Website of the Week -- BoardConnect
The mission of BoardConnect® is to strengthen communities by building the leadership skills of community members and connecting them with nonprofit boards, matching them with one another for maximum community impact. For individuals who want to serve a nonprofit in their community, BoardConnect® training addresses the roles and responsibilities of a board member, including board operations, strategic planning, resource development, oversight, and ambassadorship. The training also familiarizes participants with convenient online tools to match them with nonprofits seeking new members, and BoardConnect® staff members provide additional support connecting individuals with the nonprofits they are most interested in serving. BoardConnect® staff members also provide additional matching support, including candidate searches and contacts, for a modest annual fee. BoardConnect also offers some training via webinar. Go to: http://www.boardconnect.org.
Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Law for Religious Organizations: Essential Questions & Answers by Bruce R. Hopkins and David Middlebrook
From the publisher: Nonprofit Law for Religious Organizations: Essential Questions & Answers is a hands-on guide to the most pertinent and critical legal issues facing those who lead and manage religious tax-exempt organizations with an emphasis on tax, employment, property and constitutional law. This timely book is a response to the need for guidance, direction, and clarification of legal and tax laws affecting churches and other religious organizations. Preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Study Shows First-Time Online Donors Often Do Not Return
People who go online to donate to charity for the first time often do not return to the Internet to make later gifts, according to a new study by Target Analytics, a unit of Blackbaud, Inc. which provides software and services to nonprofit groups. The findings suggest that while the Internet can be a valuable fund-raising tool for charities, particularly in soliciting gifts after disasters like Hurricane Katrina, it is not a replacement for direct mail or other forms of fund-raising. Key findings from the 2008 donorCentrics Internet Giving Benchmarking Analysis include:
• Online giving still represents a relatively small portion of donors and revenue at most organizations, but it is growing rapidly and is becoming an important source for new donor acquisition.
• Online donors are younger and have higher incomes than traditional direct mail donors. These are important constituents that nonprofits very much want to attract and keep, given the older average donor age in many files.
• Online donors give larger gifts and, as a result, have a higher overall long-term value than donors to more traditional giving channels like direct mail, but they are less loyal in terms of repeat giving. Higher average gifts mask the lower retention rates of online donors, which may present an opportunity for improvement at many organizations.
• The online giving channel must be an integrated part of an entire direct marketing program because although offline donors do not generally migrate to online giving, online donors do migrate to offline channels in large numbers. In addition, online donors tend to downgrade when they move offline, further evidence that online donors are not cultivated to their full potential.
To download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.blackbaud.com.
Resource of the Week -- Systems Thinking Resources
Linda Booth Sweeney, a systems educator and writer, has developed a website that offers a number of excellent resources on systems thinking and its application to organizational and community problem solving. Linda translates the concepts of complex systems theory into accessible materials and seminars for innovation in organizations, schools and communities. She is also the author of several books and numerous articles. Go to: http://lindaboothsweeney.net.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Easily 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
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Picks of the Week: March 15 - 21, 2009
Website of the Week -- Youth on Board
Youth on Board prepares youth to be leaders and decision-makers in their communities Youth on Board offers consulting and coaching services to large and small institutions that believe in the power of youth voice and want to help young people move from the margins of their communities into the center. Using a collaborative approach that emphasizes strong relationships as the basis for meaningful change, Youth on Board provides trainings, design programs and curricula, develop policy, and publish resources that help organizations build youth voice into their operations and infrastructure. Go to: http://www.youthonboard.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards by Murray Dropkin
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 and will aid in building, organizing, tracking and planning budgets. Click here to preview the book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit Theaters Cutting Back
U.S. nonprofit theaters are cutting staff and expanding discounts as they anticipate disappointing ticket sales and fundraising, according to a new survey by the Theatre Communications Group (TCG). In a recent survey of 210 member theaters, TCG found 77 percent are revising expense projections for the coming year. Theaters with a budget of at least $10 million are cutting spending by an average of $750,000. More than half of those who completed the survey online expect year-end deficits and “cash flow problems.” About 10 U.S. theater companies in the U.S. have shut down recently or announced they’re in dire straits. Most of the theaters predict that ticket sales and fundraising from individuals and corporations will fall short of initial projections. Nearly a third said they’ll substitute small-cast shows for larger ones. More than half plan new ticket discounting. For a copy of the survey results, go to: http://www.tcg.org.
Resource of the Week -- Focus on the Economic Crisis
The Foundation Center has collected the most recent data available on U.S. foundation support in response to the economic crisis, offering a picture of how foundations are aiding nonprofits as they struggle with the fallout from the downturn. The Center has made this information publicly available in an interactive map on its web site. The map displays the data by state, county, city, ZIP code, or congressional district. New grants will be added to the map on an ongoing basis to provide the most current picture of foundation giving for programs and issues relating to the downturn. This mapping resource is part of the Center's broader initiative to provide the latest information, news, and research to shed light on the potential impact of the economic climate on the field of philanthropy. Visit "Focus on the Economic Crisis" at http://foundationcenter.org/focus/economy.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Add Totals to Datasheets in Access 2007
A new feature in Access 2007 makes it easy to add totals to datasheets. Here’s how:
• Open the Datasheet
• On the Home tab on the Ribbon, in the Records group, click the Totals button
• A Total row is created in your datasheet
• Click the field you want to total and select the type of summary
Youth on Board prepares youth to be leaders and decision-makers in their communities Youth on Board offers consulting and coaching services to large and small institutions that believe in the power of youth voice and want to help young people move from the margins of their communities into the center. Using a collaborative approach that emphasizes strong relationships as the basis for meaningful change, Youth on Board provides trainings, design programs and curricula, develop policy, and publish resources that help organizations build youth voice into their operations and infrastructure. Go to: http://www.youthonboard.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards by Murray Dropkin
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 and will aid in building, organizing, tracking and planning budgets. Click here to preview the book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit Theaters Cutting Back
U.S. nonprofit theaters are cutting staff and expanding discounts as they anticipate disappointing ticket sales and fundraising, according to a new survey by the Theatre Communications Group (TCG). In a recent survey of 210 member theaters, TCG found 77 percent are revising expense projections for the coming year. Theaters with a budget of at least $10 million are cutting spending by an average of $750,000. More than half of those who completed the survey online expect year-end deficits and “cash flow problems.” About 10 U.S. theater companies in the U.S. have shut down recently or announced they’re in dire straits. Most of the theaters predict that ticket sales and fundraising from individuals and corporations will fall short of initial projections. Nearly a third said they’ll substitute small-cast shows for larger ones. More than half plan new ticket discounting. For a copy of the survey results, go to: http://www.tcg.org.
Resource of the Week -- Focus on the Economic Crisis
The Foundation Center has collected the most recent data available on U.S. foundation support in response to the economic crisis, offering a picture of how foundations are aiding nonprofits as they struggle with the fallout from the downturn. The Center has made this information publicly available in an interactive map on its web site. The map displays the data by state, county, city, ZIP code, or congressional district. New grants will be added to the map on an ongoing basis to provide the most current picture of foundation giving for programs and issues relating to the downturn. This mapping resource is part of the Center's broader initiative to provide the latest information, news, and research to shed light on the potential impact of the economic climate on the field of philanthropy. Visit "Focus on the Economic Crisis" at http://foundationcenter.org/focus/economy.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Add Totals to Datasheets in Access 2007
A new feature in Access 2007 makes it easy to add totals to datasheets. Here’s how:
• Open the Datasheet
• On the Home tab on the Ribbon, in the Records group, click the Totals button
• A Total row is created in your datasheet
• Click the field you want to total and select the type of summary
Monday, March 9, 2009
Picks of the Week: March 8 - 14, 2009
Website of the Week -- Alliance for Nonprofit Management
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is the professional association of individuals and organizations devoted to improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits. The Alliance is a learning community that promotes quality in nonprofit capacity building. The Alliance convenes a major annual conference, networks colleagues year-round online, and provides member discounts on books and other publications. The Alliance provides visibility to its members in the online “Find a Consultant or Service Provider” directory, the People of Color Roster, Alliance Insights eNewsletter, Member Spotlights and membership directory. Alliance members include management support organizations (MSOs), individual professionals, and a range of national/regional, umbrella, research and academic, publishing and philanthropic organizations that provide technical assistance (training and consulting) to nonprofits. Available to members and non-members alike, the Alliance Resource Center is a searchable database of resources for nonprofits. It includes information on organizations, websites, books, newsletters and other products and services for nonprofit organizations. Go to: http://www.allianceonline.org.
Publication of the Week -- Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact: A Social-Entrepreneurial Approach to Solving Social Problems by Andrew Wolk and Kelley Kreitz
From the publisher: Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact applies the strategic rigor and financial savvy of traditional private-sector business planning to social problem solving. This practical guide provides an introduction to business planning for enduring social impact and leads readers through a four-step process for creating an actionable business plan. Key features include a glossary of business planning terms, plus an outline, sample workplan, and sample business plan for enduring social impact. Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact draws on Root Cause's unique business planning methodology, developed through consulting engagements with dozens of organizations, and through the organization's experience with the Root Cause social enterprises that it has started and grown. The guide is the first in a series of Root Cause How-to Guides, which provide practical advice for organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors dedicated to solving social problems. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are much more common in the nonprofit world than most would think, as a Bridgespan Group study of 3,300 deals across four states over 11 years shows. But nonprofit mergers often come about through default—due to financial distress or leadership vacuums. At the same time, relatively few nonprofits are using M&A strategically, as a way to strengthen organizations' effectiveness, spread best practices, expand reach, and to do all of this more cost-effectively. Yet the potential for M&A to create real value in the nonprofit sector exists, particularly if more philanthropists take on the mantle of matchmaker and help nonprofits explore and evaluate M&A opportunities. This report summariizes research conducted by the Bridgespan Group on nonprofit M&A; explores the Child and Family Services (CFS) field, where "market" conditions are especially favorable to combinations; and profiles two nonprofits making the most of acquisitions. It also issues a call to action to philanthropists to further strategic, social sector M&A. To download a copy of the study, go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.
Resource of the Week -- Grantstation Series: How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software
How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software from Grantstation is an eight-part series that covers everything nonprofits need to know about moving from costly desktop office software to Google's free online office tools suite. This series offers tutorials for getting started with Google – using and configuring Google Mail (Gmail); Google Calendar; and Google Docs, including the spreadsheet and presentation functions – as well as a host of other free applications that increase productivity and are fun to learn. This series will show you how your organization can easily make use of Google's tools to achieve organizational objectives for both novice and experienced computer users. "Introducing Google's Free Online Suite of Tools," the first article in this series, briefly outlines why nonprofit organizations might use free software and explores its benefits. Go to: http://www.grantstation.com/index.asp#tracks.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Add Commands to Quick Access Toolbar in Office 2007
• Right click on any command
• Select Add to the Quick Access Toolbar from the shortcut menu
This trick works in Microsoft 2007 Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is the professional association of individuals and organizations devoted to improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits. The Alliance is a learning community that promotes quality in nonprofit capacity building. The Alliance convenes a major annual conference, networks colleagues year-round online, and provides member discounts on books and other publications. The Alliance provides visibility to its members in the online “Find a Consultant or Service Provider” directory, the People of Color Roster, Alliance Insights eNewsletter, Member Spotlights and membership directory. Alliance members include management support organizations (MSOs), individual professionals, and a range of national/regional, umbrella, research and academic, publishing and philanthropic organizations that provide technical assistance (training and consulting) to nonprofits. Available to members and non-members alike, the Alliance Resource Center is a searchable database of resources for nonprofits. It includes information on organizations, websites, books, newsletters and other products and services for nonprofit organizations. Go to: http://www.allianceonline.org.
Publication of the Week -- Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact: A Social-Entrepreneurial Approach to Solving Social Problems by Andrew Wolk and Kelley Kreitz
From the publisher: Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact applies the strategic rigor and financial savvy of traditional private-sector business planning to social problem solving. This practical guide provides an introduction to business planning for enduring social impact and leads readers through a four-step process for creating an actionable business plan. Key features include a glossary of business planning terms, plus an outline, sample workplan, and sample business plan for enduring social impact. Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact draws on Root Cause's unique business planning methodology, developed through consulting engagements with dozens of organizations, and through the organization's experience with the Root Cause social enterprises that it has started and grown. The guide is the first in a series of Root Cause How-to Guides, which provide practical advice for organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors dedicated to solving social problems. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are much more common in the nonprofit world than most would think, as a Bridgespan Group study of 3,300 deals across four states over 11 years shows. But nonprofit mergers often come about through default—due to financial distress or leadership vacuums. At the same time, relatively few nonprofits are using M&A strategically, as a way to strengthen organizations' effectiveness, spread best practices, expand reach, and to do all of this more cost-effectively. Yet the potential for M&A to create real value in the nonprofit sector exists, particularly if more philanthropists take on the mantle of matchmaker and help nonprofits explore and evaluate M&A opportunities. This report summariizes research conducted by the Bridgespan Group on nonprofit M&A; explores the Child and Family Services (CFS) field, where "market" conditions are especially favorable to combinations; and profiles two nonprofits making the most of acquisitions. It also issues a call to action to philanthropists to further strategic, social sector M&A. To download a copy of the study, go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.
Resource of the Week -- Grantstation Series: How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software
How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software from Grantstation is an eight-part series that covers everything nonprofits need to know about moving from costly desktop office software to Google's free online office tools suite. This series offers tutorials for getting started with Google – using and configuring Google Mail (Gmail); Google Calendar; and Google Docs, including the spreadsheet and presentation functions – as well as a host of other free applications that increase productivity and are fun to learn. This series will show you how your organization can easily make use of Google's tools to achieve organizational objectives for both novice and experienced computer users. "Introducing Google's Free Online Suite of Tools," the first article in this series, briefly outlines why nonprofit organizations might use free software and explores its benefits. Go to: http://www.grantstation.com/index.asp#tracks.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Add Commands to Quick Access Toolbar in Office 2007
• Right click on any command
• Select Add to the Quick Access Toolbar from the shortcut menu
This trick works in Microsoft 2007 Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Picks of the Week: March 1 - 7, 2009
Website of the Week -- Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training
The Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) is a multiracial organization that promotes the connection between fundraising, social justice and movement-building. GIFT provides analysis, training, and resources to strengthen organizations, with an emphasis on those focused on social justice and based in communities of color. Programs include:
• Grassroots Fundraising Journal to provide organizations with affordable and practical information and ideas for fundraising
• Fundraising Internships to develop new fundraisers of color
• Training for Trainers to increase the number of progressive fundraising trainers of color
• Raising Change: A Social Justice Fundraising Conference
• Training and Consulting Services
• Print and Online Resources
Go to: http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org. To subscribe to their valuable newsletter, email enewsletter@grassrootsfundraising.org.
Publication of the Week -- Arts Marketing Insights: The Dynamics of Building and Retaining Performing Arts Audiences by Joanne Scheff Bernstein
From the publisher: Audience behavior began to shift dramatically in the mid 1990s. Since then, people have become more spontaneous in purchasing tickets and increasingly prefer selecting specific programs to attend rather than buying a subscription series. Arts patrons also expect more responsive customer service than ever before. Because of these and other factors, many audience development strategies that sustained nonprofit arts organizations in the past are no longer dependable and performing arts marketers face many new challenges in their efforts to build and retain their audiences. Arts organizations must learn how to be relevant to the changing lifestyles, needs, interests, and preferences of their current and potential audiences. Arts Marketing Insights offers managers, board members, professors, and students of arts management the ideas and information they need to market effectively and efficiently to customers today and into the future. In this book, Joanne Scheff Bernstein helps readers to understand performing arts audiences, conduct research, and provide excellent customer service. She demonstrates that arts organizations can benefit by expanding the meaning of "valuable customer" to include single-ticket buyers. She offers guidance on long-range marketing planning and helps readers understand how to leverage the Internet and e-mail as powerful marketing channels. Bernstein presents vivid case studies and examples that illustrate her strategic principles in action from organizations large and small in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and other countries. Click here to preview the book on Josseybass.com.
Trend of the Week -- More Us Teens Volunteer Than Work Part Time
American teens are setting an example for their parents through their volunteer work, according to a new poll by Harris Interactive. The random national telephone survey released this week by the Federal Way-based charity World Vision found that more teens volunteer to support a charitable cause — 56 percent — than have a part-time job — 39 percent. Parents and guardians said 82 percent of the teens in their lives do something to support charitable causes, including volunteering, recruiting others to a cause, wearing a button or T-shirt or donating money. Forty-six percent of the adults surveyed said they volunteer their time, but they also take credit for inspiring their children to volunteer. The Harris Interactive poll was conducted in the United States between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 among 2,003 adults.
Go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29371988.
Resource of the Week -- HR Village
HR Village is an HR website covering a wide variety of HR issues. Created by a number of senior HR consultants and professionals from the US, it offers a good range of resources for the HR professional. It provides specific information and tools for each level of HR practitioner, from specialists within multinationals, to managers of smaller start-up ventures. The site provides helpful knowledge from experienced professionals. The hrToolkit includes sample job descriptions, administrative forms, an employee handbook and other HR documents, which can be customized to meet your needs. The site also hosts a considerable database of common and not-so-common FAQ to browse through on a wide range of HR-related disciplines, which are broken down into clearly defined sections. This and the toolkit are probably the most useful sections for nonprofits. Go to: www.hrvillage.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Default Location for Saving Files in Word 2007
In Microsoft Word 2007, to change the default location for opening and saving files:
• Click the Office button
• Click the Word Options button at the bottom of the window
• Click Save to display the “Customize how documents are saved.” information
• Click the Browse button next to Default File location
• Locate the folder that you would like to set as the default file location
• Click the folder to select it and click OK
• Click OK again to complete the change
The Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) is a multiracial organization that promotes the connection between fundraising, social justice and movement-building. GIFT provides analysis, training, and resources to strengthen organizations, with an emphasis on those focused on social justice and based in communities of color. Programs include:
• Grassroots Fundraising Journal to provide organizations with affordable and practical information and ideas for fundraising
• Fundraising Internships to develop new fundraisers of color
• Training for Trainers to increase the number of progressive fundraising trainers of color
• Raising Change: A Social Justice Fundraising Conference
• Training and Consulting Services
• Print and Online Resources
Go to: http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org. To subscribe to their valuable newsletter, email enewsletter@grassrootsfundraising.org.
Publication of the Week -- Arts Marketing Insights: The Dynamics of Building and Retaining Performing Arts Audiences by Joanne Scheff Bernstein
From the publisher: Audience behavior began to shift dramatically in the mid 1990s. Since then, people have become more spontaneous in purchasing tickets and increasingly prefer selecting specific programs to attend rather than buying a subscription series. Arts patrons also expect more responsive customer service than ever before. Because of these and other factors, many audience development strategies that sustained nonprofit arts organizations in the past are no longer dependable and performing arts marketers face many new challenges in their efforts to build and retain their audiences. Arts organizations must learn how to be relevant to the changing lifestyles, needs, interests, and preferences of their current and potential audiences. Arts Marketing Insights offers managers, board members, professors, and students of arts management the ideas and information they need to market effectively and efficiently to customers today and into the future. In this book, Joanne Scheff Bernstein helps readers to understand performing arts audiences, conduct research, and provide excellent customer service. She demonstrates that arts organizations can benefit by expanding the meaning of "valuable customer" to include single-ticket buyers. She offers guidance on long-range marketing planning and helps readers understand how to leverage the Internet and e-mail as powerful marketing channels. Bernstein presents vivid case studies and examples that illustrate her strategic principles in action from organizations large and small in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and other countries. Click here to preview the book on Josseybass.com.
Trend of the Week -- More Us Teens Volunteer Than Work Part Time
American teens are setting an example for their parents through their volunteer work, according to a new poll by Harris Interactive. The random national telephone survey released this week by the Federal Way-based charity World Vision found that more teens volunteer to support a charitable cause — 56 percent — than have a part-time job — 39 percent. Parents and guardians said 82 percent of the teens in their lives do something to support charitable causes, including volunteering, recruiting others to a cause, wearing a button or T-shirt or donating money. Forty-six percent of the adults surveyed said they volunteer their time, but they also take credit for inspiring their children to volunteer. The Harris Interactive poll was conducted in the United States between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 among 2,003 adults.
Go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29371988.
Resource of the Week -- HR Village
HR Village is an HR website covering a wide variety of HR issues. Created by a number of senior HR consultants and professionals from the US, it offers a good range of resources for the HR professional. It provides specific information and tools for each level of HR practitioner, from specialists within multinationals, to managers of smaller start-up ventures. The site provides helpful knowledge from experienced professionals. The hrToolkit includes sample job descriptions, administrative forms, an employee handbook and other HR documents, which can be customized to meet your needs. The site also hosts a considerable database of common and not-so-common FAQ to browse through on a wide range of HR-related disciplines, which are broken down into clearly defined sections. This and the toolkit are probably the most useful sections for nonprofits. Go to: www.hrvillage.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Default Location for Saving Files in Word 2007
In Microsoft Word 2007, to change the default location for opening and saving files:
• Click the Office button
• Click the Word Options button at the bottom of the window
• Click Save to display the “Customize how documents are saved.” information
• Click the Browse button next to Default File location
• Locate the folder that you would like to set as the default file location
• Click the folder to select it and click OK
• Click OK again to complete the change
Monday, February 23, 2009
Picks of the Week: February 22 - 28, 2009
Website of the Week -- Applied Research Center
The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a racial justice think tank and home for related media and activism. ARC is built on rigorous research and creative use of new technology. The ARC’s goal is to popularize the need for racial justice and prepare people to fight for it. Founded in 1981, ARC investigates the hidden racial consequences of public policy initiatives and develops new frameworks to resolve racially charged debates. With offices in New York, Chicago, and Oakland, ARC has three programs that serve these ends: Media and Journalism, Strategic Research and Policy Analysis, and the Racial Justice Leadership Action Network. Go to: http://www.arc.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Board Member's Playbook: Using Policy Governance to Solve Problems, Make Decisions, and Build a Stronger Board by Miriam Carver and Bill Charney
From the publisher: The Board Member's Playbook--written for board members who are either familiar with or new to John Carver's Policy Governance model--offers real-world scenarios that address the challenges that confront boards of all types of organizations. Step by step, the authors walk readers through a proven problem-solving sequence that allows them to find solutions consistent with the values and policies of their organizations. Designed to be flexible, the book's problem-solving methods are applicable to any challenge boards may face. Click here to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Connections Between Annual and Bequest Giving
The Stelter Company has issued a new Donor Insight Report™ summarizing research from a national survey of Americans aged 40 and older concerning their views on bequest giving. Key findings include:
• Ninety percent of U.S. residents aged 40 and older reported making a contribution to at least one nonprofit in the past year or so. This included a majority (58 percent) who reported contributions to three or more charities, with about one in five (19 percent) giving to five or more organizations.
• Seven percent of Americans aged 40 and older name nonprofits in their wills. Another 5 percent have a will and say at some point they will definitely or probably include a bequest to a nonprofit organization. Still another 5 percent do not yet have a will in place, but say they will definitely or probably include a nonprofit when they create this document. Most of this group (73 percent) intend to create a will within the next five years.
• Prolific annual givers have a propensity for bequest giving. Bequest givers and good prospects who have a will in place are more likely than average to make annual gifts to five or more charities: 34 and 37 percent respectively, compared to 19 percent overall (a 15- to 18-point difference). Prospects who do not yet have a will in place differ, in that they give to fewer charities on average.
To download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.stelter.com/pdfs/DonorInsight/Connections.pdf.
Resource of the Week -- Communication Evaluation Tool
Track the impact of your communications strategies with a new evaluation -- Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide produced by The Communications Network. This free tool gives nonprofits and foundations nine steps to create an evaluation plan that will assess the impact of their communications efforts. Go to: http://www.comnetwork.org.
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!
The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a racial justice think tank and home for related media and activism. ARC is built on rigorous research and creative use of new technology. The ARC’s goal is to popularize the need for racial justice and prepare people to fight for it. Founded in 1981, ARC investigates the hidden racial consequences of public policy initiatives and develops new frameworks to resolve racially charged debates. With offices in New York, Chicago, and Oakland, ARC has three programs that serve these ends: Media and Journalism, Strategic Research and Policy Analysis, and the Racial Justice Leadership Action Network. Go to: http://www.arc.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Board Member's Playbook: Using Policy Governance to Solve Problems, Make Decisions, and Build a Stronger Board by Miriam Carver and Bill Charney
From the publisher: The Board Member's Playbook--written for board members who are either familiar with or new to John Carver's Policy Governance model--offers real-world scenarios that address the challenges that confront boards of all types of organizations. Step by step, the authors walk readers through a proven problem-solving sequence that allows them to find solutions consistent with the values and policies of their organizations. Designed to be flexible, the book's problem-solving methods are applicable to any challenge boards may face. Click here to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Connections Between Annual and Bequest Giving
The Stelter Company has issued a new Donor Insight Report™ summarizing research from a national survey of Americans aged 40 and older concerning their views on bequest giving. Key findings include:
• Ninety percent of U.S. residents aged 40 and older reported making a contribution to at least one nonprofit in the past year or so. This included a majority (58 percent) who reported contributions to three or more charities, with about one in five (19 percent) giving to five or more organizations.
• Seven percent of Americans aged 40 and older name nonprofits in their wills. Another 5 percent have a will and say at some point they will definitely or probably include a bequest to a nonprofit organization. Still another 5 percent do not yet have a will in place, but say they will definitely or probably include a nonprofit when they create this document. Most of this group (73 percent) intend to create a will within the next five years.
• Prolific annual givers have a propensity for bequest giving. Bequest givers and good prospects who have a will in place are more likely than average to make annual gifts to five or more charities: 34 and 37 percent respectively, compared to 19 percent overall (a 15- to 18-point difference). Prospects who do not yet have a will in place differ, in that they give to fewer charities on average.
To download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.stelter.com/pdfs/DonorInsight/Connections.pdf.
Resource of the Week -- Communication Evaluation Tool
Track the impact of your communications strategies with a new evaluation -- Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide produced by The Communications Network. This free tool gives nonprofits and foundations nine steps to create an evaluation plan that will assess the impact of their communications efforts. Go to: http://www.comnetwork.org.
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!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Picks of the Week: February 15 - 21, 2009
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. The website includes state by state profiles of child poverty, data tools and a host of other resources. Go to: http://www.nccp.org/about.html.
Publication of the Week -- The New Form 990: Law, Policy, and Preparation by Bruce R. Hopkins et al
From the publisher: The New Form 990 covers the law, policy, and preparation of the new IRS Form 990. It includes summaries of the law underlying each of the parts and questions in the return, so that the preparer can understand the background law in formulating answers on the return. In December 2007, the IRS released the newly redesigned Form 990. Recognizing that far too many nonprofit organizations are unprepared for what is coming their way, The New Form 990 provides tax-exempt organizations and tax return preparers with the help they need to properly, effectively, and accurately prepare the new return. Professionals working to prepare this new labyrinthine form are guaranteed to encounter many unexpected hurdles. Authors Hopkins, Anning, Gross, and Schenkelberg provide readers with guidance and a road map to help maneuver through the revised Form 990, including summaries of the law underlying each of the parts and questions in the return, so that tax-exempt organizations and their advisors can understand the background law when formulating answers to the questions. Deftly covering both pre-existing and newly created laws as well as discussions of policy and preparation, The New Form 990 brims with line-by-line analyses as well as numerous checklists of steps to take to be in the best possible position to prepare the return. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com
Trend of the Week -- Long-Distance Volunteering in the United States
The first-ever national study of "Voluntourism" (long-distance volunteering) in the U.S. finds that in the Gulf area visiting volunteers significantly bolstered disaster recovery efforts, supplying one in four of the total volunteers in Mississippi in 2007 and one in five in Louisiana. Other findings include:
• In 2007, about 3.7 million volunteers – about 6 percent of all volunteers age 16 and over – reported doing at least some long-distance volunteering, traveling at least 120 miles to volunteer with an organization located within the U.S., but outside their communities.
• The ten most popular destinations for long-distance volunteering that occur outside one’s own state include several of the most populous states, plus the five states affected by the 2005 Gulf hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma: Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
• Compared to all adult volunteers, a larger proportion of long-distance volunteers are single and do not have children. Adult volunteers in general are considerably more likely to be married or raising children.
• Compared to all adult volunteers, a larger proportion of long-distance volunteers are young adults, aged 16-24.
• The most committed volunteers are also the most likely to engage in long-distance volunteering. For example: individuals who volunteer more than 100 hours per year, serve more than 12 weeks per year with their main organization, or serve with more than one organization, are much more likely to serve as long-distance volunteers.
For a copy of the report prepared by the Corporation for National and Community Service, go to: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/assets.
Resource of the Week -- Avoiding Common Hiring Pitfalls
There are a number of ways that recruiting and hiring processes can go wrong, and hiring the right people into the right positions is too important to leave to chance. Whether your organization has dedicated human resources professionals or not, there are a number of common hiring mistakes that can be easily avoided as outlined in this article prepared by GuideStar. Go to:
http://www.guidestar.org/news/features.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Creating Lines in Word 2007
One of my favorite shortcuts from previous versions of Word still works in Word 2007! To create lines across the page of a Word document:
• Type three consecutive hyphens and press Enter for a normal line
• Type three underscores and press Enter for a bold line
• Type three equal signs and press Enter for a double line
These lines extend from the left margin to the right margin and the size of these lines will change if you change the margins of your document or if you change the orientation from Portrait to Landscape.
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. The website includes state by state profiles of child poverty, data tools and a host of other resources. Go to: http://www.nccp.org/about.html.
Publication of the Week -- The New Form 990: Law, Policy, and Preparation by Bruce R. Hopkins et al
From the publisher: The New Form 990 covers the law, policy, and preparation of the new IRS Form 990. It includes summaries of the law underlying each of the parts and questions in the return, so that the preparer can understand the background law in formulating answers on the return. In December 2007, the IRS released the newly redesigned Form 990. Recognizing that far too many nonprofit organizations are unprepared for what is coming their way, The New Form 990 provides tax-exempt organizations and tax return preparers with the help they need to properly, effectively, and accurately prepare the new return. Professionals working to prepare this new labyrinthine form are guaranteed to encounter many unexpected hurdles. Authors Hopkins, Anning, Gross, and Schenkelberg provide readers with guidance and a road map to help maneuver through the revised Form 990, including summaries of the law underlying each of the parts and questions in the return, so that tax-exempt organizations and their advisors can understand the background law when formulating answers to the questions. Deftly covering both pre-existing and newly created laws as well as discussions of policy and preparation, The New Form 990 brims with line-by-line analyses as well as numerous checklists of steps to take to be in the best possible position to prepare the return. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com
Trend of the Week -- Long-Distance Volunteering in the United States
The first-ever national study of "Voluntourism" (long-distance volunteering) in the U.S. finds that in the Gulf area visiting volunteers significantly bolstered disaster recovery efforts, supplying one in four of the total volunteers in Mississippi in 2007 and one in five in Louisiana. Other findings include:
• In 2007, about 3.7 million volunteers – about 6 percent of all volunteers age 16 and over – reported doing at least some long-distance volunteering, traveling at least 120 miles to volunteer with an organization located within the U.S., but outside their communities.
• The ten most popular destinations for long-distance volunteering that occur outside one’s own state include several of the most populous states, plus the five states affected by the 2005 Gulf hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma: Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
• Compared to all adult volunteers, a larger proportion of long-distance volunteers are single and do not have children. Adult volunteers in general are considerably more likely to be married or raising children.
• Compared to all adult volunteers, a larger proportion of long-distance volunteers are young adults, aged 16-24.
• The most committed volunteers are also the most likely to engage in long-distance volunteering. For example: individuals who volunteer more than 100 hours per year, serve more than 12 weeks per year with their main organization, or serve with more than one organization, are much more likely to serve as long-distance volunteers.
For a copy of the report prepared by the Corporation for National and Community Service, go to: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/assets.
Resource of the Week -- Avoiding Common Hiring Pitfalls
There are a number of ways that recruiting and hiring processes can go wrong, and hiring the right people into the right positions is too important to leave to chance. Whether your organization has dedicated human resources professionals or not, there are a number of common hiring mistakes that can be easily avoided as outlined in this article prepared by GuideStar. Go to:
http://www.guidestar.org/news/features.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Creating Lines in Word 2007
One of my favorite shortcuts from previous versions of Word still works in Word 2007! To create lines across the page of a Word document:
• Type three consecutive hyphens and press Enter for a normal line
• Type three underscores and press Enter for a bold line
• Type three equal signs and press Enter for a double line
These lines extend from the left margin to the right margin and the size of these lines will change if you change the margins of your document or if you change the orientation from Portrait to Landscape.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Picks of the Week: February 8 - 14, 2009
Website of the Week -- Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation
In 1999, the Arizona Board of Regents approved the Arizona State University (ASU) Lodestar Center to become a comprehensive academic center to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofits-especially those involved in positive youth development and human services. The Center was created after an extensive and inclusive process involving faculty, staff, students, nonprofits, funders, and a major grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Building Bridges initiative. In March 2008, the Center changed its name from the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management to the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. The ASU Lodestar Center advances nonprofit leadership practice through the four interdisciplinary areas of focus:
• Research that Matters
• Nonprofit Leadership Education
• Assistance to Nonprofits
• Conferences and Convenings
Go to: http://www.asu.edu/copp/nonprofit/about.htm.
Publication of the Week -- Effective Donor Relations by Janet L. Hedrick
From the publisher: Donors are the heartbeat of your nonprofit, partners in your organization's work, and supporters in its mission to change the world. Keeping them is essential to your nonprofit's survival; losing them means major losses for your organization's annual giving program, capital campaign efforts, and major and planned gifts. Part of the AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series, Nonprofit Essentials: Effective Donor Relations guides in creating and implementing each aspect of a donor relation plan, providing recommended solutions to frequently encountered dilemmas and including sample documents, checklists, and other tools to help shape an effective program. The book covers:
• Why and how donor relations is vital to your nonprofit
• Why being recognized is important to your donors
• Making the most of the Internet for donor relations
Click here to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Foundation Giving Trends
Foundation support for eight of the 10 major giving areas rose in 2007, despite the first signs of an economic downturn in the latter half of the year, according to The Foundation Center’s Foundation Giving Trends (2009 Edition). Funding for the environment and animals rose fastest, up 28.5 percent from the prior year — more than double the 13.2 percent rise in overall grant dollars. Key findings include:
• Foundations awarded a record 188 grants of $10 million or more in 2007. Of the 10 largest, eight were made by the Gates Foundation, mainly for health-related activities and international development.
• International giving — which cuts across all areas and includes grants awarded directly to overseas recipients and to U.S.-based international programs — reached a record 23.4 percent of total grant dollars awarded.
• Among specific populations, the economically disadvantaged benefited from the largest share of grant dollars, rising to a record $5.3 billion.
Click here to download a free summary of the report highlights. Click here to order a copy of the full report.
Resource of the Week -- CensusScope
CensusScope is an easy-to-use tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends. This resource is provided by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) at the University of Michigan. With eye-catching graphics and exportable trend data, CensusScope is designed for both generalists and specialists. The site includes:
• Charts and trend data for States, Metro Areas, and Counties based on Census 2000 and Trend Data going back to 1990, 1980, and sometimes even further
• State and county-level rankings by population growth, race, educational attainment, language, and gender
• Segregation exposure and dissimilarity measures for 1246 individual US cities with population exceeding 25,000 and for all metropolitan areas, based on single and multiple race populations as identified in Census 2000.
Go to: http://www.censusscope.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Create a Cent Sign in Word
To create a cent sign in Word using a keyboard shortcut:
• Hold down the Ctrl key and press /
• Type the letter c
This tip works in Word 2007 and in older versions as well.
In 1999, the Arizona Board of Regents approved the Arizona State University (ASU) Lodestar Center to become a comprehensive academic center to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofits-especially those involved in positive youth development and human services. The Center was created after an extensive and inclusive process involving faculty, staff, students, nonprofits, funders, and a major grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Building Bridges initiative. In March 2008, the Center changed its name from the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management to the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. The ASU Lodestar Center advances nonprofit leadership practice through the four interdisciplinary areas of focus:
• Research that Matters
• Nonprofit Leadership Education
• Assistance to Nonprofits
• Conferences and Convenings
Go to: http://www.asu.edu/copp/nonprofit/about.htm.
Publication of the Week -- Effective Donor Relations by Janet L. Hedrick
From the publisher: Donors are the heartbeat of your nonprofit, partners in your organization's work, and supporters in its mission to change the world. Keeping them is essential to your nonprofit's survival; losing them means major losses for your organization's annual giving program, capital campaign efforts, and major and planned gifts. Part of the AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series, Nonprofit Essentials: Effective Donor Relations guides in creating and implementing each aspect of a donor relation plan, providing recommended solutions to frequently encountered dilemmas and including sample documents, checklists, and other tools to help shape an effective program. The book covers:
• Why and how donor relations is vital to your nonprofit
• Why being recognized is important to your donors
• Making the most of the Internet for donor relations
Click here to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- Foundation Giving Trends
Foundation support for eight of the 10 major giving areas rose in 2007, despite the first signs of an economic downturn in the latter half of the year, according to The Foundation Center’s Foundation Giving Trends (2009 Edition). Funding for the environment and animals rose fastest, up 28.5 percent from the prior year — more than double the 13.2 percent rise in overall grant dollars. Key findings include:
• Foundations awarded a record 188 grants of $10 million or more in 2007. Of the 10 largest, eight were made by the Gates Foundation, mainly for health-related activities and international development.
• International giving — which cuts across all areas and includes grants awarded directly to overseas recipients and to U.S.-based international programs — reached a record 23.4 percent of total grant dollars awarded.
• Among specific populations, the economically disadvantaged benefited from the largest share of grant dollars, rising to a record $5.3 billion.
Click here to download a free summary of the report highlights. Click here to order a copy of the full report.
Resource of the Week -- CensusScope
CensusScope is an easy-to-use tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends. This resource is provided by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) at the University of Michigan. With eye-catching graphics and exportable trend data, CensusScope is designed for both generalists and specialists. The site includes:
• Charts and trend data for States, Metro Areas, and Counties based on Census 2000 and Trend Data going back to 1990, 1980, and sometimes even further
• State and county-level rankings by population growth, race, educational attainment, language, and gender
• Segregation exposure and dissimilarity measures for 1246 individual US cities with population exceeding 25,000 and for all metropolitan areas, based on single and multiple race populations as identified in Census 2000.
Go to: http://www.censusscope.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Create a Cent Sign in Word
To create a cent sign in Word using a keyboard shortcut:
• Hold down the Ctrl key and press /
• Type the letter c
This tip works in Word 2007 and in older versions as well.
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