Picks of the Week: May 9, 2010

Website of the Week – Ventureneer

Ventureneer is a web-based education and professional development portal that aims to provide a new approach to learning that blends traditional formal instruction with informal learning derived from problem solving with peers using Web 2.0 technology. Members use Ventureneer to solve problems, request resources or information, seek guidance from others and, most important, how to have the greatest impact. Through Ventureneer, you can:

• Take interactive classes to develop critical thinking skills and heighten your ability to make effective decisions.
• Use a peer rating-and-commenting system similar to Netflix, Amazon and Zagat that organizes content so you know what others think is most relevant.
• Share resources – share your perspectives and, in turn, learn from the experiences of your peers to address your own recurring problems.
• Participate in one-to-one peer partnering.

Go to: http://ventureneer.com.


Publication of the Week -- Designing a Not-for-Profit Compensation System by
JoAnn Senger

From the publisher: Written by recognized not-for-profit human resource specialist JoAnn Senger, Designing a Not-For-Profit Compensation System provides a step-by-step method to help human resource professionals design and manage a successful compensation system for any public or not-for-profit organization. When it comes to compensation systems, the not-for-profit sector is rife with complexities, including legislative approval requirements and the board of directors' direct involvement in compensation matters. Addressing these and other unique obstacles, Designing a Not-For-Profit Compensation System:

• Defines various types of not-for-profit and public organizations
• Identifies current types of compensation structures
• Identifies organizational characteristics influencing the usefulness of each structure, including the organization's budgeting and accounting processes and timetables
• Covers maintenance for all compensation structures and the interaction among organizational units
• Details the usefulness of each compensation structure, including midpoint calculations, rate adjustments, variable pay, and market surveys

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.


Trend of the Week – CEO Salary Trends

The Council on Foundations just announced the results from its 2009 Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report. The findings are based on responses from an online survey of 779 foundations and corporate grantmakers of which 50 were corporate grant makers (foundations or direct giving programs) and 729 were community, private (family or independent), or public foundations. Key findings from the survey include:

• In 2009, the reported median salary for CEOs/CGOs was $140,250; the median salary for program officers was $78,000. These salaries vary by size and type of grantmaker and by region.
• Between 2005 and 2009, overall CEO salaries increased by 15.9% in nominal terms at private foundations and 25.3% at community foundations.
• The median salary in the Midwest was 10.1% lower than the national median for all positions. Salaries in the Northeast were 9.1% higher.
• Between 2005 and 2009, program officer salaries increased by 13% in nominal terms at private foundations and 21.5% at community foundations.

To download a copy of the report at the Council's website, go to: https://www.cof.org.


Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Webinars

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. Go to: http://www.wildapricot.com.


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
• Type three pound symbols ( ### ) and press Enter for a triple line
• Type three tildes ( ~~~ ) and press Enter for a wavy line
• Type three asterisks ( *** ) and press Enter for a dotted line

These lines extend from the left margin to the right margin and the width of these lines will change if you change the margins of your document or if you change the orientation from Portrait to Landscape.