2011, Idealware surveyed 505 nonprofit organizations using Facebook as part of their communications mix in order to answer some of the questions from last year's social media survey and find out where the nonprofit world stands after the Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide. This report sums up the results of the survey, with high-level takeaways of the data, as well as overviews of how much time organizations are spending on Facebook, how many have set goals and how they’re keeping track of their own results. This is all interspersed with case studies and quotes from the interviews to shed light on what success means on Facebook and to provide ideas on how to use the site. Key findings include:

• About 200 of the 505 organizations surveyed reported success converting Facebook fans into donors or volunteers.
• More than 70 percent of respondents saw a significant increase in traffic to their websites because of their Facebook presence.
• About 66 percent of respondents from advocacy organizations saw an increase in people taking some noticeable form of action, like signing a petition.
• 80% of the respondents felt that Facebook helped them enhance their relationship to existing constituents

To access the report, go to: http://www.nonprofitfacebookguy.com.

Resource of the Week – Donated Goods and Services for Nonprofits

Good360, a registered 501(c)(3), is an innovative online marketplace where product donations from America's top brands become goods for the greater good. Register today to browse our online catalog, arrange for direct shipping or pick-ups in your neighborhood, and connect with local donors for recurring pick-ups. Corporate partners include Home Depot, HP, Bed Bath and Beyond and many more. Go to: http://good360.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Recolor a Picture or Change the Color or Transparency in Office 2010

In Office 2010 -- Word, PowerPoint and Excel -- 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, for example:

Picks of the Week: June 5-11, 2011

2011-06-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Institute for Social Entrepreneurs

The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs provides education, training and consulting services for social entrepreneurs in the United States and abroad. The website includes introductory resources to social entrepreneurship, a glossary, bibliography, links to other useful websites and more. Go to: www.socialent.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Search for Social Entrepreneurship by Paul Charles Light

From the publisher: Research on social entrepreneurship is finally catching up to its rapidly growing potential. In The Search for Social Entrepreneurship, Paul Light explores this surge of interest to establish the state of knowledge on this growing phenomenon and suggest directions for future research. Light begins by outlining the debate on how to define social entrepreneurship, a concept often cited and lauded but not necessarily understood. The subsequent section examines the four main components of social entrepreneurship: ideas, opportunities, organizations, and the entrepreneurs themselves. The copious information available about each has yet to be mined for lessons on making social entrepreneurship a success. The third section draws on Light s original survey research on 131 high-performing nonprofits, exploring how they differ across the four key components. The fourth and final section offers recommendations for future action and research in this burgeoning field. Paul C. Light is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service at New York University. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Social Media Reaching African Americans and Hispanics

Nearly one in three African American adults (30%) and four in ten Hispanics (39%) say they are more likely to support a cause or social issue online than offline today—both significantly higher percentages than Caucasians (24%), according to the new Dynamics of Cause Engagement study. Jointly conducted in late 2010 by Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, the study examined trends in cause involvement and the roles of a variety of activities in fostering engagement with social issues among American adults age 18 and over. Other key findings include:

• African Americans and Hispanics are significantly more likely to believe that they can help get the word out about a social issue or cause through online social networks.
• African Americans and Hispanics are significantly more likely than Caucasians to look to social media as an additional source of information.
• African Americans and Hispanics are significantly more likely than Caucasians to be involved in several key issues, including diabetes, domestic violence, bullying, childhood obesity, Haiti relief and HIV/AIDS.

For more information, go to: http://csic.georgetown.edu.

Resource of the Week – Key Elements of Effectiveness: Bridgespan’s Organization Wheel

High performing nonprofits think about their organizations as much more than the boxes and lines on an “org chart.” The Bridgespan Group finds that truly effective organizations exhibit strengths in five key interrelated areas: leadership, decision-making and structure, people, work processes and systems, and culture. Effective organizations pay attention to 10 key characteristics across these five areas. For example, effective leadership requires having a clear vision that is translated into well understood priorities, and supported by a cohesive and aligned leadership team. For more information on these important capacity building framework, go to: http://www.bridgestar.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Apply Artistic Effects to Pictures in PowerPoint 2010

You can apply artistic effects to a picture in PowerPoint 2010 to make it look more like a sketch, drawing, or painting. Only one effect can be applied at a time. Applying a different artistic effect will remove the previously applied effect. Here's how:
• Click the picture you want to apply an artistic effect to
• Click the Picture Tools Format tab on the Ribbon
• In the Adjust group, click Artistic Effects
• Click the effect that you want to apply
• Click Artistic Effects Options to fine tune the artistic effect

Picks of the Week: May 29 - June 4, 2011

2011-05-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – boardnetUSA

boardnetUSA is a unique website dedicated to the express purpose of connecting nonprofit boards and new leaders. The website is designed to be a common technological platform for a national collaborative network of communities working locally to enhance nonprofit board governance. This growing network of Community Partners work together on common themes of populating board rooms as well as individually developing services tailored to their local market. The Volunteer Consulting Group, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in New York City with over 38 years of experience aiding in the development and strengthening of nonprofit organizations, initially developed the concept of boardnetUSA. With assistance from philanthropic and corporate supporters the Volunteer Consulting Group serves as the primary management and coordinating entity of the growing national network that is boardnetUSA. Go to: http://www.boardnetusa.org/public/home.asp.

Publication of the Week -- Small Change: Why Business Won't Save the World by Michael Edwards

From the publisher: A new movement is afoot that promises to save the world by applying the magic of the market to the challenges of social change. Its supporters argue that using business principles to solve global problems is far more effective than more traditional approaches. What could be wrong with that? Almost everything, argues former Ford Foundation director Michael Edwards. In this hard-hitting, controversial exposé, he marshals a wealth of evidence to reveal that in reality, a market approach hurts more than it helps. Real change will come when business acts more like civil society, not the other way around. Author
Michael Edwards is an independent writer and activist who is affiliated with the New York-based think-tank Demos, the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, and the Brooks World Poverty Institute at Manchester University in the UK. From 1999 to 2008 he was Director of the Ford Foundation’s Governance and Civil Society Program, and previously worked for the World Bank, OxFam, and Save the Children. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Women Strongest Believers in the Power of Supporting Causes

8 in 10 American women believe that supporting causes creates a sense of purpose and meaning in life; and feel everyone can make a difference through their support, while their male counterparts are more likely to view supporting causes as a fad, according to new data released today by Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication. The findings are part of the larger Dynamics of Cause Engagement study, conducted among American adults age 18 and older in late 2010,which explored trends in cause involvement and the roles of a variety of activities in fostering engagement with social issues. Similarities and Differences in Cause Support In addition to believing that everyone can make a difference by supporting causes, American women are more likely than men to believe that supporting causes creates a sense of purpose and meaning in life, makes them feel good about themselves and makes them feel like part of a community. More than four in ten Americans (45%) are actively involved with supporting causes, and women make up a significantly larger part of this group than men. For more information, go to: http://csic.georgetown.edu.

Resource of the Week – Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril and Potential of Networks

Open-source projects and grassroots collective action are important sources of inspiration for 21st-century civic engagement, enabling us to combine the creativity and transparency of open innovation with community organizing’s relational abilities and courage to confront power. This is the message of a new report, “Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril and Potential of Networks,” released by Monitor Institute and Knight Foundation. The report examines the role of networks in linking up citizens, with the goal of increasing participation in community leadership. The report looked at 70 projects that use an open and decentralized network-centric approach. Many of the projects “are technologically enabled,” says the report. “Others are rooted in in-person relationships. Most combine online and offline interaction, as well as insights from the open-source movement and grassroots organizing. Five patterns emerged for good network building:

• Listening to and consulting the crowds: Actively listening to online conversations and openly asking for advice.
• Designing for serendipity: Creating environments, in person and online, where helpful connections can form.
• Bridging differences: Deliberately connecting people with different perspectives.
• Catalyzing mutual support: Helping people directly help each other.
• Providing handrails for collective action: Giving enough direction for individuals to take effective and coordinated action.

The Connected Citizens report details each of these five patterns, with examples and case studies. It has an accompanying website. To access the report and the website, go to http://www.knightfoundation.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Edit Videos with PowerPoint 2010

In PowerPoint 2010 you can edit a video clip before you embed it in your presentation. You can:
• Trim
• Add effects and styles
• Crop
• Adjust the size
• Adjust the contrast
• Add borders and effects, and more...

The following resources can help you learn these amazing new features:
• YouTube Video Edit Videos with PowerPoint 2010 from Microsoft
• Article Edit Videos inside a Presentation in PowerPoint 2010 from WindowsVJ.com
• Article Five tips for working with Video in PowerPoint 2010 from TechRepublic.com

Picks of the Week: May 22, 2011

2011-05-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Nonprofit Capacity Building Learning and Resource Center

The purpose of the Center for Community Partnership's (CCP) Nonprofit Development Program at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is to strengthen nonprofit organizational effectiveness. The Nonprofit Development Program seeks to build the capacity of local nonprofits by offering training, workshops, professional development, networking, technical assistance and community-based learning projects. It also connects nonprofits to a variety of resources, especially those available at UW-Parkside, other area higher education institutions, and government and community organizations. Nonprofit programs, services and opportunities are centralized in the Nonprofit Capacity Building Learning and Resource Center. It includes conferences and workshops, forms for nonprofit organization start-up, tools and resources, professional network, technical assistance, professional development, funding information, volunteer sources, professional associations, and nonprofit employment opportunities. Go to: http://www.uwp.edu.

Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals by Darian Rodriguez Heyman

From the publisher: A comprehensive handbook for leading a successful nonprofit. This handbook can educate and empower a whole generation of nonprofit leaders and professionals by bringing together top experts in the field to share their knowledge and wisdom gained through experience. This book provides nonprofit professionals with the conceptual frameworks, practical knowledge, and concise guidance needed to succeed in the social sector. Designed as a handbook, the book is filled with sage advice and insights from a variety of trusted experts that can help nonprofit professionals prepare to achieve their organizational and personal goals, develop a better understanding of what they need to do to lead, support, and grow an effective organization.

• Addresses a wealth of topics including fundraising, Managing Technology, Marketing, Finances, Advocacy, Working with Boards
• Contributors are noted nonprofit experts who define the core capabilities needed to manage a successful nonprofit
• Author is the former Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation

This important resource offers professionals key insights that will have a direct impact on improving their daily work. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Social Justice Grantmaking Trends

According to Key Facts on Social Justice Grantmaking (2011 Edition), social justice giving accounted for more than 14 percent of grant dollars awarded by the largest U.S. foundations in 2009. The top 25 social justice funders gave 70 percent of the total in the latest Foundation Center's annual grants sample. Foundations’ social justice giving spans all areas of activity, from human rights to environmental justice to the arts. Consistent with past trends, the biggest share of social justice grant dollars awarded in 2009 (29 percent) went for economic and community development, followed by health care access and affordability (17 percent), and human rights and civil liberties (13 percent). To download the free report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Participatory Action Research

In many evaluations, program beneficiaries are rarely involved. Participatory action research provides a way to do so, engaging all parties in all aspects of an evaluation, from defining the problem to gathering and analyzing data to preparing recommendations. In this guide, part of a series on evaluation techniques prepared by GrantCraft, you will learn about a unique evaluation method and how contributors have used it to evaluate programs in agriculture, early childhood development, and immigration. Highlights include:
• Ensuring a rigorous approach and objective results
• Developing trusting partnerships as part of an evaluation
• Building the conditions for a successful participatory action research evaluation
• Two mini-case studies

Downloading this guide and other learning tools takes a brief one-time registration. From there on all materials may be downloaded without cost. Go to: www.grantcraft.org. A companion slide show is available at http://www.grantcraft.org/?pageid=1263.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Embed a Video in a PowerPoint 2010 Presentation

PowerPoint 2010 makes it easy to embed a video from a file directly into your presentation. Here’s how:

• In Normal view, select the slide you want to embed the video in
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Media group, click the arrow under Video
• Click Video from file
• In the Insert Video dialog box, locate and select the video that you want to embed
• Click Insert

You can also click the Video icon in a content layout to insert a video.

Picks of the Week: May 15 - 21, 2011

2011-05-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Bridgespan Group

Founded in 2000, the Bridgespan Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps nonprofit and philanthropic leaders develop strategies and build organizations that inspire and accelerate social change. At the heart of its mission is the belief that a strong and effective nonprofit sector can be a powerful force for change as well as a source of human inspiration. The Bridgespan Group pursues its mission through three sets of activities:
• Strategy consulting, executive search, and philanthropy advising, to help nonprofit organizations and philanthropists develop and implement strategies with the potential to achieve significant results.
• Sharing insights, strategies and tools developed by us and by others through research and client engagements.
• Developing or supporting strategic initiatives that aim to improve performance across the nonprofit sector. Notable among these is the Bridgestar initiative, which seeks to help nonprofits attract, connect, and develop strong leadership teams

To access this content-rich website, go to: http://www.bridgespan.org/About/Default.aspx.

Publication of the Week -- Joining a Nonprofit Board: What You Need to Know by F. Warren McFarlan and Marc J. Epstein

From the publisher: Joining a Nonprofit Board offers an important guide to the roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board member. Marc J. Epstein and F. Warren McFarlan provide a step-by-step guide to how board members can work with a nonprofit organization to achieve the organization's overarching mission, attain financial sustainability, and develop and execute the systems needed to accomplish both. Based on more than 10 years of research from Rice University and Harvard Business School and filled with illustrative examples, Joining a Nonprofit Board explores the basic structure of a nonprofit, explains how to build and monitor a nonprofit's mission, and identifies how the board performs an effective assessment of a nonprofit. The book also explores the challenges posed by the duality of leadership between the unpaid volunteer non-executive chairman of the board and the CEO. Joining a Nonprofit Board includes a helpful explanation of a "board member's life cycle." The authors start with the decision to join a board and explain how to prepare for the first meeting. The book explores how to serve effectively the first two years and reveals what it takes to develop your ongoing role as a trustee. Finally the book describes how to transition off the board to other forms of service with the organization. Joining a Nonprofit Board is a comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to take their experience in the business world and serve a nonprofit with passion and clarity.
Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundation Funding for Native American Issues and Peoples

Over the past decade, U.S. foundation support benefiting Native Americans declined from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of total foundation giving. According to Foundation Funding for Native American Issues and Peoples, total grant dollars targeting Native Americans dropped 30.8 percent in the latest year, compared to a 14.1 percent overall downturn in foundation giving. This report was prepared by the Foundation Center with Native Americans in Philanthropy. Other key findings of the report include:

• The top 10 funders for Native Americans in 2009 accounted for close to 60 percent of grant dollars.
• Education received the largest share of foundation giving for Native Americans in 2009.
• Most foundation funding for Native Americans in 2009 supported organizations not affiliated with tribal governments.
• Recipients located in three of the country's seven major regions (Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest) captured more than two-thirds of grant dollars benefiting Native Americans in 2009.
• Eight of the top 25 recipients are Native-led or for the exclusive benefit of Native Americans.

To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Just-In-Time Board Orientation Webinar

This webinar has been designed in response to the expressed concern that it can sometimes take new board members several months or more to fully understand their roles and responsibilities. Just-In-Time Board Orientation will provide a clear, crisp picture of your board member's responsibilities in policy development, strategic planning, fiduciary duties, fundraising, and oversight functions. This session will provide information, tools and techniques needed to bring new board members up to speed quickly. It will increase their confidence and their productivity in board and committee meetings right from the start. As a result, new board members will be better able to "hit the ground running." Just-in-Time Board Orientation can even be offered to prospective board members to assist them in making an informed decision about whether to join your board. The session can also help current board leaders re-focus their efforts. Special features include : Attendees will receive a board orientation resource manual in advance of the webinar. After the webinar, they will receive the PowerPoint presentation file as well as free access to the Create the Future Webinars Blog, an online learning community where webinar participants can get answers to questions, post comments, find and share resources, and more. The webinar is offered on a quarterly basis. For more information about the schedule and to register, go to: http://www.createthefuture.com/webinars.htm.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Saving your PowerPoint 2010 Presentation as a Video

There are a number of new features in PowerPoint 2010 which allow you to enhance your presentations with video, images and animations. During the coming weeks we will be publishing a series of tips that introduce you to these amazing new tools. Create a Video is one of these new features. Here’s how it works

• Create your presentation
• Save the presentation
• Click the File tab
• Click Save & Send in the left pane
• Under File Types, click Create a video
• Make changes in the right pane, if necessary
• Click the Create Video button

After you create a video, you can share it with others by:
• Sending it as an e-mail attachment
• Burning it to a DVD disc
• Uploading it to a video sharing Web site such as YouTube
• Posting it on your website or other shared location

Picks of the Week: May 8-14, 2011

2011-05-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice

Independent Sector launched the new online Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a comprehensive collection of tools for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to enhance the accountability and transparency of their operations and ensure they operate in ethical ways. At the heart of the Resource Center is the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations, which has been called " the most significant industry-based effort to promote self-regulation by the sector to date." The Resource Center showcases, through downloads or links, over 250 model policies, research papers, templates, and other tools. Most are available free of charge. Go to: http://www.independentsector.org.

Publication of the Week -- CauseWired by Tom Watson

From the publisher: For today's super-wired, always-on, live-life-in-public young Americans, the causes they support define who they are. Societal aspirations have so permeated the "net native" population that causes have become like musical tastes. CauseWired illustrates wired causes in action, bringing real-world stories to readers.

• Tracks the massive societal impact on causes of online social networks-from blogs, to video, to the rise of social networks
• Reveals the extraordinary influence of online social networks-in raising money for charity, in changing the political climate and electing candidates, and in raising consciousness for causes

From Facebook causes and campaigns on MySpace, to a raft of new startups and innovative projects like Kiva, Change.org and DonorsChoose, this immensely relevant book delivers actionable research and recommendations to help readers launch their own successful wired social campaigns. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Corporate Foundation Giving Trends

Corporate foundation giving remained mostly unchanged in 2010 at an estimated $4.7 billion, according to The Foundation Center's Key Facts on Corporate Foundations (2011 Edition). Grant dollars rose 0.2 percent from 2009, although, adjusted for inflation, corporate foundation giving in fact decreased 1.6 percent in 2010. Despite the severity of the economic downturn, and especially its impact on the banking and financial services sector, corporate foundation giving remains at its highest level on record. Similar to other types of foundations, a number of corporate foundations made exceptional efforts to minimize cuts in giving during the economic crisis. A number of corporate foundations build up their endowments during more prosperous years so that they can draw on those resources to stabilize giving during downturns. Productivity gains have also helped the corporate sector to return to profitability more quickly than could have been anticipated at the outset of the financial crisis. Looking ahead, just over half (52 percent) of corporate foundations responding to the Foundation Center’s annual forecasting survey expect to increase their giving in 2011. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Principles Workbook: Steering Your Board Toward Good Governance and Ethical Practice

Independent Sector has developed the Principles Workbook: Steering Your Board Toward Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a tool designed to help the nonprofit community meet its commitment to examine and improve their governance practices. Independent Sector developed the Workbook in partnership with BoardSource, the leading national resource on nonprofit governance. It expands and elucidates the Panel's Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations, 33 recommendations that thousands of organizations have already used to strengthen their practices. The Workbook distills the core concepts in each of the principles and suggests points for board and staff to discuss about their current practices. Progress worksheets accompanying each of the four sections assist nonprofits and foundations in making plans and recording their progress. Go to:
http://www.independentsector.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Calculate the Days, Months or Years between Dates in Excel

Use the DatedIf function to calculate the interval between dates in Excel. Here's how:

Enter the function into a cell =DATEDIF ( start_date , end_date, unit )

For example, to calculate the number of months between two dates, if the start date is in cell D2 and the end date is in cell E2 you could enter this formula into cell F2:

To learn more about this function, go to to the Microsoft website or watch a YouTube video. This tip works in Excel 2007 and 2010, as well as earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: May 1 - 7, 2011

2011-05-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research

The mission of the Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research is to educate leaders and advance best practices in the nonprofit and philanthropic community through academic excellence, applied learning, and research that examines issues of strategic importance to the sector. The Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research is part of the Department of Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego which offers: an M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies with a Specialization in Nonprofit/Philanthropic Leadership and Management. The Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research houses the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research and the Nonprofit Governance Symposium. The Institute houses a best practice library of applied projects that were completed by students in the masters program for, and in collaboration with, a variety of nonprofit organizations. Our online library will continue to grow as students create or revise corporate by-laws, personnel policies, volunteer manuals, board manuals, fundraising plans, financial management systems plans and information technology plans. Go to: http://www.sandiego.edu.

Publication of the Week -- Brand Aid: Shopping Well to Save the World by Lisa Ann Richey and Stefano Ponte

From the publisher: “Has there ever been a better reason to shop?” asks an ad for the Product RED American Express card, telling members who use the card that buying “cappuccinos or cashmere” will help to fight AIDS in Africa. Cofounded in 2006 by the rock star Bono, Product RED has been a particularly successful example of a new trend in celebrity-driven international aid and development, one explicitly linked to commerce, not philanthropy. In Brand Aid, Lisa Ann Richey and Stefano Ponte offer a deeply informed and stinging critique of “compassionate consumption.” Campaigns like Product RED and its precursors, such as Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong and the pink-ribbon project in support of breast cancer research, advance the expansion of consumption far more than they meet the needs of the people they ostensibly serve. At the same time, such campaigns sell both the suffering of Africans with AIDS (in the case of Product RED) and the power of the average consumer to ameliorate it through familiar and highly effective media representations. Using Product RED as its focal point, this book explores how corporations like American Express, Armani, Gap, and Hallmark promote compassionate consumption to improve their ethical profile and value without significantly altering their business model, protecting themselves from the threat to their bottom lines posed by a genuinely engaged consumer activism. Coupled with the phenomenon of celebrity activism and expertise as embodied by Bono, Richey and Ponte argue that this “causumerism” represents a deeply troubling shift in relief efforts, effectively delinking the relationship between capitalist production and global poverty. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Latest Nonprofit Employment Trends

According to the Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey, a national study of nonprofit employment practices, new jobs are coming online at nonprofits as hiring freezes are finally being lifted. The national Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey™ was conducted through a partnership between Nonprofit HR Solutions and the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research. Key findings include:

• Although the HR function is viewed as critical within many organizations, it still remains a low priority for most organizations. Eighty-four percent of nonprofit respondents agreed that the HR function is critical to their organization’s ability to fulfill its mission, yet few prioritize the HR function within their organizations. The majority of respondent organizations (52 percent) do not have a dedicated HR professional and 55 percent rely upon existing staff to handle new programs and or initiatives.
• Nearly a quarter of nonprofits lost staff in 2010. However 60 percent of those organizations indicated that they intend to hire or are considering the creation of new positions in 2011. This finding was consistent irrespective of the size of the organization.
• When nonprofits lay off staff, 81 percent report using existing staff to fulfill the duties of the eliminated position. This is a worrisome trend as it could lead to burnout and premature turnover.
• Turnover remains low. Economic improvements are not being realized as quickly as anticipated. Findings from this year’s survey revealed that turnover remains low within nonprofit organizations. Turnover rates for respondent organizations were calculated at 13 percent compared to last year’s rate of 21 percent. This low turnover rate is an indication that the economy might not be improving as quickly for nonprofits as it is for other sectors.
• It’s still “who you know” when it comes to nonprofit recruitment. Nonprofits primarily use in person networking and newspapers to recruit job candidates. This is surprising considering the rapid growth and affordability of social networking tools over the past few years. This practice also has the potential to negatively impact diversity efforts

To download a free copy of the report, registration is required. Go to: http://www.nonprofithr.com.

Resource of the Week – NTEN: Change (A Quarterly Journal for Nonprofit Leaders)

Through in-depth articles, case-studies, best practices, leader profiles, and discussions, NTEN's quarterly journal for nonprofit leaders provides the guidance and practical considerations necessary for making sound investments and decisions that will help your organization achieve its mission. Thanks to the generous support of Google, NTEN is proud to offer NTEN: Change to the nonprofit community for free! You'll be able to download the journal, view it on your computer, or even access it from your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. To subscribe, go to: http://www.nten.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Worksheet Selection in Excel

If you have several worksheets in an Excel workbook, it can be time consuming to select the one you want to view. This shortcut can help you speed up the process.
• Right click on the sheet tab navigation arrows
• A menu of worksheet tabs pops up
• Left click the worksheet you want to view

This tip works in Excel 2007 and 2010, as well as earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: April 24 - 30, 2011

2011-04-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – ARNOVA

Founded in 1971 as the Association of Voluntary Action Scholars, the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is a neutral, open forum committed to strengthening the research community in the emerging field of nonprofit and philanthropic studies. ARNOVA brings together both theoretical and applied interests, helping scholars gain insight into the day-to-day concerns of third-sector organizations, while providing nonprofit professionals with research they can use to improve the quality of life for citizens and communities. Principal activities include an annual conference, publications, electronic discussions and special interest groups. Go to: http://www.arnova.org/index.php.

Publication of the Week -- The Future of Nonprofits by David J. Neff and Randal C. Moss

From the publisher: The Future of Nonprofits helps organizations capitalize on internal innovation and predicting future trends to remake and reshape their culture, structure, and staff. By applying the strategies laid out in this book, nonprofit professionals of all levels can prepare their organizations to take advantage of future trends and develop innovative "internal entrepreneurs" that will grow revenue and drive their mission.
• Provides nonprofits with a comprehensive playbook on how to create a new, more flexible, innovative organization.
• Provides nonprofits a look at the future of fundraising and communications trends into 2016.
• Case studies highlight successes and failures.
• Highlights the power and strength of Social Media.
• Highlights how to hire, train, manage and inspire "internal entrepreneurial" employees.
• Features actionable advice on creating an organization that is primed to grow and thrive in the immediate and long-term future.

This game-changing book reveals how every nonprofit can put technology, innovation and future trends to work to reach their mission and grow revenue. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Taxing Tax-Exempt Organizations

A recent survey by the Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project found that a surprising number of the responding organizations are currently paying fees, taxes, or payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) to local governments. On top of this, respondents reported that local governments have been placing increased financial pressure on nonprofits during the current financial crisis. Survey results varied considerably, however, by field, size of organization, and geographic region. Key findings include:

• Nearly a fifth of all respondents (17 percent) reported that their services or activities are subject to field-specific taxes, such as taxes on admission charges or bed taxes. These field-specific taxes were much more commonly paid by elderly housing and service organizations (37 percent), by the largest organizations (28 percent), and by nonprofits located in the Northeast. By contrast, only 7 percent of respondents in small organizations and 11 percent of respondents in mid-sized organizations reported paying such taxes.
• 9 percent of respondents reported paying PILOTs to local or state governments, but this share reached 26 percent among elderly service and housing groups, 19 percent among the largest organizations, and 20 percent among those located in the Northeast.
• Taken altogether, 63 percent of responding organizations reported paying some kind of tax, fee, or payment in lieu of taxes. This reached 73 percent among large organizations and stood at 48 percent even among respondents from small organizations.
• Most seriously, fourteen percent of all respondents indicated that they are aware of proposals in their state or locality to impose new taxes or fees on nonprofit organizations and 43 percent indicated concern that their state or local government will adopt new fees or taxes targeting nonprofits during the next year.

To access the full report, go to: http://www.ccss.jhu.edu.

Resource of the Week – 52 Free Development Opportunities for Nonprofit Staff

Kirk Kramer, partner at The Bridgespan Group, led a session on organizational effectiveness at Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI) leadership program in October 2010. One of the topics discussed was nonprofit staff skill development, which surfaced many creative ways NEI participants offer on-the-job development opportunities to their employees for free. These resources are now available at the Bridgespan Group's website organized by skill type, of ways nonprofit leaders can engage promising staff members in critical skill development areas without sending them to formal external trainings. Use these suggestions as a checklist, identify which opportunities best fit with your staffs’ development (or your personal development) needs, and put a few into action. Go to: http://www.bridgestar.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Turning Photos into PowerPoint 2010 Slide Shows

To turn your digital pictures into PowerPoint 2010 slide shows:

• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Illustrations group, click Photo Album
• On the Photo Album dialog box, click the File/Disk button to Insert pictures
• Click the Create button

The steps are the same for PowerPoint 2007. Click here if you're using an earlier version of PowerPoint.

Picks of the Week: April 17 - 23, 2011

2011-04-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Center for Effective Philanthropy

The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) is a nonprofit organization focused on the development of comparative data to enable higher-performing funders. CEP’s mission is to provide data and create insight so philanthropic funders can better define, assess, and improve their effectiveness – and, as a result, their intended impact. CEP pursues its mission through data collection and research that fuel the creation of assessment tools, publications, and programming. Since receiving initial funding in 2001, CEP has produced widely referenced research reports on foundation performance assessment, foundation strategy, foundation governance, and foundation–grantee relationships. CEP has created new data sets relevant to foundation leaders and hosts highly regarded programming focused on key issues related to funder effectiveness. CEP has also developed new, widely used assessment tools, such as the Grantee Perception Report® (GPR), which provides foundations comparative data on grantee perceptions of key elements of foundation performance, and the Comparative Board Report (CBR), which allows foundation boards to assess their own structures and effectiveness against comparative data. Go to: http://www.effectivephilanthropy.org/index.php.

Publication of the Week -- The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife by Marc Freedman

From the publisher: Marc Freedman, hailed by the New York Times as “the voice of aging baby boomers [seeking] meaningful and sustaining work later in life,” makes an impassioned call to accept the decades opening up between midlife and anything approximating old age for what they really are – an entirely new stage of life, which he dubs the encore years. In The Big Shift, Freedman bemoans the fact that the discussion about longer lives in America has been entirely about the staggering economic costs of a dramatically aging society when, in reality, most of the nation’s 78 million boomers are not getting old … at least not yet. The whole 60- to 80-year-old period is simply new territory, he writes, and the people in this period constitute a whole new phenomenon in the 21st century. The Big Shift is animated by a simple premise: that the challenge of transitioning to and making the most of this new stage—while deeply personal—is much more than an individual problem; it’s an urgent social imperative, one affecting all generations. By embracing this time as a unique period of life – and providing guidance, training, education and support to the millions who are in it – Freedman says that we can make a monument out of what so many think of as the leftover years. The result could be a windfall of talent that will carry us toward a new generation of solutions for growing problems in areas like education, the environment, and health care. Marc Freedman is founder and CEO of Civic Ventures. An award-winning social entrepreneur, frequent commentator in the national media, and the author of Encore, Prime Time, and The Kindness of Strangers, Freedman spearheaded the creation of Experience Corps and The Purpose Prize. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week – Nonprofits Struggle to Meet Growing Demand for Services

America's nonprofits are expecting 2011 to be another tough year for their organizations, and for the people they serve, according to a survey released by Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), with support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The survey of more than 1,900 nonprofit leaders in markets nationwide found that while there are some signs of hope, many nonprofits are straining under year-after-year increases in the demand for services. According to the survey, 2011 will be another tough year for nonprofits and the people they serve:

• 85% of organizations expect an increase in service demand in 2011; just 46% expect to be able to fully meet this demand.
• This comes on top of years of increases: in 2010, 77% of nonprofits saw an increase in demand; in 2009, 71% experienced an increase in demand, and 73% of organizations experienced increased demand in 2008.
• 60% of organizations have three months or less of cash on hand; 10% have none.
• Only 9% expect 2011 to be financially easier for the people they serve.

The survey also notes that there are signs of hope:
• 44% of nonprofits reported ending 2010 with a surplus, a move in the right direction from the 35% who had a surplus in 2009.
• 25% of organizations added to reserve funds in 2010.
• 35% of organizations raised more revenue in 2010 than anticipated.

For a summary or full results, go to: http://nonprofitfinancefund.org.

Resource of the Week – 5 Practices Key to Successful Networks

The Monitor Institute and Knight Foundation’s new report, Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril, and Potential of Networks, presents five online and offline practices through which networks can increase their impact. Their fifth practice – providing "handrails to collective action" — advises clearly outlining the steps people can take to make a difference; building feedback mechanisms so activists can learn and see progress together; and pushing power to the edges so participants share ownership and leadership. Go to: http://www.knightfoundation.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Screenshot in Office 2010

Screenshot -- a new feature in Office 2010 -- allows you to capture images from your screen.

• Click the document that you want to add the screenshot to
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Illustrations group, click Screenshot
• To add the whole window, click the thumbnail in the Available Windows gallery
• To add part of the window, click Screen Clipping, and when the pointer becomes a cross, press and hold the left mouse button to select the area of your screen that you want to capture
• If you have multiple windows open, click the window you want to clip from before clicking Screen Clipping. When you click Screen Clipping, the program you are working in is minimized and only the window behind it is available for clipping
• After adding a screenshot, you can use the tools on the Picture Tools tab to edit and enhance the screenshot

You can use Screenshot in Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and Excel 2010.

Picks of the Week: April 10-16, 2010

2011-04-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Alliance for Justice

The Alliance for Justice is a national association of public interest organizations spanning a range of issues, including civil rights, social justice, and consumer and environmental protection. Representing this broad constituency, the Alliance’s mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector’s influence on public policy, ensure equal access to the federal courts, and cultivate the next generation of advocates and community activists. Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Justice works closely with public interest organizations, social service networks,foundations, the legal community, and community-based organizations that work to energize vibrant and effective citizen engagement in public policy. Along with more information and resources on these issues, you can sign up for the Nonprofit Action Network and get news about IRS and Federal Election Commission rulings, as well as other developments that affect the advocacy activities of nonprofits. Go to: www.allianceforjustice.org.

Publication of the Week -- The End of Fundraising by Jason Saul

From the publisher: Why does it cost nonprofits on average $20 to raise $100, while it costs companies only $4? Simply put: Nonprofits have no leverage. No one has to make a donation. And since most donors have no direct stake in the organizations they support, they make donations out of the goodness of their hearts. If donors feel like writing a check, they will. If they don't, they won't. The End of Fundraising turns fundraising on its head, teaching nonprofits how to stop begging for charity and start selling impact. For the first time, nonprofits have economic power. We live in a new era where consumers, businesses, investors, employees, and service providers attach real economic value to social outcomes. An era where yesterday's "feel good" issues—education, the environment, health care, the arts, and animal rights—now have direct economic consequences and opportunities. Nonprofits now have leverage. To use this leverage, nonprofits must learn how to "sell" their impact to a new set of stakeholders. Using his fifteen years of experience advising the world's leading nonprofits, foundations, and corporations, Jason Saul reveals the formula for how nonprofits transcend the paradigm of charitable fundraising and reach true financial sustainability. Specifically, this groundbreaking book offers nonprofit professionals a guide to:

• Understand the role of social change in our economy
• Capture and communicate impact in simple, compelling terms
• Identify the new market stakeholders that value nonprofit outcomes
• Create powerful value propositions to increase leverage
• Improve the success of a nonprofit's pitches to funders

The End of Fundraising includes the tools needed to effectively frame, market, and sell a nonprofit organization's impact, and contains step-by-step guidance for creating dynamic new opportunities with a variety of funders. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundation Giving Expected to Rise in 2011

In the context of an uneven economic recovery, U.S. foundation giving was nearly unchanged in 2010 according to Foundation Center’s annual “Foundation Giving Forecast Survey”. The country’s more than 76,000 grantmaking foundations had estimated giving totaling $45.7 billion last year, almost matching giving in 2009. The relative stabilization of foundation giving in 2010 reflected numerous factors. Among these were the beginning of a modest recovery in foundation assets in 2009; new gifts and bequests from donors into recently established and existing foundations; and the continuing commitment of some funders to maintaining their giving levels or minimizing reductions in their support, despite substantial losses in the value of their endowments. These positive trends helped
to balance out lower levels of funding by the many foundations that felt the need to reduce giving in 2010.Findings from the Foundation Center’s survey “Foundation Giving Forecast Survey” suggest that 2011 giving will grow between 2 and 4 percent. Looking ahead to 2012, grantmakers appear to be fairly optimistic about their prospects. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Resources for Evaluating Community Organizing

To help raise the profile of community organizing as a critically important change strategy, the Alliance for Justice has developed Resources for Evaluating Community Organizing (RECO). RECO to provide specific information about evaluating community organizing. RECO includes detailed summaries of each resource so users can find the resources that are most useful for their evaluation needs. Most of the resources included—case studies, tools and methodologies, and theoretical approaches to evaluation—are broadly available to the public, either through free downloads from the organization's website, or through an e-mail request. also included are books and other publications which are only available for purchase. Go to: http://www.afj.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using IF Functions in Excel 2007 and 2010

In a previous tip Using IF Functions in Excel we covered the basic If function which can be used in all versions of Excel. About.com explains the use of the If function and provides step-by-step tutorials on how to enter this function in 2007 and 2010:

• Using the Excel 2007 IF Function
• Using If Functions in Excel 2010

Download the If Function Worksheet and learn about the more complex uses of If functions.

Picks of the Week: April 3-9, 2010

2011-04-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – The Outcome Group

The Rensselaerville Institute (TRI) and The Center for What Works (WhatWorks), both nonprofits dedicated to assisting social sector organizations and communities to achieve better results, have announced a new organizational combination. WhatWorks will be joining TRI’s Outcome Group. Debra B. Natenshon, TRI’s Outcome Group partners with communities, foundations, nonprofit organizations and governments in achieving dramatic human gain using innovation and an outcome focus. The work focuses on deep consulting, strategic mapping and training provided by its team of outcome leaders. The Center for What Works focuses on benchmarking, offering online practical tools, training, and professional services to social sector organizations to measure progress toward strategy and mission and to continually improve outcomes for their target beneficiaries. In combining, this joint division at TRI will continue guiding foundations and nonprofits through an inclusive approach to reach higher results by using research-based outcome frameworks to help client organizations define, achieve and verify tangible accomplishments in behavior change and condition. The combined organization will achieve a shared vision: to guide nonprofits, foundations and communities to make transformational break-throughs for the people they serve, with their investments in time and money. Go to: http://www.theoutcomegroup.org.

Publication of the Week -- Nonprofits and Business by Joseph J. Cordes

From the publisher: In an age of high-profile corporate foundations and socially responsible companies, the barrier between the nonprofit and business worlds is more permeable than ever. Nonprofits and Business assembles a diverse group of researchers to examine nonprofits from commercial, economic, and legal perspectives. Chapters on nonprofit-business hybrids and performance measurement are also included. As both the government and the public have come to demand efficiency from nonprofit operations, they have looked to corporations to find creative ways to raise money and demonstrate effectiveness. Nonprofits and Business is a unique resource on this emerging trend. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Online Advocacy, Fundraising, and Social Media Effectiveness Trends

A comprehensive new analysis of nonprofit online fundraising and advocacy from M+R Strategic Services and NTEN found that online fundraising showed steady growth for participating groups in 2010 despite the current economic climate. Most groups saw a 10% increase in dollars raised online from 2009 to 2010, the same percentage increase those groups saw from 2008 to 2009, but slower than those nonprofits were seeing from 2006 to 2008, prior to the recession. Findings also showed tremendous potential for growth in social media: for every 1,000 email list subscribers, participating nonprofits had just 110 Facebook users and 19 Twitter followers. To access the full study, presentation slides and recording and more, go to: http://www.e-benchmarksstudy.com. A free registration is required.

Resource of the Week – Groups Really DO Work

This resource, located on the website of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, is a clearly written basic introduction to organizing a group and exploring the transition to nonprofit and or tax- exempt status. Topics include weighing the advantages of incorporation and tax exempt status, choosing the right structural form, a glossary of key terms, and links to other resources for writing bylaws and other organizational documents and developing an ongoing board of directors. Go to: http://extension.umaine.edu.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Copy Formatting in Word

A previously published tip Fast Formatting covered using format painter (the paintbrush icon) to copy the format of text. Since I am a fan of shortcut keys, and sometimes format painter seems a bit erratic when using it to repeatedly copy the same format, here's how to do the same thing using shortcut keys:

• Click on the text which you want to copy a format from
• Press Ctrl+Shift+C (copy format) to copy the text formatting of the area where the cursor is located
• Select the text you want to copy the format to and press Ctrl+Shift+V (paste format)

This method is even more flexible than using the paintbrush. You can paste the format as many times as you want, since the format copy is saved in a memory area like the clipboard, and still do other things in between copies. And it appears to work in all versions of Word.

Picks of the Week: March 27 - April 2, 2011

2011-03-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – The Listening Post Project

The Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project, and initiative of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, is monitoring in a systematic and timely way what is happening to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. To do so, project staff have partnered with nonprofit umbrella organizations in several major nonprofit fields and with over 1,000 local nonprofit organizations that have agreed to serve as the Listening Post Project's “eyes and ears” on critical nonprofit challenges and promising responses organizations are making to them. To learn more about the Listening Post Project and access report findings, go to: http://www.ccss.jhu.edu.

Publication of the Week -- Results Now for Nonprofits: Strategic, Operating, and Governance Planning by Mark Light

From the publisher: Using a lightning-fast and inclusive process, Results Now® puts purpose, strategy, operations, and governance into one user-friendly, comprehensive plan that your board can pass in a single vote and your organization can maintain as a regular part of its business throughout the year. Results Now for Nonprofits relies on accountability and performance measurement to increase the level of effective decision-making. This "big picture first, details next" planning process helps you:

• Use the Results Now master plan as a centerpiece of board meetings and as a standard part of board meeting advance information
• Foster a welcome climate for give-and-take strategic thinking
• Clarify the organization's story for the community and keep people on point about what's important
• Develop team cohesion
• Orient newer leadership members and recharge seasoned ones
• Attract new funders who reward nonprofits who plan

A must-have for all nonprofit executives and directors, members of boards and trustees, and nonprofit managers, Results Now for Nonprofits is a results-driven, practical tool that will help your organization achieve its mission, values, and destiny. Click to preview this look on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Trends in International Grantmaking Update by U.S. Foundations

Giving by U.S. foundations for international purposes held virtually steady last year, generating $6.7 billion, down just 4 percent. According to International Grantmaking Update: A Snapshot of U.S. Foundation Trends, a new report prepared by the Foundation Center in cooperation with the Council on Foundations, this decrease was less than half the 8.4 percent estimated decline in foundation giving overall last year. This latest update of the Foundation Center's benchmark series on international grantmaking examines changes in overall giving through 2009 based on a survey of leading funders. It also documents trends in giving through 2008 based on actual grants awarded by over 1,000 of the largest U.S. foundations. To download a free copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Social Innovation Resources

Root Cause, a nonprofit research and consulting firm, has complied resources to help leaders in the nonprofit, government, and business sectors understand the roles they can play in encouraging social innovation at their own organizations or in others—in order to create lasting social impact. You can find practical tools and thought pieces on the following topics:

• Social Innovation and the Emerging Social Impact Market
• Business Planning
• Performance Measurement
• Financial Sustainability
• Social Issue Primers

To access the resources, go to: http://www.rootcause.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Paste with Live Preview in Excel 2010

One of the improvements in Excel 2010 is the ability to preview what you are pasting before you paste it. Here's how:

• Copy what you want to paste
• Position your pointer where you want to begin pasting
• Right click to display the shortcut menu which lists the most common choices
• Pause your pointer over the Paste Options buttons to preview the result before pasting
• Click to select your desired option or click the arrow beside Paste Special for more choices

For more help, watch this short video by Microsoft Paste with Live Preview.

Picks of the Week: March 20 - 26, 2011

2011-03-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Google for Nonprofits Program

Google has launched the Google for Nonprofits program that provides access to exclusive products and resources to help nonprofit tax exempt organizations expand their impact. By joining Google for Nonprofits, a nonprofit organization will be approved to enroll in exclusive nonprofit products, which include:

• Google Grants: Free AdWords advertising to promote your website on Google through keyword targeting.
• YouTube for Nonprofits: Premium branding capabilities on YouTube channels, increased uploading capacity, the ability to select custom thumbnail images, and Call-to-action overlay on your videos.
• Google Earth Outreach Grants: Free licensing for Google Earth Pro, Google SketchUp Pro and Maps API Premier.
• Google Apps for Nonprofits: Free version of Google Apps for Nonprofits with fewer than 3,000 users, or a 40% discount ($30/user/year) on Google Apps for Business for organizations which have over 3,000 users.

Nonprofits will also receive the following benefits regardless of whether they enroll in Google's exclusive product programs:

• Monthly Google for Nonprofits newsletter
• Access to other Google for Nonprofits online resources
• Special offers and events
• Access to online training material targeted towards nonprofits

To be eligible for the Google for Nonprofits program, organizations must have current 501(c)(3) status and be headquartered in the United States. To apply for the Google for Nonprofits program, go to: http://www.google.com/nonprofits/index.html.

Publication of the Week -- The Custom-Fit Workplace: Choose When, Where, and How to Work and Boost Your Bottom Line by Joan Blades and Nanette Fondas

From the publisher: In this book, Blades and Fondas offer business professionals an indispensable handbook for transforming the way we work and breaking free from the old, inflexible, 40-hour workweek. The authors show creative ways for individuals to fit work requirements with life obligations, and persuade managers to adopt these custom-fit work strategies to improve their bottom line. Readers will finish the book convinced of the place of custom-fit work arrangements in today’s workplace—and of how honoring employees’ lives outside of work is an effective and innovative strategy for both managers and organizations. Featuring compelling stories of companies like Jet Blue, Ernst & Young, and Best Buy, the book profiles strategies that are gaining traction in workplaces across the country:

• New twists on traditional flexible hours and part-time work strategies
• Virtual workplaces
• Results-Only Work Environments (ROWEs)
• “Babies at Work” programs
• “On ramp and off ramp” opportunities

Practical and engaging, The Custom-Fit Workplace provides individuals and employers the tools they need to be successful and happy both at work and in life. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week -- Causes Women Support

Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has examined charitable giving by women and released results of their research. The first report of Women Give 2010, released in October, reported differences in giving to charity between male and female single-headed households across income levels. Findings in that report revealed that (1) in every income group from the lowest quintile ($23,509 or less) to the highest quintile ( >$103,000), female-headed households were more likely to give to charity than male-headed households; (2) in every income group except for one, women gave more than men (almost twice as much); (3) when comparing females to males by single-status, women were more likely to give and give more than men—except for widowers who gave more than widows. The second report, Causes Women Support, is a follow-up to the October 2010 report. Using the same data set, methodology, and analysis, we examine the differences between men and women's giving by charitable area. The research question we ask is, "Are there differences between male and female single-headed households across all subsectors of charitable giving? As in the first report, we focus only on male and female households led by the following singles: (1) never marrieds, (2) divorced/separated, and (3) widows/widowers. By focusing only on male and female single-headed households, the conclusions that we draw will be more definitive as to the differences between men's and women's giving. To download the findings, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

Resource of the Week – The Coaching and Philanthropy Project’s Online Toolkit

The Coaching and Philanthropy (CAP) Project’s Online Toolkit of free resources and action guides takes you on a deep dive into everything you need to know about coaching and how it can help you in your nonprofit work – to build on your strengths, create a stronger team, increase organizational capacity, and develop future leaders. To access the toolkit, go to: https://groups.compasspoint.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Text Case in Word

To change the case of text in Word, try this:

• Select text
• Press Shift + F3 until it changes to the desired case style

Pressing Shift + F3 toggles the text case between sentence case, UPPERCASE, lowercase, and capitalize each word. Be sure to hold down the Shift WHILE you press F3. Also, it works in all versions of Word. However, if you include text with punctuation at the end, it will skip the option to capitalize each word. You can also try this in PowerPoint.

Picks of the Week: March 13 - 19, 2011

2011-03-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation

The ASU Lodestar Center exists to advance nonprofit leadership practice so that organizations can better achieve their mission. Whether the mission is housing, youth development, recreation, or neighborhood revitalization, effective nonprofit organizations improve individual lives and enhance our entire community. Through research, education, and outreach activities the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation provides knowledge and tools that enhance the effectiveness of those who govern, manage, provide programs and services, volunteer for and support nonprofit organizations. Go to: http://lodestar.asu.edu.

Publication of the Week -- Successful Marketing Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations: Winning in the Age of the Elusive Donor by Barry J. McLeish

From the publisher: In Successful Marketing Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations, Second Edition, nonprofit marketing guru Barry J. McLeish shares everything he's learned during more than two decades managing and consulting nonprofits of every shape and size. Skipping all the arcane theory and the business school jargon, he gives you clear, step-by-step advice and guidance and all the tools you need to develop and implement a sophisticated marketing program tailored to your organization's needs and goals.

• New sections on the new media available to nonprofit marketers
• Techniques for analyzing your market and developing a comprehensive marketing plan
• Marketing strategies that will support fund-raising, promote new services, and enhance your organization's reputation and visibility
• Methods for developing a marketing program that reaches both the consumers of your service and the donors who support your organization

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Americans Living With Disability And Their Technology Profile

According to a new study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, one in four American adults live with a disability that interferes with activities of daily living. Fifty-four percent of adults living with a disability use the internet, compared with 81% of adults who report none of the disabilities listed in the survey. Two percent of American adults say they have a disability or illness that makes it harder or impossible for them to use the internet. This report is based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. For more information and to download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org.

Resource of the Week – Transitioning to a Nonprofit Career

Successfully moving into a senior nonprofit management role takes teamwork. Both the individual taking the position and the organization welcoming the new hire should be equally committed to making the onboarding process a success. Bridgestar, an initiative of the Bridgespan Group has compiled a number of excellent resources on the this topic These materials from Bridgespan's Bridgestar job board initiative provide an overview of what makes for a successful transition. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Enter a Line Break Within a Cell in Excel

To Enter line breaks in an Microsoft Excel worksheet:

• Click the cell where you want the label or heading to appear
• Type the first line of information
• Press ALT + ENTER
• Type the second line (Repeat step 3 if you have additional lines to enter)
• Press ENTER when you've finished typing

Picks of the Week: March 6 - 12, 2011

2011-03-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – GrantSpace
GrantSpaceSM, a new service of the Foundation Center, offers information and resources that are specifically designed to meet the needs of grantseekers. At GrantSpaceSM, you can:

• View video recordings of live discussions with grantmakers
• Listen to podcasts featuring experts in the field
• Find answers to your questions in the Knowledge Base
• Connect right now with a professional Foundation Center librarian
• Get information about opportunities in your subject
• Increase your expertise in fundraising and management
• Attend training and events, in-person and online
• and much more

To access the website, go to: http://grantspace.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Organizational Culture Guide: Revealing The Hidden Truths That Impact Performance by Paige Hull Teegarden, Denice Rothman Hinden and Paul Sturm

From the publishers: Part practical guide and part reference, the authors draw upon contemporary research to thoroughly examine and define organizational culture, then explore its implications for nonprofit organizational management. The book guides readers through the process of Revealing Organizational Culture (the ROC), an assessment which helps leaders successfully apply the principles of culture to achieve their organizational goals by analyzing organizational stories. This book is a comprehensive guide for nonprofit managers and leaders, board members, consultants, funders, and others who seek to help nonprofits improve their organizations, service delivery, and ultimately performance in accomplishing their missions. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – States Slash Arts Support

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has released a new study that shows exactly how much cash-starved states have been squeezing their arts budgets during the economic downturn. Legislatures across the country cut appropriations to state arts agencies by 7.2 percent in the 2011 fiscal year, to $272-million. And that was the third straight year of cuts, it found, meaning legislatures have slashed spending on arts agencies by 19 percent since the recession started. According to the study, arts spending has never recovered from the 2001-2 recession. State arts agencies—which exist in all of the states and provide grants and other help to nonprofit arts organizations–get more than three-fourths of their revenue from legislative appropriations. Taking into account inflation, the report said that spending has plummeted 45 percent since 2002. For more information, go to: http://www.nasaa-arts.org.

Resource of the Week – Arts Advocacy Resources

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is the membership organization that unites, represents and serves the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Each of the 56 states and jurisdictions has created an agency to support excellence in and access to the arts. NASAA has developed a number of advocacy and case-making tools to help document the impact and results of public investment in the arts. To access the tools, go to: http://www.nasaa-arts.org/Advocacy/index.php. NASAA has also developed the Advocate series which offers tips and strategies that help arts advocates make the case, mobilize support and expand their influence. To access the series, go to: http://www.nasaa-arts.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Screenshot in Office 2010

Screenshot -- a new feature in Office 2010 -- allows you to capture images from your screen.

• Click the document that you want to add the screenshot to
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Illustrations group, click Screenshot
• To add the whole window, click the thumbnail in the Available Windows gallery
• To add part of the window, click Screen Clipping, and when the pointer becomes a cross, press and hold the left mouse button to select the area of your screen that you want to capture
• If you have multiple windows open, click the window you want to clip from before clicking Screen Clipping. When you click Screen Clipping, the program you are working in is minimized and only the window behind it is available for clipping
• After adding a screenshot, you can use the tools on the Picture Tools tab to edit and enhance the screenshot

You can use Screenshot in Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and Excel 2010.

Picks of the Week: February 27 - March 5, 2011

2011-02-28T07:22:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Leadership Learning Community

The Leadership Learning Community (LLC) is a national nonprofit organization transforming the way leadership development work is conceived, conducted and evaluated, primarily within the nonprofit sector. The LLC focuses on leveraging leadership as a means to create a more just and equitable society. The LLC combines its expertise in identifying, evaluating and applying cutting-edge ideas and promising practices in the leadership development field, with access to an engaged national network of hundreds of experienced funders, consultants and leadership development programs, to drive the innovation and collaboration needed to make leadership more effective. The Leadership Learning Community also offers consulting services to help programs and foundations optimize their leadership investment strategy. For more information, go to: http://leadershiplearning.org/about.

Publication of the Week -- Leading with Care: How Women Around the World are Inspiring Businesses, Empowering Communities, and Creating Opportunity by Mary Cantando

From the publisher: In partnership with international relief agency CARE, an inspiring look at how women around the world are developing businesses and creating opportunity. In this ground-breaking business book, management expert Mary Cantando examines the stories of women in the developing world who, with help from the non-profit organization CARE, have capitalized on personal and professional opportunities, contributed to their communities, influenced their physical environment, and overcome discrimination on the road to establishing self-sufficiency and building strong lives and strong businesses Structured around these five principles CARE's mission statement, Leading with Care expertly bridges inspiring stories of human endeavor with straight-up business lessons that all of us can apply to our work and organizations. Featuring interviews with top female executives at American companies who devote their own time and resources to CARE, we see just how much we can learn when it comes to growth, opportunity, and community. Each section ends with a discussion and specific questions that will help you integrate the lessons in your own life. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Girls More Likely to Support Charities Using Social Media

According to a new study, four out of five teens (80 percent) use social media, almost half (44 percent) say they’ve become more aware of the needs of others as a result of their use of social media like Facebook and Twitter and about one in three (34 percent) “friend”, “like” or “follow” charitable organizations or causes they believe in. The survey commissioned by World Vision, an international relief and development group also reveals that girls are more likely than boys to say they’ve become more aware of the needs of others as a result of their use of social media (51 percent vs. 38 percent) The study was conducted online in January by Harris Interactive among more than 500 youth ages 13 to 17 years old. Girls are more likely than boys to “friend”, “like” or “follow” charities they support and causes they believe in (41 percent vs. 27 percent). girls more likely to support charities symbolically (43 percent vs. 31 percent) and vocally (38 percent vs. 27 percent). For more information, go to: http://www.worldvision.org.

Resource of the Week – Sample Surveys

Survey Monkey, the online survey tool, publishes a blog. The firm has compiled a number of sample surveys that can be adapted to meet your needs. Go to: http://blog.surveymonkey.com/tag/example-survey.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Clear Recent Documents List in Word 2010

• Click the File tab on the Ribbon
• Click Options in the left pane
• Click Advanced
• Scroll down to the Display section
• Change “Show this number of Recent Documents” to 0

If you want to turn the feature back on at any time, go back to this menu and choose a new number of files to display.

Picks of the Week: February 20 - 26, 2011

2011-02-21T05:22:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Go to: http://www.gatesfoundation.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Development Companion: A Workbook for Fundraising Success by Brydon M. DeWitt

From the publisher: A comprehensive workbook covering all aspects of successful nonprofit development. One of the most significant factors in the success of any marketing and fundraising program is the ability and willingness of the organization to take the time to develop an integrated development plan with realistic budgets, timelines, and areas of responsibility. The Nonprofit Development Companion examines all aspects of successful development and includes useable templates and examples that can be adapted for application within any nonprofit organization.

• Covers a specific element in each chapter, including mission, strategic planning, case for support, marketing/communications, use of volunteers, fundraising program, recordkeeping system, CEO, governing board, and development staffing
• Includes templates and samples to provide specific examples to use right away
• Offers a new approach to nonprofit fundraising and marketing

Based on sound development principles, this book gives you the step-by-step guidance you need to build and run a successful development program. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Online Giving Grows 35 Percent in 2010

Blackbaud, Inc. has announced the release of its 2010 Online Giving Report, which provides the most comprehensive review of online giving trends currently available in the nonprofit sector. Key findings include:

• Nonprofits of all sizes continue to see growth in online giving. Year-over-year online fundraising grew 34.5% in 2010.
• Online giving accounts for 7.6% of all total fundraising. Large organizations went from raising the lowest percentage of total fundraising online at 5.1% in 2009 to the highest percentage at 7.7% in 2010.
• Haiti-related online giving shaped 2010 giving trends. January 2010 had the largest percentage of online giving for the entire year. This change can almost single handedly be attributed to giving to Haiti relief efforts. International Affairs organizations had their online giving grow 130.8% compared to 2009.
• Year-end giving still accounts for the largest percentage of online donations. October, November, and December of 2010 represented 31.3% of total online giving during the year.
• Donors continue to make significant gifts online. In 2010, 88% of organizations had at least one online gift of $1,000 or more.

The Report is also the first of its kind to provide directions on how organizations can benchmark themselves against the Report data and guidance on how to improve performance based on benchmark results. To download the 2010 Online Giving Report, go to: http://www.blackbaud.com.

Resource of the Week – Free Online Advocacy Tools

The Aspen Institute's Advocacy Planning and Evaluation Program offers advocates with a series of three free online tools: The Advocacy Progress Planner, Domestic Advocacy, and Global Advocacy. CPSS tools enable advocates to:

• Plan better: make realistic predictions about feasible accomplishments
• Evaluate better: record information to make improvements along the way
• Communicate better: craft messages that create lasting, active engagement

Continuous Progress Advocacy Progress Planner is an online "logic model" for advocates who want to start thinking about planning and evaluation. It's designed to provide an at-a-glance look at the ingredients of advocacy efforts. It can guide you to clarify the elements of your own campaign: goals and impacts; audience; what you bring to your campaign; the activities and tactics you're planning for; and benchmarks along the way to your goals. The Continuous Progress Advocacy Tools provide a step-by-step roadmap for planning advocacy efforts and conducting evaluations before, during and after a campaign. Continuous Progress offers both domestic and global issues advocacy tools. To access the tools, go to: http://www.aspeninstitute.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Animation in PowerPoint 2010
Creating animation in PowerPoint is much improved with the 2010 update. TechRepublic's article Five Tips For Creating Animations in PowerPoint 2010 will help you learn how. Check it out.

• Use ready-made animations
• Set triggers
• Use the Animation Painter
• Let the timeline help you out
• See it all in the Animation Pane

Picks of the Week: February 13 - 19, 2011

2011-02-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

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

Picks of the Week: February 5-12, 2011

2011-02-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Council on Accreditation (COA)

COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioral healthcare accrediting organization. It was founded in 1977 by the Child Welfare League of America and Family Service America (now the Alliance for Children and Families). Originally known as an accrediting body for family and children's agencies, COA currently accredits over 45 different service areas. The website contains a Tools Index, a one-stop resource for private organizations and public agencies which contains a wide variety of trainings, webinars, tip sheets, document templates, self-paced trainings, checklists and other tools. The tools contained in the index are designed to help nonprofits better understand the COA standards and successfully navigate the accreditation process. The tools index and other resources will be useful to organizations that are not pursuing COA accreditation as well. Go to: http://www.coastandards.org/tools.php.

Publication of the Week -- Hands-On Social Marketing by Nedra Kline Weinreich

From the publisher: This book shows students and practitioners how to develop social marketing programs through a simple, six-step process of strategic planning and design. Nedra Kline Weinreich starts by introducing the concept of social marketing and then walks the reader through each of the six steps of the process: analysis, strategy development, program and communication design, pretesting, implementation, and evaluation and feedback. The Second Edition incorporates developments in marketing practice over the last 10 years and focuses on how to apply the design approach to campaigns to effect behavior change. All organizations can do social marketing, Weinreich insists, if they follow the steps and start to think from a social marketing perspective. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Trends Impacting Nonprofits in 2011

onPhilanthropy.com, a global resource for non-profit, philanthropy and corporate social engagement professionals, has compiled a summary of trend analyses written by Patrick M. Rooney, Executive Director The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, Philip Coltoff, former Executive Director and CEO of The Children’s Aid Society, Matthew Bishop, author Philanthrocapitalism, and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Executive Vice President, Changing Our World, Inc. and Chief Analyst, onPhilanthropy. To access the trend summary, go to: http://onphilanthropy.com/2011.

Resource of the Week – Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool

The Marguerite Casey Foundation Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool is a self-assessment instrument that helps nonprofits identify capacity strengths and challenges and establish capacity building goals. It is primarily a diagnostic and learning tool. Results from the Assessment can also help grantmakers deepen their understanding of the current capacity of their grantees as well as track their growth in capacity over time. Go to: http://www.caseygrants.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Help Learning Office 2010

Here are some more resources to help you switch from Office 2003 to the new Office 2010.
How to Find Office 2003 Commands in Office 2010 This is a "how to" article from www.howtogeek.com.

If you scroll to the bottom of this article you will find the following links to free information from Microsoft:

Office 2010 interactive guide

Download Office 2010 reference workbooks

Picks of the Week: January 30 - February 5, 2011

2011-01-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – The Center for Nonprofit Management

As one of the nation's leading management support organizations, the Center for Nonprofit Management, based in Dallas, strives to bring the most current tools for best practices in nonprofit management to thousands of nonprofit boards, staff and volunteers each year. The mission of the Center is to build stronger communities by increasing the performance and impact of nonprofit organizations. In the late 1970's, the Meadows Foundation in Dallas recognized a significant need for staff development and management assistance to charitable organizations. In 1980, with the support of other local funders, Meadows provided the seed funding to establish the Center for Nonprofit Management. Today, the Center receives support from donations, grants, fees for services and annual membership dues at a minimal cost and is a United Way affiliate. Nonprofits everywhere will find t he extensive collection of resources including sample documents helpful. Go to: http://www.cnmdallas.org.

Publication of the Week -- Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing by Michael J. Rosen

From the publisher: Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing helps nonprofit organizations move beyond traditional marketing techniques that have historically yielded only modest results and reveals how putting the focus on the donor can produce the best outcomes for all. Here, nonprofits new to gift planning will learn to market effectively from the start while those with established programs will discover ways to enhance their efforts. You will learn about various donor-centered marketing channels and techniques, as well as how to generate internal support for an improved planned gift marketing effort.

• Full of useful and proven tips you can implement for immediate results
• Offers practical tools including forms and checklists
• Includes a worksheet to help organizations calculate their planned giving potential

Sharing the latest research findings, this book shows you how to identify who your planned giving prospects are. You will learn how to effectively focus on them through meaningful communication that ultimately inspires them to give-and give more. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Major Demographic Shifts

According to a new report by researchers at the University of North Carolina, "Six Disruptive Demographic Trends: What Census 2010 Will Reveal," identifies major shifts in U.S. demographics and their implications for business, consumer markets and the nation's competitiveness in the global marketplace. The six trends are:

• South-shifting population. More than half of the nation's population growth during the past decade (51.4 percent) occurred in Southern states, driven in part by an in-migration of an estimated 2.3 million newcomers from nearly all demographic groups.
• "Browning" of America. Nonwhites accounted for an estimated 85 percent of U.S. net population growth during the past decade.
• Intermarriage increase. Marriage across racial and ethnic lines has doubled since 1980, further contributing to the browning trend, with 41 percent of all intermarriages in 2008 between Hispanics and whites.
• "Graying" of America. The first baby boomer born in America turned 65 on Jan. 1, sparking a "silver tsunami" of 79 million baby boomers who will exit the U.S. workforce over the next 20 years. About 8,000 Americans will turn 65 every day over the next five years, and they will live longer than previous generations because of advances in health care and lifestyles that are more active.
• Gender shift. Women now hold nearly half of all paid U.S. jobs (49.8 percent), own 40 percent of all businesses and hold 43 percent of executive, administrative and managerial positions in the U.S. economy
• More grandparent-headed households.

Researchers identified these trends by analyzing demographic and economic statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and a number of other sources. The complete report is available at www.kenaninstitute.unc.edu/Census2010Trends.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Spark

Nonprofit Spark is a weekly radio show for nonprofit leaders. Renee McGivern, founder and CEO of Spark Plug Consulting, started Nonprofit Spark in 2008 to provide training and communications consulting to small businesses, trade associations and nonprofits. The intention of the radio show is to spark learning and purposeful action so leaders and board members of new and emerging nonprofits succeed. Each week's show covers the nuts and bolts of managing and governing organizations. Renee's guests are nonprofit leaders, consultants who share practical tips and insights. For your convenience, each podcast is archived so you can get at what you need when you need it. Go to: http://webtalkradio.net/shows/nonprofit-spark.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Combining Text from Two Cells in Excel

In Microsoft Excel you can combine the text in two or more cells into a single text string by using “concatenation”. The result is displayed in the cell where you type the formula. For example, If you have a worksheet that contains the First name in cell A1 and the Last name in cell B1, enter the following expression in cell C1 to create a text string that displays the values of the First and Last names separated by a space: =A1&" "&B1.

Be sure to put a space between the double quotes in the expression. Copy this formula down to each row containing the names. Then copy the cells containing this formula back to their original position using Paste Special to convert the formula into a value:

• Select the column by clicking the column name
• Choose Copy
• Right click and choose Paste Special from the short-cut menu
• Choose Values and click OK

This tip works in Excel 2007 and 2010 as well as earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: January 23, 2010

2011-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Socialbrite

Socialbrite is a learning hub & sharing community that brings together top experts in social media, causes and online philanthropy. The organization aims to share insights about tools and best practices that advance the social good. Socialbrite is an ad-free community learning center which also offers strategic services to nonprofits. One of the highlights of the website is an extensive collection of tutorials created to help show nonprofits, cause organizations, businesses and individuals how to effectively use social media. Most of the tutorials are short video screencasts. For more information, go to: http://www.socialbrite.org.

Publication of the Week -- Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work by Ilona Bray

From the publisher: Getting tax-exempt status for your nonprofit organization is just the first step toward succeeding in your mission -- ultimately, your nonprofit's effectiveness depends entirely on your ability to raise money. Fortunately, Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits will show you how. Featuring advice and stories from over 40 experienced fundraisers, foundation staffers, journalists, and more, the 3rd edition of Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits offers strategies for raising donations from individuals, companies, and institutions, and covers the tools and staff you'll need to get the job done. The 3rd edition is updated to include a new focus on fundraising in the down economy and features input from development professionals across the U.S. And, you can read up on latest studies on who gives the most and why and the latest tips for "greening" your nonprofit's special events. Plus, you'll get the latest tax figures, guidelines for the new IRS Form 990, and updated resource recommendations and contact information. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Internet Deeply Embedded in Organizational Life in America

The internet is now deeply embedded in group and organizational life in America. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has found that 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization and internet users are more likely than others to be active: 80% of internet users participate in groups, compared with 56% of non-internet users. And social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of Twitter users are group participants. In this survey, Pew Internet asked about 27 different kinds of groups and found great diversity in group membership and participation using traditional and new technologies. Asked to assess the overall impact of the internet on group activities:

• 68% of all Americans (internet users and non-users alike) said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to communicate with members. Some 75% of internet users said that.
• 62% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to draw attention to an issue. Some 68% of internet users said that.
• 60% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to connect with other groups. Some 67% of internet users said that.

To access the full report, go to: http://pewinternet.org.

Resource of the Week – Fundraising Resources for Nonprofits

Blackbaud has complied an extensive collection of resources for nonprofits on topics including fundraising, financial management, online fundraising, website management, prospect research, business intelligence, and nonprofit management. The resources are organized in the following categories: white papers, internet resources, industry research, tip sheets, podcasts, newsletters and more. Go to: http://www.blackbaud.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Microsoft Office 2010 Quick Reference Guides

There are a lot of great resources to help you learn Office 2010. Custom Guide Online Learning has created printable 2-page quick reference guides which you can download for free. Give it a try.

Word 2010

Excel 2010

PowerPoint 2010

Picks of the Week: January 16 - 23, 2011

2011-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – IDEO

IDEO (pronounced “eye-dee-oh”) is an award-winning global design firm that takes a human-centered approach to helping organizations in the public and private sectors innovate and grow. Of special interest to nonprofits is their HCD Toolkit. The HCD Toolkit was designed specifically for NGOs and social enterprises that work with impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The free kit, available for download here, walks users through the human-centered design process and supports them in activities such as building listening skills, running workshops, and implementing ideas. The process has led to innovations such as the HeartStart defibrillator, Cleanwell natural antibacterial products, and the Blood Donor System for the Red Cross — all of which have enhanced the lives of millions of people. Although the center of attention is the developing world, many nonprofits will find this fresh, customer focused approach very useful for designing new programs and redesigning current ones. This free innovation guide can be downloaded at http://www.ideo.com/work/human-centered-design-toolkit. Check out the rest of the website at http://www.ideo.com.

Publication of the Week -- Leveraging Good Will: Strengthening Nonprofits by Engaging Businesses by Alice Korngold

From the publisher: Leveraging Good Will shows how nonprofit organizations can access the extraordinary resources of businesses, and how for-profits can benefit from partnering with nonprofits. Written by Alice Korngold—an expert in matching business professionals with nonprofit organizations—this important resource clearly demonstrates how nonprofits can gain valuable experience, expertise, relationships, and funding that will elevate and advance their organizations while businesses can build stronger relationships with the community and develop the next generation of leaders. Filled with illustrative examples and real-life success stories, Leveraging Good Will is an insider’s guide to what it takes for nonprofits to transform their organizations through partnerships with businesses. Step by step, the book outlines how to create a solid plan based on proven-in-practice techniques. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – For Minorities, New 'Digital Divide' Seen

A new study by the The Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals a new 'digital divide' for minorities. Today, as mobile technology puts computers in our pockets, Latinos and blacks are more likely than the general population to access the Web by cellular phones, and they use their phones more often to do more things. But now some see a new "digital divide" emerging — with Latinos and blacks being challenged by more, not less, access to technology. It's tough to fill out a job application on a cellphone, for example. Researchers have noticed signs of segregation online that perpetuate divisions in the physical world. And blacks and Latinos may be using their increased Web access more for entertainment than empowerment. Fifty-one percent of Hispanics and 46% of blacks use their phones to access the Internet, compared with 33% of whites, according to a July 2010 Pew poll. Forty-seven percent of Latinos and 41% of blacks use their phones for e-mail, compared with 30% of whites. The figures for using social media like Facebook via phone were 36% for Latinos, 33% for blacks and 19% for whites. For more information, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org.

Resource of the Week – Growing Your Business: A Guide To Grant Writing

Should a business or organization consider seeking grants, the first thing they should know is whether or not their business or organization is qualified to receive the grant. If grants are not appropriate for their business or organization, other ventures such as bank loans should be considered instead. In the event that they are worthy of a grant, they should seek funding that is directly related to their mission. Being clear about the organization’s mission and strengths as well as the activities of the organization will ensure that the time they spend on writing the grant is worthwhile. The resource "Growing Your Business: A Guide To Grant Writing" provides a good introduction to these important considerations and includes links to other tools on the subject. Go to: http://www.businessinsurance.org. (A special thanks to Taylor, a student in Ms Brookes' class for recommending this resource!)

Tech Tip of the Week -- Selecting a Range in Excel
In Excel, a range is a group of connected cells. When working in Excel you often need to select a range. Here is a simple trick for quickly selecting a range:

• Click anywhere within the range
• Press Ctrl + Shift + *

The range is selected. This trick works in all versions of Excel.

Picks of the Week: January 9 - 15, 2011

2011-01-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Nonprofit Trends

Nonprofit Trends is a blog by Steve MacLaughlin and covers a wide range of topics around the nonprofit sector. Steve is the Director of Internet Solutions at Blackbaud and is responsible for leading how the company provides online solutions for its clients. Steve has spent more than 14 years building successful online initiatives with a broad range of Fortune 500 firms, government and educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations across the world. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and events including the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association (DMFA), Institute of Fundraising, National Association of Independent School (NAIS), Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), and other nonprofit organizations. Steve serves on the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) Board of Directors and supports its focus on both the growth and professionalism of the nonprofit technology field as well as building knowledge and information sharing capacity throughout the sector. Go to: http://www.nptrends.com/about-nonprofit-trends.html.

Publication of the Week -- Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, 3rd Edition, edited by Eugene R. Tempel , Timothy L. Seiler and Eva E. Aldrich

From the publisher: The third edition of this acclaimed resource, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, explains the fundraising profession's major principles, concepts, and techniques. With contributions from noted experts in the field, and filled with illustrative examples, this book demonstrates why fundraising is a strategic management discipline and clearly defines each step in the fundraising cycle. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Reduced Giving Projected for 2011

Nearly two thirds of U.S. adults (65%) have supported a non-profit organization in the last 12 months with money, time or goods, according to a recent survey conducted by Vision Critical. This number tracks below the 70% to 75% that was typical of non-profit giving earlier in the decade and is indicative of the anemic economic recovery, high unemployment, and economic turmoil still facing much of America. When asked directly about their financial gifts, nearly one half of Americans (46%) say they are giving less money compared to last year while the same proportion (46%) say their giving is unchanged. Only eight per cent of Americans said they would be giving more in 2010. Among those providing a financial donation, giving most commonly occurs through direct collection at a church, temple or place of worship (36%), followed by direct mail (23%). However, online giving through a charity’s website is now the third most popular way to give (15%) and giving through social networking/media (5%), banner ads (4%) and text messaging (4%) are now statistically meaningful and will likely grow as Americans look for more and easier ways to give. According to the Vision Crtical survey, the giving picture for 2011 doesn’t look much better. The plurality of survey respondents say they will be able to give about the same (40%) as they did in 2010. While one fifth (21%) say they will be able to give more in the coming year, 15 per cent say they will give less, and yet another fifth of respondents (21%) say they will not be able to give at all in 2011. For more information, go to:
http://www.angus-reid.com or contact Justin Greeves at justin.greeves@visioncritical.com.

Resource of the Week – Social Media Resources for Nonprofits

Common Knowledge, a San Francisco based consultancy that provides full service consulting in online marketing, fundraising, communications and advocacy has complied an extensive collection of resources that will be useful for nonprofits. Common Knowledge publishes a monthly email newsletter, and releases occasional whitepapers and case studies. Go to: http://www.commonknow.com/html/resources.php.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using PowerPoint 2010

If you’re switching to PowerPoint 2010, here are some resources that can help you.
Changes in PowerPoint 2010, an article on the Microsoft site, covers what’s new and what’s changed.
What PowerPoint 2010 Beginners Need to Know, on About.com, lists dozens of resources on everything from simple beginner tips and tricks to advanced uses such as animation and sound.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Tutorials contains many excellent articles and tutorials for learning to use PowerPoint 2010.

Picks of the Week: January 2 - 8, 2011

2011-01-03T10:14:00.001-08:00

Website of the Week – Nonprofits Assistance Fund

The Nonprofits Assistance Fund (NAF) was incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 1998 to administer loan funds previously operated as programs of The Minneapolis Foundation. NAF's mission is to foster community development and vitality by building financially healthy nonprofit organizations. Underlying this mission is the belief that financially healthy nonprofit organizations play a vital role in stabilizing and anchoring the communities they serve. Nonprofits Assistance Fund is the only organization in the state with the express purpose of improving nonprofit organizations' financial health. NAF supports nonprofits through transformational lending and by encouraging healthy financial practices and providing strategic financial guidance. While the focus of the organization is Minnesota, the website is rich with resources that will benefit nonprofits anywhere. Especially noteworthy are valuable tools for nonprofit financial management. Go to: http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org.

Publication of the Week -- Nonprofits and Government: Collaboration and Conflict
by Elizabeth T. Boris and C. Eugene Steuerle

From the publisher: The past several decades have seen unprecedented growth in the scope and complexity of relationships between government and nonprofit organizations. These relationships have been more fruitful than many critics had feared and more problematic than many advocates had hoped. Nonprofits and Government is the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary exploration of nonprofit government relations. The second edition of this important book is fully updated and includes two new chapters. The authors address a host of important issues, including nonprofit advocacy, direct regulatory and tax policy, the conversion of nonprofits to for-profits, clashes in government interaction with religion and the arts, and international nonprofit government relationships. Practitioners, researchers, and policymakers alike will benefit from the authors wide-ranging discussion. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Nonprofit Technology Use

According to the latest Communiqué from the Center for Civil Society Studies at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies "The Nonprofit Technology Gap – Myth or Reality?" despite the common impression that nonprofits lack adequate, up-to-date information technologies, this latest issue of the revealed that nonprofits have integrated current information technologies into a wide range of their organizational activities. Key findings include: An overwhelming majority of all respondents (88 percent) reported that technology is integrated into “many” or “all” aspects of their organization. The vast majority of all respondents indicated that information technologies are “moderately important” or “critical” to almost all of their organizational activities, including accounting/finance (98 percent), external communications (98 percent), tracking users (94 percent), internal communications (94 percent), administration (93 percent), marketing and publicity (93 percent), fundraising and donor management (91 percent), and program and service delivery (91 percent). The vast majority of all organizations (98 percent) reported using information technologies for program/ service delivery; Roughly two-thirds of all respondents (65 percent) described this use as moderate or significant.
To download a copy of the latest Communiqué, go to: http://www.ccss.jhu.edu.

Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Webinars for January 2011
Wild Apricot, a Canadian based software development company has compiled a list of webinars on a number of nonprofit management topics being offered this month at no charge – useful for fundraisers, board members, administrators, active volunteers and volunteer coordinators. Go to: http://www.wildapricot.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using VLOOKUP in Excel

VLOOKUP is a powerful function in Excel which allows you to look up a value in an Excel list or table. For example, you could use this function to look up grades based on a percentage value. To learn more about this function, check out the free online training from Microsoft VLOOKUP: What it is, and when to use it.

Picks of the Week: December 19 - January 1, 2011

2010-12-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Public Agenda

For over 30 years, Public Agenda has been providing unbiased and unparalleled research that bridges the gap between American leaders and what the public really thinks about issues ranging from education to foreign policy to immigration to religion and civility in American life. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, Public Agenda was founded by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance in 1975. Public Agenda's two-fold mission is to help American leaders better understand the public's point of view and enable citizens know more about critical policy issues so they can make thoughtful, informed decisions. Go to: http://www.publicagenda.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Influential Fundraiser: Using the Psychology of Persuasion to Achieve Outstanding Results by Bernard Ross and Clare Segal

From the publisher: With the explosion of uninspired e-mail solicitations, dull fundraising dinners, and cookie-cutter direct mail campaigns, donors are demanding a new, personalized approach when being asked for money. Drawing on the authors' practical experience and the most current psychological and neurological research, The Influential Fundraiser offers a wealth of approaches that will help fundraisers make significant and successful creative "asks" for money from donors . . . in person. Written by Bernard Ross and Clare Segal—two leading experts in the field of international nonprofit fundraising—the book offers step-by-step guidance for gaining confidence and learning the necessary skills and techniques fundraisers must have to build successful relationships and raise substantial amounts of money. Written in an accessible, engaging style, The Influential Fundraiser will help you to be both highly effective and very flexible. The 5P model outlined in the book—Passion, Proposal, Preparation, Persuasion, and Persistence—will help fundraisers and volunteers learn invaluable skills needed for fundraising success. The Influential Fundraiser is international in scope and includes helpful suggestions for dealing with a wide range of cultural and diversity issues. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Foundations’ Public Policy-related Activities

The Foundation Center’s first report benchmarking the level of engagement of U.S. foundations in policy-related activities reflects an increase in grantmaker support for research, public education, and resources to policymakers in recent years. Key Facts on Foundations’ Public Policy-related Activities finds that one-quarter of the more than 1,300 foundations that responded to a survey either fund or are engaged in such activities, with larger foundations far more likely to participate than smaller ones. In fact, more than half of those who engage in public policy-related activities increased their levels of support over the last five years. To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – Fundraising Databases

The Center for Nonprofit Management has complied a list of online fundraising databases for grant seekers and grant makers. Go to: http://www.cnmsocal.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Add a Drop Cap in Word 2010

A drop cap is used to display the first letter of the paragraph in a large font. To add a drop cap to a paragraph in Word 2010:

• Click in the paragraph where you would like to apply a drop cap
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the text group, choose Drop Cap
• From the Drop Cap list, click to select the style or choose options for additional choices

Picks of the Week: December 12 - 18, 2010

2010-12-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Community Partners

Community Partners was established in 1992 to meet a growing need experienced by civic and social entrepreneurs in Southern California for a structure that freed them from red tape while they pursued the cause that animated them. Conceived as a “foundation for emerging philanthropies”, its "incubator" has grown steadily to include nearly 130 projects led by people who reflect the scope and diversity of the Southern California region and over a dozen strategic initiatives in partnership with funders, networks and established organizations. From initial investments of $250,000, Community Partners has grown into a solid institution managing more than $10 million a year in revenue. For emerging leaders of civic and community projects, Community Partners handles finance, HR, and legal needs; help them develop their idea into a funded project; connect them with their peers and leaders in the community; and equip them with the tools and training to grow an effective, sustainable project. For experienced social innovators and networks of established stakeholder groups, Community Partners provides the knowledge and means to get new ideas and coalitions off the ground in a matter of weeks. For funders, Community Partners provides skilled management of program offices, peer convenings, regranting, and capacity-building programs that strengthen their impact in the community. While the focus is on Southern California, the resources will be very helpful to others. Go to: http://www.communitypartners.org/about-us.

Publication of the Week -- The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods by John McKnight and Peter Block

From the publisher: There is a growing movement of people with a different vision for their local communities. They know that real satisfaction and the good life are not provided by organizations, institutions, or systems. No number of great CEO’s, central offices, or long range plans produce what a community can produce. People are discovering a new possibility for their lives. They have a calling. They are called. And together they call upon themselves. This possibility is idealistic, and yet it is an ideal within our grasp. It is a possibility that is both idealistic and realistic. Our culture leads us to believe that a satisfying life can be purchased. It tells us that in the place where we live, we don't have the resources to create a good life. This book reminds us that a neighborhood that can raise a child, provide security, sustain our health, secure our income, and care for our vulnerable people is within the power of our community. This book gives voice to our ideal of a beloved community. It reminds us of our power to create a hope-filled life. It assures us that when we join together with our neighbors we are the architects of the future where we want to live. For nearly three decades, John McKnight has conducted research on social service delivery systems, health policy, community organizations, neighborhood policy, and institutional racism. He currently directs research projects focused on asset-based neighborhood development and methods of community building by incorporating marginalized people. Peter Block is an author, consultant. His work is about empowerment, stewardship, chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community. He’s the author of Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, The Answer to How is Yes, and Community. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Millennial Donor Trends

According to a new study, Millennial Generation donors want to be engaged in a different way than Baby Boomers or Generation X donors; however, contrary to what general perceptions might suggest, that doesn’t mean you’ll connect with them most successfully through social media appeals. For the “2010 Millennial Donor Study,” Achieve and Johnson Grossnickle Associates (JGA) asked more than 2,200 people between the ages of 20 and 40 across the U.S. about their giving habits and engagement preferences. Approximately 75% of the respondents represented Generation Y or Millennial donors. The results of the survey show a generation definitely connected by technology and social media, but more inspired to give and volunteer by personal engagement and human connections. These results would suggest that nonprofit organizations seeking to tap into this new generation of donors will need to redesign their solicitation and engagement processes, treating these new givers more like their older peers in an effort that will not deliver a quick return on investment but will reward the organization over time. Key findings include:

• 91% of Millennial donors are at least somewhat likely to respond to a face-to-face request for money from a nonprofit organization, with 27 percent being highly likely to respond to such a request. Only 8 percent are highly likely to respond to an email request.
• 55.2% of Millennial donors are likely or highly likely to respond to a specific request or particular project. 55.7% are not likely to respond to a general, non-specific ask.
• 71.9% of Millennial donors don’t need to volunteer for an organization before they donate.
• Millennial donors want to know details about the organizations they support: 86.3 percent want updates on programs or services, and 54.6 percent want information about the organization and its financial condition. 68 percent want information about volunteer opportunities.
• 60.5% say they would like access to board and executive leadership, and 53.2% say they have it.
• Asked who could get them to donate to an organization, most Millennial donors say they would be likely or highly likely to give if asked by a family member (74.6%) or a friend (62.8 %). Only 37.8% would be likely or highly likely to give is asked by a coworker.

To download a copy of the report, go to:
http://api.ning.com.

Resource of the Week – Volunteer Management Blogs

Susan Ellis of Energize, Inc. has compiled an excellent list of blogs on the subject of volunteer management. Go to: http://www.energizeinc.com/prof/blogs.html.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Excel 2010 Sparklines

A new feature in Excel 2010 called Sparklines can help you spot trends in your data. Sparklines are tiny charts that sit on top of a cell. Here’s how to create them:

• Select an empty cell or group of empty cells where you want to insert Sparklines
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Sparklines group, click the type of Sparkline you want to create
• In the Data box, enter the range of cells that contain the data to base the Sparklines on

Picks of the Week: December 5 - 11, 2010

2010-12-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Nonprofit Trends

Nonprofit Trends is a blog by Steve MacLaughlin and covers a wide range of topics around the nonprofit sector with a focus on the trends shaping the nonprofit sector. Steve is the Director of Internet Solutions at Blackbaud and is responsible for leading how the company provides online solutions for its clients. Steve has spent more than 14 years building successful online initiatives with a broad range of Fortune 500 firms, government and educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations across the world. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and events including the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association (DMFA), Institute of Fundraising, National Association of Independent School (NAIS), Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), and other nonprofit organizations. Go to: http://www.nptrends.com.

Publication of the Week -- The Change Leader's Roadmap: How to Navigate Your Organization's Transformation, 2nd Edition by Linda Ackerman Anderson and Dean Anderson

From the publisher: In these turbulent times, competent change leadership is a most coveted leadership skill, and savvy change consultants are becoming trusted participants at the board table. For both leaders and consultants, knowing how to navigate the complexities of organization transformation is fast becoming the key to a successful career. This second edition of the author s landmark book is the king of all how-to books on change. It provides a strategic overview of the author s proven change process methodology, as well as pragmatic guidance and tools for each key step in a complex transformational change process. The Change Leader s Roadmap is the most comprehensive guide available for building transformational change strategy and designing and implementing successful transformation. This book is specifically written for leaders, project managers, OD practitioners, change practitioners, and consultants seeking greater change results. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Nonprofit Fundraising Trends

The Nonprofit Research Collaborative has released the “November 2010 Fundraising Survey” on the state of nonprofit fundraising. Respondents answered questions comparing their organizations’ total contributions in the first nine months of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. Nearly the same percentage of organizations reported that giving was up as those that reported giving was down. Of the about 2,500 responses, 36 percent said giving rose and 37 percent said giving fell, while the other 26 percent reported that total giving remained the same. However, there are some differences across organizations according to charity type and budget size. Key findings include:

• Organizations in four of the analyzed subsectors reported an equal percentage of both increases and decreases in contributions. These subsectors include: Arts, Education, Environment/Animals, and Human Services.
• International organizations were the most likely to report an increase in contributions, reflecting donations made for disaster relief.
• The larger the organization’s size based on total annual expenditures, the more likely the organization was to report an increase in charitable receipts in the first nine months of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009.
• Approximately 22 percent of charities used volunteers in positions that were formerly paid positions during the first nine months of 2010. This is up from 15 percent a year ago.
• Most organizations were hopeful about 2011. About 47 percent planned budget increases, 33 percent expected to maintain their current level of expenditures, and only 20 percent anticipated a lower budget for 2011.

To download a copy of the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week -- Nonprofit Webinars for December 2010

Wild Apricot, a Canadian based software development company has compiled a list of webinars on a number of nonprofit management topics being offered this month at no charge – useful for fundraisers, board members, administrators, active volunteers and volunteer coordinators. Go to:
http://www.wildapricot.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using Screenshot in Office 2010

Screenshot -- a new feature in Office 2010 -- allows you to capture images from your screen.

• Click the document that you want to add the screenshot to
• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Illustrations group, click Screenshot
• To add the whole window, click the thumbnail in the Available Windows gallery
• To add part of the window, click Screen Clipping, and when the pointer becomes a cross, press and hold the left mouse button to select the area of your screen that you want to capture
• If you have multiple windows open, click the window you want to clip from before clicking Screen Clipping. When you click Screen Clipping, the program you are working in is minimized and only the window behind it is available for clipping
• After adding a screenshot, you can use the tools on the Picture Tools tab to edit and enhance the screenshot

You can use Screenshot in Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and Excel 2010.

Picks of the Week: November 28 - December 4, 2010

2010-11-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations
The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations is located at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1984, the Mandel Center offers the nation's most fully developed program in nonprofit management and was one of the first university-based programs in the country focused on the education of nonprofit leaders and managers. As an academic center that aims to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofit leaders and managers, the Mandel Center offers a variety of services for individuals and organizations who want to learn more about or be active members of the nonprofit sector. Go to: www.case.edu/mandelcenter.

Publication of the Week -- Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire: A Roadmap to a Sustainable Culture of Ingenuity and Purpose by Braden Kelley

From the publisher: Every successful organization began as a nimble, innovative start-up with the ability to course-correct and quickly adapt to the needs of its customers. But along the way, success and growth may have caused changes in the structure, the culture, and sometimes even the vision of the business. Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire equips your organization to identify and remove those barriers to innovation that have prevented it from achieving sustainable growth and change. Filled with case studies and proven guidance, this book evolves leading innovation theories into coherent, practical applications that you can implement in reinvigorating your own organization. In today's fast-paced marketplace, those unwilling to change are often left behind. With an interactive Web site including health checks and an innovation audit, as well as video and text interviews, Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire provides you with the tools you need to reframe your business's innovation strategy and goals and successfully supply the marketplace with revolutionary solutions to your customers' issues. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Giving Circle Trends

Donors in giving circles give more, give more strategically, and are more engaged in their communities, according to a report released by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Giving circles have emerged over the last decade as a growing and significant philanthropic trend among donors of all wealth levels and backgrounds. Past studies have shown that the number of giving circles has exploded across the country and that they are an established philanthropic force. Giving circle members are more likely than other donors to give to organizations serving women and girls, ethnic and minority groups, and for arts, culture and ethnic awareness. They are less likely to give to federated or combined giving funds (such as the United Way) and to religious organizations. For a summary and full report, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

Resource of the Week – Board Leader Succession Planning Resource

While much has been written about executive leadership succession in nonprofits, there are not as many resources available to help with board succession planning. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has compiled some useful resources in the article “Succession Planning with Your Board”. There are links to a number of excellent worksheets and tools. Go to: http://www.shrm.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Customize the Ribbon in Office 2010

Office 2010 allows you to customize the Ribbon in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Here's how:

• Click the File tab on the Ribbon
• Click Options to display the Options dialog box
• Click Customize the Ribbon
• Select the command you want to add to the Ribbon
• Click the tab where you want the command added and click new group -- commands can only be added to custom groups (you can even create a new custom tab if you want to)
• Click Add
• Click OK when you are finished adding commands to the Ribbon

Picks of the Week: November 21 - 27, 2010

2010-11-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – NPTECH.INFO
NPTECH is a catch-all term for information related both to nonprofits and technology. The term originated as a tag at social networking sites like Delicious and Flickr that nonprofit technology professionals used to share and refer information, and it is still very much used that way today. But nptech now also refers to the broad, loose community of socially minded professionals who work with technology -- be it servers or social media -- at mission-minded organizations. NPTech.Info pulls information tagged with NPTECH from around the web into a one stop shop. You can click on the primary links to read popular blogs; find info tagged "nptech" from around the web (you can tag your blog entries, Flickr Photos, Delicious links, etc. nptech, too, to have the info show up here); and general technology news. Go to: http://nptech.info.

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 – Recession's Impact on Foundations
Foundation operations appear to have stabilized following cuts in staffing, travel, or other operating expenses by a majority of grant makers. In a sign that foundations may be turning the corner, only 12 percent of respondents to the Center's September 2010 "Foundation Giving Forecast Survey" expect these operational changes to remain in place over the longer term. Among the changes that could persist: funders making fewer site visits to grantees, attending fewer conferences, eliminating print copies of annual reports, and moving to electronic grant applications. Other key findings include:

• Indicators suggest a return to modest growth in foundation giving in 2011.
• Few foundations anticipate lasting changes in grantmaking priorities as a result of the economic crisis.
• Foundation operations have largely stabilized following widespread changes in 2009.
• The economic crisis had a minimal impact on foundations’ decisions to spend down their endowments and terminate operations.
• More than two out of five respondents provided support specifically to address problems related to the economic crisis.

To download a copy of the study, to go: http://foundationcenter.org.

Resource of the Week – How to Establish a Good ED-Board Relationship

Bridgestar has developed a new resource "Starting Off on the Right Foot: How to Establish a Good ED-Board Relationship" that provides guidance on how boards and new executive directors/chief executive officers (EDs/CEOs) can lay a good foundation for an effective working relationship. The guide is based on interviews with CEOs and board chairs about the preliminary steps they took to ensure their relationships worked from day one. For a copy of the free guide, go to: http://www.bridgestar.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Turning Photos into PowerPoint 2007 Slide Shows

To turn your digital pictures into PowerPoint 2007 slide shows:

• Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon
• In the Illustrations group, click Photo Album
• On the Photo Album dialog box, click the File/Disk button to Insert pictures
• Click the Create button

Picks of the Week: November 14-20, 2010

2010-11-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Community Resource Exchange
For over 30 years, Community Resource Exchange (CRE) has worked to create a more just, equitable and livable city for ALL New Yorkers. CRE provide strategic advice and technical services every year to more than 300 community-based nonprofit organizations confronting social issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDs in low and moderate income neighborhoods. As one of the most established nonprofit management consulting providers of its kind, CRE provides its clients with information, guidance, resources for nonprofits, skill building and leadership training for Community Based Organizations to make New York City stronger - one community group at a time. Be sure to check out their Resources for Nonprofits. Go to: http://www.crenyc.org/about_us.

Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause by Kivi Leroux Miller

From the publisher: This down-to-earth book shows how to hack through the bewildering jungle of marketing options and miles-long to-do lists to clear a marketing path that's right for your organization, no matter how understaffed or underfunded. You'll see how to shape a marketing program that starts from where you are now and grows with your organization, using smart and savvy communications techniques, both offline and online. Combining big-picture management and strategic decision-making with reader-friendly tips for implementing a marketing program day in and day out, this book provides a simple yet powerful framework for building support for your organization's mission and programs.

• Includes cost-effective strategies and proven tactics for nonprofits
• An ideal resource for thriving during challenging times
• Fast, friendly, and realistic advice to help you navigate the day-by-day demands of any nonprofit

Written by one of the leading sources of how-to info and can-do inspiration for small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations, Kivi Leroux Miller is, among other things, a communication consultant and trainer, and president of EcoScribe Communications and Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week -- High Net worth Donor Trends

The 2010 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy tracks significant shifts as well as consistent trends in the giving behaviors of the wealthiest donors in the United States. The findings highlight the philanthropic legacy of high net worth households and offer valuable information to nonprofit organizations who seek to engage, sustain, and deepen relationships with these donors. Key findings include;

• High net worth households continued to support charitable organizations at levels seen in 2005 and 2007 (98.2 percent of high net worth households donated to charity in 2009). This indicates that despite the economic downturn, high net worth households remain committed to supporting nonprofits.
• Despite a strong commitment to nonprofits in 2009, average charitable giving by high net worth households decreased between 2007 and 2009. Average charitable giving dropped 34.9 percent from $83,034 in 2007 to $54,016 in 2009, after adjusting for inflation.
• About one-third of households cited an organization's own communications about its impact (34.1 percent) as important when giving to charity.
• In response to meeting community needs, nearly 64 percent of high net worth household gave more in 2009 than in 2008 to support people's basic needs and/or to fund the general operations of an organization.
• A few subsectors saw increases, between 4 and 21 percent, in the average amount given by wealthy households including arts, environment/animal care, international causes, and to giving vehicles. Other subsectors saw more significant declines from 2007, with giving to health experiencing a 63.7 percent decline, education a 55 percent decline, and combined purpose organizations (such as United Way, United Jewish Appeal, or Catholic Charities) experiencing a 44 percent decline.

For more information, go to:
http://mediaroom.bankofamerica.com.

Resource of the Week – TechSoup Grant Writing Series

Wish you knew more about applying for grant funding? Does it seem overwhelming and you wonder how to get started? TechSoup is offering a new grant series, Successful Grants in One Hour a Week. The online series will provide you with small steps that cover the entire grant writing and submission process. Weekly blog posts will outline your steps for the week so you'll be prepared to apply for a basic grant before the end of the year. For information, go to: http://blog.techsoup.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Worksheet Selection in Excel

If you have several worksheets in an Excel workbook, it can be time consuming to select the one you want to view. This shortcut can help you speed up the process.

• Right click on the sheet tab navigation arrows located in the lower left corner of the screen
• A menu of worksheet tabs pops up
• Left click the worksheet you want to view

This tip works in Excel 2007 as well as earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: November 7 - 13, 2010

2010-11-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

Website of the Week – Our Shared Resources
OurSharedResources.com is a new free service where those who work in the field of volunteer management are able to add useful resources and others in the field will be able to access them. With many people contributing a little re-inventing the wheel time and time again is avoided. Resources are downloadable, real-world examples of forms, manuals or position descriptions, templates & tools for creating resources, as well as tips, ideas and how-to resources. OurSharedResources.com is now available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. The language of all resources in the site will be identified and users will be able to limit their search to material in their specified language. To check out the site, go to: http://oursharedresources.com.

Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka and Steve Zimmerman

From the publisher: Co-authored by CompassPoint's Jeanne Bell, Blue Avocado's Jan Masaoka and Spectrum's Steve Zimmerman, this new book offers nonprofit executives and board members a simple yet powerful framework for analyzing and adjusting their business models for greater organizational sustainability. It introduces the Matrix Map, a practical tool for determining the current impact and financial performance of core programs and fundraising activities. It also provides guidance on how leaders can make strategic business decisions on an as-needed basis, rather than wait for episodic strategic planning. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Public Trust in Nonprofits Stronger Than In Government
American Express released findings from a “Perspectives on Nonprofits” survey, which shows that while seven in ten Americans (71%) trust nonprofits more than they trust government or industry to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, more than eight in ten Americans (83%) believe that nonprofits do not always have the resources they need to invest. Other findings include:

• Only 5 percent of the people who responded said they currently work for a nonprofit group, but an additional 50 percent said they were at least somewhat interested in such employment.
• Among those interested in working at a nonprofit organization, 67 percent said such work could be more rewarding than other kinds of employment, though 41 percent said it would mean earning lower pay. Among these 14% believe that they would have fewer opportunities for training and leadership development than they would working for other types of organizations.
• About four out of five Americans also said they agreed that nonprofit groups do not have “the resources to invest in the growth and development of their employees.”

StrategyOne conducted an online survey among 1,044 Americans, aged 18 years or older, between October 25-26, 2010 on perceptions of the nonprofit sector and its ability to address society’s needs. The data is representative of census data of the American population. Go to: http://www.advisorone.com.

Resource of the Week – Special Events Guide

Network for Good has published a guide to planning and conducting large special events. “The Big Event: 5 Tips for Making Your Next Fundraising Event a Great Success”. The contents include: Set a goal that makes sense, Choose the right type of event, Secure corporate sponsors, Design a dynamic experience for your supporters, Assess what worked (and didn’t), and, Plan for next time and keep up your relationships. To download a copy, go to:
http://www.fundraising123.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Nudging Objects on PowerPoint 2007 Slides
Have you ever tried to move an object on a slide just a little? Try this:

• Select the object
• Press Ctrl + an arrow key

This tip also works in earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: October 31 - November 6, 2010

2010-11-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network
NTEN is a membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals. Members share the common goal of helping nonprofits use all aspects of technology more effectively. NTEN believes that technology allows nonprofits to work with greater social impact and supports its members to strategically use technology to make the world a better, just, and equitable place. NTEN facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information within communities by connecting members to each other, providing professional development opportunities, educate on issues of technology use in nonprofits, and spearhead groundbreaking research, advocacy, and education on technology issues. Go to: http://www.nten.org.

Publication of the Week -- The Politics of Partnerships: A Critical Examination of Nonprofit-Business Partnerships by Maria May Seitanidi

From the publisher: The Politics of Partnerships contributes to the sustainability debate a holistic framework for partnership building, based on in-depth accounts of ways and means of collaborative working to incorporate conflict as a successful way of delivering change. This is a must read book for the business community but equally for the non-profits and governments. Seitanidi's book urges us to step up to the challenge of accepting and adapting our responsibilities within our increasingly beyond boundaries social realities. Based on detailed empirical research, Seitanidi shows us the reality behind the rhetoric of partnerships. This book is animated by a profound belief in the necessity for social change and shows us how partnerships can make a real difference, but also why they so often under perform. ... An outstanding book that combines theory with practice and provides both context and challenges to our understanding of the complexity of the ethos of very different sectors and how they can work together. This is a vital book for all private sector managers engaged in voluntary sector relations and vice versa on how to do it properly. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Donor Motivation Trends

This research study, Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century, was commissioned and created by Russ Reid and conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting in June 2010. This study was conducted across the United States, in both English and Spanish, via telephone and through a demographically representative online research panel. The sample size was 2,005 adults 18 or older, with a very low margin of error. Overall, 39% of American adults are donors (meaning they have given in the past 12 months). This translates to 90 million Americans. Here are a few of the findings:

• Men and women are equally likely to be donors.
• The older the individual, the more likely he or she is to be a donor.
• Being a donor is not something that varies much with geography.
• Suburbia does provide a disproportionately large group of donors, largely because suburban residents tend to have higher incomes.
• The proportion of donors increases as education level increases.
• People who regularly attend religious worship services are slightly more likely to be donors than are those who don’t attend, but people who financially support a place of worship are far more likely to be donors to nonprofits than are those who don’t give money to a place of worship.

To download an Executive Summary, go to: http://98.129.107.186/pdf/russreid_hod_exec_summary.pdf.

Resource of the Week – Getting Social Media Right: A Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations

The Bridgespan Group has developed a social media guide for nonprofits. "Getting Social Media Right: a Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations" authored by Richard Steele Sivan McLetchie and Chris Lindquist is organized around a framework referred to as the “Seven C’s” of social media: Cause, Communication, Community, Collaboration, Costs, Capital, and Competition. According to the authors, by challenging yourself to ask questions around the Seven C’s, you can quickly begin to organize your thinking about social media, and plan or revise your approach so that your social media efforts create real value for your organization. The full data set – purged of any identifying information – survey, and framework are all available for download. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Entering the Euro in Word 2007
To enter the Euro symbol in Word 2007, use this simple keyboard shortcut:

• Hold down the Alt key and the Ctrl key
• Type the letter e

This trick also works in earlier versions.

Picks of the Week: October 24 - 30, 2010

2010-10-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Nonprofit and Philanthropy Good Practice
The Nonprofit and Philanthropy Good Practice or NPGoodpractice.org is a project of Nonprofit Services at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy. NPGoodpractice.org was created in 2002 with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a one-stop shop for widely accepted and innovative nonprofit practices. Nonprofit leaders can access hands-on tips, articles and profiled links and apply them to their organizations. In 2010, the site was redesigned with interactive features. Visitors to NPGoodpractice.org come from all 50 states and over 140 countries. Go to: http://npgoodpractice.org.

Publication of the Week -- Renewal Coaching: Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations by Douglas B. Reeves and Elle Allison

From the publisher: Renewal Coaching provides a series of personal assessments that will guide individuals and teams through the seven stages of renewal. Each assessment includes both survey and narrative responses, and readers can use the journal pages in the text or convenient on-line formats to respond. The Renewal Coaching framework consists of these seven elements: Recognition Finding patterns of toxicity and renewal; Reality Confronting change killers in work and life; Reciprocity Coaching in harmony; Resilience Coaching through pain; Relationship Nurturing the personal elements of coaching; Resonance Coaching with emotional intelligence; Renewal Creating energy, meaning, and freedom to sustain the Journey. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Most Women Give More Than Men, New Study Finds

Women at virtually every income level are more likely to give to charity and to give more money on average than their male counterparts, after controlling for education, income and other factors that influence giving, new research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University finds. The study analyzed charitable-giving data from 8,000 American households. Looking at every income level, the researchers found that women give to charity more frequently than men in similar circumstances. Giving by men and women is closest at the lowest income level, $23,509 or less. But more than one third of women making less than that sum (35.2 percent) were still more likely to give to charity than men earning the same amount (27.5 percent). Those gender differences are more pronounced among people making more money, the study found. For example, all but 4 percent of women who made more than $103,000 gave to charity, while only three-fourths of men who made that much did. To download a copy of the study, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/womengive.

Resource of the Week – Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning

Today, more and more nonprofits are looking to partner with other organizations. Strategic partnerships offer benefits that range along a spectrum from simple joint programming ventures to full-scale mergers. The purpose of the Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning is to serve as a reference for board members embarking on the collaboration journey. Many factors must be considered, and the following list shares 10 key elements critical to the success of any effective partnership. Boards are encouraged to use this list as a starting point for boardroom discussions (Note: The electronic version of this guide contains hyperlinks under each topic heading to additional resources for that subject area). Finally, this guide also contains a Partnership Checklist, a useful tool in tracking your progress through the partnership process. To download a copy of the guide, go to: http://www.asu.edu.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Create Access 2007 Tables from Excel

Here's a simple way to create an Access 2007 table from an Excel worksheet:

• Open the Excel worksheet
• Select the data you want in your Access table
• Copy the data to the clipboard and paste it into Access or you can even drag and drop it into Access

Picks of the Week: October 17 - 23, 2010

2010-10-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – Fast Company Magazine Resource Centers of Excellence
Fast Company Magazine has launched two new online resource centers focusing on leadership and innovation. The Resource Centers of Excellence blend new Web-only content, material from the magazine’s archives, and additional tools and services -- including online discussions and polls.. In the future, the magazine plans to roll out additional resource centers.

For innovation resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/innovation.

For leadership resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/leadership.

Publication of the Week -- The Five Most Important Questions Self Assessment Tool: Participant Workbook, 3rd Edition by Peter F. Drucker, Leader to Leader Institute
From the publisher: The new edition of this transformational tool offers leaders a critical resource for better understanding their organizations and themselves, honing their skills to become accomplished long-range planners and strategic thinkers. By working through the Participant Workbook, leaders will gain the insight needed to plan for results, learn from customers and clients, and ascertain how to achieve extraordinary levels of performance. The Participant Workbook draws on Peter F. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions and is grounded in his management philosophies that address the critical aspects that make organizations viable and valuable entities. When leaders answer these questions thoughtfully and address them with purpose, these questions take one down a path to organizational transformation and enlightenment. By leveraging these essential questions, the Participant Workbook challenges leaders to take a close look at the very heart of their organization and what drives it, giving them a means to assess: how to be and how to develop quality, character, mind-set, values, and courage. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions lead to spirited discussions and action, inspiring positive change and renewed focus. Designed for today's busy professionals, this concise, clear, and accessible workbook for social sector, nonprofit, and socially minded business and government leaders can be used as preparation for a workshop, organizational self-assessment, or as a stand-alone leadership development tool for individuals looking to develop themselves and their organizations. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Technology Trends Among People of Color
Here is a summary of recent research highlights by Pew Internet Project Senior Research Specialist Aaron Smith:

• Trend #1: The internet and broadband populations have become more diverse over the last decade, although key disparities do remain. Over the last decade the internet population has come to much more closely resemble the racial composition of the population as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010 the proportion of internet users who are black or Latino has nearly doubled—from 11% to 21%. At the same time, African-Americans remain somewhat less likely than whites to go online.

• Trend #2: Access to the digital world is increasingly being untethered from the desktop, and this is especially true for people of color. Both blacks and English-speaking Latinos are more likely to own a mobile phone than whites. Foreign-born Latinos trail their Native-born counterparts in cell phone ownership, but this gap is significantly smaller than the gap in internet use between these groups. Moreover, minority adults use a much wider range of their cell phones’ capabilities.

• Trend #3: Minority internet users don’t just use the social web at higher rates, their attitudes towards these tools differ as well. Minority adults also outpace whites in their use of social technologies. Among internet users, seven in ten blacks and English-speaking Latinos use social networking sites—significantly higher than the six in ten whites who do so. Indeed, nearly half of black internet users go to a social networking site on a typical day. Just one third of white internet users do so on a daily basis.

For more information including links to relevant research, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org.

Resource of the Week – Overview of Friend-to-Friend Fundraising Tools
Mashable has compiled a useful look at ten different tools you can use to ask people to fundraise for your nonprofit online. Go to: http://mashable.com.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value

To freeze a formula into its current value:

• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter

Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, even 2007!

Picks of the Week: October 10 - 16, 2010

2010-10-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Website of the Week – International Association for Volunteer Effort

The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) was founded in 1970 by a group of volunteers from around the world who saw in volunteering a means of making connections across countries and cultures. It has grown into a global network of volunteers, volunteer organizations, national representatives and volunteer centers, with members in over 70 countries, and in all world regions. The majority of IAVE members are in developing countries. IAVE is registered as a charity in the USA, in California, with By-Laws which set out the governing principles and procedures. IAVE has special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC Committee, and associate status with the UN Department of Public Information. It is a member of the UN Confederation of NGO’s, and has a strong working relationship with UN Volunteers, underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding. Go to: http://www.iave.org.

Publication of the Week -- Women and Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World
by Sondra Shaw-Hardy, Martha A. Taylor, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and Debra Mesch

From the publisher: Women's philanthropy has led the way in virtually reinventing the world of fundraising and ways of giving. When women make a gift, are in a leadership position, or volunteer their time to a nonprofit or charitable organization, they tend to base their efforts on solid principles such as compassion, values, vision, and responsibility. Women are increasingly engaged in giving circles, global giving, transformative gifts, entrepreneurial giving, faith-based giving, family and couple giving, and social change gifts. Based on extensive interviews and the authors' combined half century of experience, Women and Philanthropy shares new ways to better engage women in giving, as well as insights into developing women leaders in the nonprofit arena, and advises women seeking to develop as philanthropic leaders and shape the future for the better. Women and Philanthropy explores women's philanthropic endeavors, offering a wealth of information on key topics such as how and why women give, what it takes to develop a gender-sensitive fundraising program, how to develop a strategic plan to involve women as leaders and donors, and suggestions for working with women of wealth. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.

Trend of the Week – Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change.

According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, Millennials -- the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millennium -- have begun to forge theirs: confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change. They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They're less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history. Their entry into careers and first jobs has been badly set back by the Great Recession, but they are more upbeat than their elders about their own economic futures as well as about the overall state of the nation. 21% of Millennials say that helping people who are in need is one of the most important things in their life. This publication is part of a Pew Research Center report series that looks at the values, attitudes and experiences of the Millennial generation. For free access to the reports, go to: http://pewsocialtrends.org.

Resource of the Week – Free E-Book on Strategic Volunteer Engagement

What do nonprofit and public sector leaders need to know to work effectively with volunteers? What systems and strategies need to be in place to effectively engage volunteers? What misconceptions stand in the way of more effective volunteer involvement? These are just a few of the questions answered in the e-book Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Nonprofit and Public Sector Leaders. This e-book captures the outcomes of a collaborative research project funded by The Volunteer Impact Fund with support from The OneStar Foundation. This 40-page booklet is available as a free PDF download for a limited time. For your free copy of the Guide, go to: http://www.utexas.edu. (registration required):

Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Slide Background in PowerPoint 2007

Regardless of which design theme you have chosen, you can also change the background to a variety of options which work with your design. To change the background:

• Click the Design tab on the Ribbon
• In the Background group, click the arrow next to Background Styles
• Click a new background style