Picks of the Week: November 24 - December 7, 2013

Website of the Week -- Coalition for Evidence Based Policy

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Coalition seeks to increase government effectiveness through the use of rigorous evidence about what works. In the field of medicine, public policies based on scientifically-rigorous evidence have produced extraordinary advances in health over the past 50 years. By contrast, in most areas of social policy – such as education, poverty reduction, and crime prevention – government programs often are implemented with little regard to evidence, costing billions of dollars yet failing to address critical social problems. However, rigorous studies have identified a few highly-effective program models and strategies (“interventions”), suggesting that a concerted government effort to build the number of these proven interventions, and spur their widespread use, could bring rapid progress to social policy similar to that which transformed medicine. The Coalition advocates many types of research to identify the most promising social interventions. For more information, go to: http://coalition4evidence.org

Publication of the Week --  7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don't by American Society of Association Executives

From the publisher: This update of ASAE's all-time bestseller retains the original book's focus on the disciplines that define remarkable associations and provides some insights on how those remarkable organizations fared in light of the economic challenges in the intervening years since the original publication was published. Based on 15 years of data and original, objective research tailored to the association community's needs, 7 Measures of Success provides empirical data and seven success factors common among visionary nonprofits.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Foundation Support for Media

Foundation support for media is growing at nearly four times the rate of domestic giving in other areas, with $1.86 billion invested between 2009-2011, according to a the report, Growth in Foundation Support for Media in the United States, a collaboration among the Foundation Center, Media Impact Funders, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The report provides the most comprehensive view to date of philanthropy’s role in the media funding landscape. The report reveals that 1,012 foundations made 12,040 media-related grants totaling $1.86 billion from 2009-2011. Funding is examined across five areas — journalism, news, and information; media access and policy; media applications and tools; media platforms; and telecommunications infrastructure — uncovering insightful trends:

• Foundations are increasingly focused on media funding: Media-related grantmaking grew at a higher rate than overall domestic grantmaking from 2009-2011 (21% increase vs. 5.8%, respectively).
• Funders are reacting to the changing landscape of media in the digital age: New media investments (web-based and mobile) vastly outpaced that of traditional media (print, television, and radio), by a factor of four (116.5% vs. 29.4%).
• Media-related funding is diverse: Four of the five major areas of media-related grantmaking experienced growth from 2009 to 2011. Media applications and tools led the way in growth (107.8%), while funding for telecommunications infrastructure experienced the only decrease (48.4%).
• While funding for public broadcasting increased over time, it fell behind the increase in funding for media-related activities overall (17.6% vs. 21%, respectively).

The rise in media funding by foundations comes against the backdrop of drastic declines in revenue at traditional news outlets, declines that have raised questions about how communities will acquire the information that fuels civic life. To download the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/mediafunding_report_2013.pdf

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/Communities/VolunteerResources/Pages/succplg.aspx

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: November 17-23, 2013

Website of the Week -- FrameWorks Institute

The mission of the FrameWorks Institute is to advance the nonprofit sector's communications capacity by identifying, translating and modeling relevant scholarly research for framing the public discourse about social problems. FrameWorks designs, commissions, manages and publishes communications research to prepare nonprofit organizations to expand their constituency base, to build public will, and to further public understanding of specific social issues. In addition to working closely with social policy experts familiar with the specific issue, its work is informed by a team of communications scholars and practitioners who are convened to discuss the research problem, and to work together in outlining potential strategies for advancing remedial policies. FrameWorks also critiques, designs, conducts and evaluates communications campaigns on social issues. Its work is based on an approach called "strategic frame analysis," which has been developed in partnership with UCLA's Center for Communications and Community. Go to: www.frameworksinstitute.org

Publication of the Week --  The Nonprofit Policy Sampler, Third Edition by Barbara Lawrence and Outi Flynn

From the publisher: For nonprofit organizations, policies are tools for setting priorities, making decisions, and defining and delegating responsibilities. Too often, policies are created to ensure a bad decision made during a crisis is never repeated. But policy-making need not be reactive. Boards that practice proactive policy-making can save themselves a great deal of anguish in a crisis situation that demands an immediate response. The Nonprofit Policy Sampler is designed to help. This exhaustive resource provides key elements and practical tips for 70 policy topic areas, along with more than 300 sample policies, job descriptions, committee charters, codes of ethics, board member agreements, mission and vision statements, and more. Each topic includes a choice of sample documents so you can select an appropriate sample from which to start drafting or revising your own policy. All samples, which have been professionally and legally reviewed, are included in the accompanying downloadable content.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Chief Financial Officer Study

This survey of 906 nonprofit finance professionals reveals some surprises about these crucial-but-often-overlooked staff, looking at questions ranging from educational backgrounds, workload, board and CEO understanding of finance, and CEO compensation. This study was conducted by CalNonprofits' CEO Jan Masaoka and Spectrum Nonprofit's Steve Zimmerman under the auspices of American Nonprofits with data analysis assistance from Kristen Wolslegel. More than 900 individuals responded to survey notifications through Blue Avocado and American Nonprofits.  For the report and key findings, go to: http://blueavocado.org/node/849

Resource of the Week –  Learning Circle Basics

A Learning Circle is a series of discussions, demonstrations, reports on readings and presentations through which the members of the Learning Circle share their knowledge and experience, learn new information and apply and test new skills. Learning Circles can be a powerful tool for capacity building. This website covers the following topics: why use a learning circle; how do learning circles work; the schedule of learning circle meetings; types of learning circle meetings, roles in the learning circle meeting, and general tips. Go to: http://www.magma.ca/~raksim/learning_circle_basics.htm

Picks of the Week: November 10-16, 2013

Website of the Week -- Center for Collaborative Planning

The Center for Collaborative Planning (CCP) promotes health and social justice by providing training and technical assistance and by connecting people and resources. CCP supports diverse communities in key areas, such as: Asset-based Community Development (ABCD), Leadership Development, Working Collaboratively, Community Assessment and Strategic Planning. The site contains an extensive resource library organized into 14 categories. Go to: http://www.connectccp.org

Publication of the Week --  Guerrilla Marketing for Nonprofits by Jay Levinson 

From the publisher: The Father of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson delivers the first book to adapt the profit-producing principles of Guerrilla Marketing to the world of nonprofits. The nonprofit sector has increased by 65%--a flood of new organizations are vying for donations, competing for volunteers, and carving out their share of the marketplace. Joined by co-authors Frank Adkins and Chris Forbes, Levinson shows nonprofit marketers how to gain the competitive edge they need by replacing their lack of money with the power of time, energy, imagination, and information—allowing them to maximize their impact and raise more money! Armed with time-tested principles, 200 proven weapons of Guerrilla Marketing, and relevant tactics and tools, nonprofit marketers learn how to boost public awareness, increase effectiveness in recruiting volunteers, mobilize advocates, and raise more money—no matter the state of their finances.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Latest US Foundation Trends

Even through a period of unpredictability in the national and global economic and political environment, domestic foundation giving has continued to grow at a moderate pace. According to Key Facts on U.S. Foundations, the Foundation Center's new annual research study, in 2011 the country's 81,777 foundations held $622 billion in assets and distributed $49 billion, an amount estimated to have reached $50.9 billion in 2012. The outlook for 2013 is for continued modest growth overall. Key Facts on U.S. Foundations is the primary publication in which the Foundation Center documents the overall size of the U.S. foundation community and provides perspective on the giving priorities of the nation's largest foundations. key findings in the report include:

• Health and education are the top priorities of the country’s largest foundations, accounting for almost half of all grant dollars.
• More than one third (35%) of all grant dollars awarded by the nation's largest foundations were specifically intended to benefit the economically disadvantaged.
• In 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made the single largest grant: $967 million over five years to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

For more information, go to: http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/keyfacts2013/foundation-focus.html

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 resource, go to

http://smexchange.ogilvypr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/OW_SM_WhitePaper.pdf

Picks of the Week: October 27 - November 9, 2013

Website of the Week -- Youth Service America

Youth Service America (YSA) improves communities by increasing the number and the diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. YSA fulfills its mission through four key strategies and program areas:

• Large-scale public mobilization campaigns such as Global Youth Service Day, Semester of Service and Service Vote;
• YSA Grants of more than $1 million annually, available to youth, schools & organizations around the world for youth-led service projects;
• Resources and trainings that equip youth and adult mentors to lead high-quality, high-impact service and service-learning programs;
• Recognition programs such as Everyday Young Heroes and the Harris Wofford Awards, which recognize exceptional youth and adult mentors who are champions of youth voice.

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

Publication of the Week --  Finding Allies, Building Alliances: 8 Elements that Bring and Keep People Together by Mike Leavitt and Rich McKeown

From the publisher: Your business challenges extend far beyond you and your firm, to the competitors within your industry and the regulators outside it. Finding solutions to larger issues requires cooperation between diverse stakeholders, and in this rapidly changing world, only those able to adapt and network successfully will produce fast, competitive solutions. How can leaders successfully bridge divides and turn competitors into collaborators? Leavitt and McKeown explain how a well-chosen network can become a powerful alliance. Whether you're launching a new partnership, or rehabilitating one already in progress, Finding Allies, Building Alliances will help you find workable solutions to the most complex problems.

• Written by Mike Leavitt, former Governor of Utah who brought the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City, former US Secretary of Health and human services, and former head of the EPA; with his former Chief of Staff and business partner Rich McKeown.
• Includes a framework of 8 elements that will help any leader foster and maintain an effective, productive collaborative venture
• Shows how better collaboration can not only solve problems, but boost the competitiveness and resilience in all sectors

Finding Allies, Building Alliances is essential reading for any business leader looking for transformative solutions and a sustainable future.

Click to preview this book onAmazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Board Governance Trends

According to results from the eighth edition of Grant Thornton's National Board Governance Survey for Not-for-Profit Organizations, approximately half of respondents are confident with their programs and brand. The 2012 edition of the survey is based on responses received via an online questionnaire from 706 board members and senior management of higher education institutions; trade and professional associations; social and human service organizations; religious organizations; cultural organizations; health care organizations; and foundations. Not-for-profit organizations are emerging from the recent economic downturn stronger than ever. Over the past four years, significant numbers of not-for-profit organizations have implemented new strategic plans, restructured their organizations and made their programs more efficient as they weathered the difficult economy. According to the results from this survey, approximately half of respondents are confident with their programs and brand. Fewer still are convinced they have achieved the right expense structure or that revenue is being maximized. Confidence in staffing, structure and communication is even lower. There are a number of possible explanations for lagging confidence, including continued fallout from the nation’s financial meltdown, and recent staff reductions and structural changes that may need more time to settle in. In some organizations, further work is necessary to distinguish themselves in the new competitive landscape. To download a copy of the survey report, go to:http://www.grantthornton.com

Resource of the Week –  Giving Circles

Giving circles are one of the fastest growing and most varied of giving models.  Giving circles can range from extremely informal settings such as four or five donors seated around a kitchen table deciding how to allocate their “coupon money” to extremely sophisticated, structured and formal programs. The concept behind giving circles, no matter what the composition or disposition, is that pooled giving has greater impact on making a difference in the community.  New Ventures in Philanthropy, a program of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, has developed a comprehensive web site on initiating and managing a giving circle. For more information about giving circles, go to: http://www.givingforum.org/s_forum/sec.asp?CID=611&DID=2661.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Automatically Tab from Cell to Cell In Excel 2007/2010

If you have a spreadsheet with several data input cells and would like to automatically jump from cell to cell using your tab key, you can use the Protect feature to accomplish this.  In a previous tip we explain how to Protect Cells in Excel 2007/2010. After you have:

• Unlocked the cells that can be changed and
• Protected the worksheet

You can simply use your tab key to automatically move from cell to cell.  This can greatly simplify some types of data input and you'll learn about worksheet protection in the process!