Picks of the Week: March 24 - 30, 2013

Website of the Week --  Leadership Learning Community
The Leadership Learning Community (LLC) is a national organization of people who run, fund, study, and provide services to leadership development programs in the belief that leadership can change our communities, organizations, and the world. The aim of the LLC is to strengthen collective and individual capacity to transform society by connecting the learning, practice and resources of those committed to leadership development. To this end the Leadership Learning Community continuously documents learning and knowledge development to share with the field. LLC also encourages others in the community to do the same and contribute documents to the knowledge and resources available on the website You will find documents in Adobe PDF format that include program materials, evaluations, meeting notes, scans, reports, guidelines, and learning reflections as well as links to videos, images and other websites relevant to the field. You can browse all documents or search by key word, tag, or author below. Go to: www.leadershiplearning.org

Publication of the Week -- Social Marketing and Social Change: Strategies and Tools For Improving Health, Well-Being, and the Environment by R. Craig Lefebvre
From the publisher: How can we facilitate more effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable solutions to the problems that confound our communities and world? Social marketing guru R. Craig LeFebvre weaves together multi-level theories of change, research and case studies to explain and illustrate the development of social marketing to address some of society’s most vexing problems. The result is a people-centered approach that relies on insight and empathy as much as on data for the inspiration, design and management of programs that strive for changes for good. This text is ideal for students and professionals in health, nonprofit, business, social services, and other areas.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com


Trend of the Week -- Teens and Technology 2013
Smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially and mobile access to the internet is pervasive. One in four teens are “cell-mostly” internet users, who say they mostly go online using their phone and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer. These are among the new findings from a nationally representative Pew Research Center survey of 802 youth ages 12-17 and their parents that explored technology use. Key findings include:

·         78% of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of them own smartphones. That translates into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.

·         23% of teens have a tablet computer, a level comparable to the general adult population.
·         95% of teens use the internet.
·         93% of teens have a computer or have access to one at home. Seven in ten (71%) teens with home computer access say the laptop or desktop they use most often is one they share with other family members.

To download the full report, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx

Resource of the Week –  Resources for Nonprofit Financial Management
Organizations with strong financial management are better able to fulfill their missions and deliver high-quality services. The Wallace Foundation, with Fiscal Management Associates, a leading financial management consultant for nonprofits, has created a library of resources to help your organization become "fiscally fit."  The library covers four key areas of strong financial management:
·         Planning: With budgeting and financial analysis, you can use your resources strategically to help achieve your organization's goals.
·         Monitoring: Regularly review financial results to ensure you're using resources according to your plan – and advancing organizational objectives.
·         Operations: A strong infrastructure for planning and monitoring means both employees who know how to analyze information and software that helps them.
·         Governance: Your board of directors should provide the oversight and guidance to ensure the organization fulfills its obligations – and its mission.

To access the library of resources, go to: http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Resources-for-Financial-Management/Pages/default.aspx


Tech Tip of the Week -- Keyboard Shortcuts in Excel 2007/2010
If you are a fan of keyboard shortcuts you will be happy to know that most of the shortcuts we've used for years work exactly the same in Excel 2007/2010.  Here's a list of some of my favorites:

·         Start a new line in the same cell -- Alt + Enter

·         Selects the entire worksheet or the current range -- Ctrl + A
·         Undoes the last action -- Ctrl + Z
·         Redoes the last action -- Ctrl + Y
·         Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks -- F9
·         Copy selected cells -- Ctrl + C
·         Paste -- Ctrl + V

 

Picks of the Week: March 17 - 23, 2013

Website of the Week --  Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is among the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $2 billion. The Foundation's vision is to foster "a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities." In service of this vision, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation focuses grant making and operations on two areas—education and entrepreneurship—which Ewing Kauffman, saw as two ends of a continuum. A quality education is the foundation for self-sufficiency, preparing young people for success in college and in life. Many young adults will work in businesses started by entrepreneurs. Some will become entrepreneurs themselves, providing jobs and wealth for society. Go to: http://www.kauffman.org

Publication of the Week -- Global Fundraising: How the World is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy
From the publisher:  A practical guide to the challenges and successes of global fundraising, written by an international team of highly respected philanthropy professionals and edited by two of the leading nonprofit thinkers, Global Fundraising is the first book to genuinely offer a global overview of philanthropy with an internationalist perspective. As the world becomes more interdependent, and economies struggle, global philanthropy continues to increase. More than that, nonprofits are taking up roles that have traditionally been filled by the government—including social welfare, healthcare, and human rights. Global Fundraising provides complete coverage of the implications of this growth for nonprofit culture and how it drives changes in fundraising practices. Organized into thematic chapters—a mixture of geographic and topical issues—it places North American philanthropy in a wider context. It features a companion website with a variety of online tools and materials. The book includes contributions by international leading experts and skillfully tracks how the world of fundraising is changing rapidly due to a number of factors including: continuing growth of great wealth; non-profit innovation emerging everywhere; growth of indigenous NGOs; increased professionalism in fundraising; and the value and role of new and social technologies. Written by a team of philanthropy leaders, Global Fundraising offers timely coverage of fundraising around the world. A must-have for INGO leaders and anyone, anywhere, interested in the future of philanthropy and effective fundraising practices.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com


Trend of the Week -- Nonprofits A Major Source Of Employment Growth Globally
A new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies reveals that nonprofit organizations are major employers and major sources of employment growth in countries throughout the world. The report draws on new data generated by statistical offices in sixteen countries that have implemented a new United Nations Handbook on Nonprofit Institutions. Key findings to date as summarized in this report include:
·         In 6 of the 16 countries for which data are available, nonprofits employ 10 percent or more of the total workforce, making them one of the largest employers of any industry in these countries.
·         On average in these sixteen countries’ nonprofits employ more workers than either the transportation or construction industry.
·         The nonprofit sector accounts for an average of 4.5 percent of the GDP in the covered countries, roughly equivalent to GDP contribution of the construction industry in these countries.
·         Nonprofits, on average, receive far less of their revenue from philanthropy than is commonly thought. Rather, 43 percent of the revenue comes from fees for their services, 32 percent from government sources, and only 23 percent from philanthropic giving, and even this is likely an over-estimate given limitations of the data sources.
·         In the eight countries on which historical data are available, the growth rate of the nonprofit sector contribution to GDP exceeded the growth rate of GDP.

To download the report, go to: http://tinyurl.com/cwscvf5

Resource of the Week –  Executive Transition Monographs
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published a series of seven on all aspects of executive transitions and executive transition management in nonprofits. Go to: http://www.aecf.org/KnowledgeCenter/PublicationsSeries/ExecutiveTransitionMonographs.aspx


Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Slide Background in PowerPoint 2007/2010
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
·         Select a new background style 

Picks of the Week: March 10 - 16, 2013

Website of the Week --  Institute for Women’s Policy Research
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialog, and strengthen families, communities, and societies. It is the leading think tank in the U.S. focusing primarily on domestic women’s issues. Founded in 1987, IWPR’s reports and other informational resources have informed policies and programs across the U.S., in each of its key program areas:
·         Employment, Education, & Economic Change - Employment and Job Quality, Economic Status of Women in the States , Pay Equity and Discrimination, Access to Higher Education, Unemployment and the Economy
·         Democracy & Society - The Status of Women and Girls, Immigration and Religion, Women in Unions, Women's Political Participation
·         Poverty, Welfare, & Income Security - Retirement and Social Security, Poverty, Katrina and the Gulf Coast, Welfare Reform
·         Work & Family - Early Care and Education, Family Leave and Paid Sick Days, Workplace Flexibility
·         Health & Safety - Women's access to health insurance, costs and benefits of preventative health services for women, costs of domestic violence

Go to: http://www.iwpr.org


Publication of the Week -- Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact by Dalya F. Massachi
From the publisher:  Whether you're an accidental or emerging writer or a seasoned wordsmith, this comprehensive resource will help you build and manage the invaluable skills behind writing values-driven copy. You will find advice on everything from advancing your brand to storytelling to minding the devilish details. Discover how to painlessly: - Write and edit a full spectrum of clear, concise, creative pieces that will reach and influence your diverse intended audiences - Streamline and strengthen your writing process-from planning to proofreading - Develop your own confident, expert writing voice Included in these pages you will find: - More than 500 real-life examples from nonprofits, green businesses, government agencies, and others - Hundreds of stimulating questions and exercises that help you apply the lessons to your own work - Numerous guide sheets, checklists, and handy appendices - Dozens of warnings about potential pitfalls ... all this delivered with a generous helping of fun illustrations, cultural references, and humor. If you've ever had trouble expressing your passion in writing, or telling your story in a fresh and compelling way, this powerhouse of a book is for you. Author Dalya F. Massachi, M.A., draws on her nearly 20 years of professional experience writing and editing for hundreds of socially responsible organizations.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week -- Impact of Economy on Giving Trends in U.S. Religious Congregations
Congregations whose clergy are aware of giving trends in their congregation and those with younger attendees were more likely to see positive fundraising results between the first half of 2011 and the first half of 2012, according to a new report from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Indiana University School of Philanthropy. A new study examines the impact of the economic environment on a sample of U.S. congregations. This study was conducted by the Indiana University School of Philanthropy and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University School of Philanthropy, in partnership with the Alban Institute, the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA), Indianapolis Center for Congregations, and MAXIMUM Generosity. This study informs not only overall financial trends of surveyed congregations, but also how specific types of congregations talked about money and fared financially during the recession and its aftermath. Key findings include:

·         Nearly half of responding congregations reported budget increases for 2012 compared with 2011. Increases were likely to be allocated toward salaries, outreach programs, mission activities, and revenue-generating activities.
·         Two-thirds of congregations offer congregants some type of electronic giving. This allows for more consistent revenue than do traditional methods such as offerings during services. More than four in 10 respondents receive direct deposits from congregants; three in 10 receive checks or transfers from congregants’ online bank accounts. About 10 percent receive contributions through their website.
·         Nearly three-quarters of the congregations have an annual stewardship or pledge campaign (72 percent); slightly more than half (53 percent) have an endowment.
·         About one-third (36 percent) of responding congregations offer specific courses, workshops, classes or seminars on personal finance or charitable giving.

To download the report, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/congregational-economic-impact-study

Resource of the Week –  Nonprofit Collaboration Database
Maintained by the Foundation Center, a national organization connecting nonprofits and grantmakers to resources, the Nonprofit Collaboration Database offers real-world examples of nonprofit collaborations. Nearly 700 nationwide models have already been submitted and the database receives 2,000 visits a month. The database has been organized so that you can search for information from a variety of access points allowing you to customize your search a variety of ways. For example, you can find all mergers among arts and culture organizations, or all administrative consolidations in Ohio and Arizona, or only those joint programming collaborations among state health organizations that were initiated by funders. The ability to search by multiple criteria, including key words, provides the opportunity to explore the database using factors that are most relevant to your needs. To learn more, go to: http://collaboration.foundationcenter.org/search/searchGenerator.php

Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Heading Styles in Word
To quickly change a heading style in Word, click in the line containing the heading and use these keyboard shortcuts:
·         Ctrl + Alt + 1 to apply Heading 1 style to current paragraph
·         Ctrl + Alt + 2 to apply Heading 2 style to current paragraph
·         Ctrl + Alt + 3 to apply Heading 3 style to current paragraph

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

Picks of the Week: March 3 - 9, 2013

Website of the Week --  Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
IRP is a center for interdisciplinary research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan. It is based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As one of three National Poverty Research Centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it has a particular interest in poverty and family welfare in Wisconsin as well as the nation. The Institute was established in 1966 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison by the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, the organization given responsibility for reducing poverty in America. In the years since then, the Institute's affiliates, who represent a variety of disciplines, have formulated and tested basic theories of poverty and inequality, developed and evaluated social policy alternatives, and analyzed trends in poverty and economic well-being. Go to: http://www.irp.wisc.edu/index.htm.

Publication of the Week -- Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up For Itself and Really Change the World

From the publisher:  Virtually everything our society has been taught about charity is backwards. We deny the social sector the ability to grow because of our short-sighted demand that it send every short-term dollar into direct services. Yet if the sector cannot grow, it can never match the scale of our great social problems. In the face of this dilemma, the sector has remained silent, defenseless, and disorganized. In Charity Case, Pallotta proposes a visionary solution: a Charity Defense Council to re-educate the public and give charities the freedom they need to solve our most pressing social issues.

·         Proposes concrete steps for how a national Charity Defense Council will transform the public understanding of the humanitarian sector, including: building an anti-defamation league and legal defense for the sector, creating a massive national ongoing ad campaign to upgrade public literacy about giving, and ultimately enacting a National Civil Rights Act for Charity and Social Enterprise
·         From Dan Pallotta, renowned builder of social movements and inventor of the multi-day charity event industry (including the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Days) that has cumulatively raised over $1.1 billion for critical social causes
·         The hotly-anticipated follow-up to Pallotta’s groundbreaking book Uncharitable

Grounded in Pallotta’s clear vision and deep social sector experience, Charity Case is a fascinating wake-up call for fixing the culture that thwarts our charities’ ability to change the world.

 

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week – Demographics of Social Media Users

A late 2012 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project shows that young adults are more likely than others to use major social media. At the same time, other groups are interested in different sites and services. Internet users under 50 are particularly likely to use a social networking site of any kind, and those 18-29 are the most likely of any demographic cohort to do so (83%). Women are more likely than men to be on these sites. Those living in urban settings are also significantly more likely than rural internet users to use social networking. Key findings include:

 

·         Facebook remains the most-used social networking platform, as two-thirds of online adults say that they are Facebook users. Women are more likely than men to be Facebook users, and Facebook use is especially common among younger adults.
·         The percentage of internet users who are on Twitter has doubled since November 2010, currently standing at 16%. Those under 50, and especially those 18-29, are the most likely to use Twitter. Urban-dwellers are significantly more likely than both suburban and rural residents to be on Twitter.
·         Pinterest, the online pinboard, has attracted 15% of internet users to its virtual scrapbooking. Whites, young people, the well-educated, those with higher income, and women are particularly likely to use the site. Pinterest is equally popular among those 18-29 and 30-49 (19%). Women are about five times as likely to be on the site as men, the largest difference in gender of any site featured in this report.
To download the full report, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2013/PIP_SocialMediaUsers.pdf

Resource of the Week – Free Complete Toolkit for Boards
Developed by Carter McNamara of Authenticity Consulting, this toolkit covers many topics such as board roles and responsibilities, recruiting members, evaluating the board, and much more. In addition to the articles on this current page, also see there are two blogs that have posts related to this topic: the Boards of Directors Blog and the  Library's Nonprofit Capacity Building Blog. Go to: www.mapnp.org/library/boards/boards.htm

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