Website of the Week – Community Resource Exchange
For over 30 years, Community Resource Exchange (CRE) has worked to create a more just, equitable and livable city for ALL New Yorkers. CRE provide strategic advice and technical services every year to more than 300 community-based nonprofit organizations confronting social issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDs in low and moderate income neighborhoods. As one of the most established nonprofit management consulting providers of its kind, CRE provides its clients with information, guidance, resources for nonprofits, skill building and leadership training for Community Based Organizations to make New York City stronger - one community group at a time. Be sure to check out their Resources for Nonprofits. Go to: http://www.crenyc.org/about_us.
Publication of the Week -- The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause by Kivi Leroux Miller
From the publisher: This down-to-earth book shows how to hack through the bewildering jungle of marketing options and miles-long to-do lists to clear a marketing path that's right for your organization, no matter how understaffed or underfunded. You'll see how to shape a marketing program that starts from where you are now and grows with your organization, using smart and savvy communications techniques, both offline and online. Combining big-picture management and strategic decision-making with reader-friendly tips for implementing a marketing program day in and day out, this book provides a simple yet powerful framework for building support for your organization's mission and programs.
• Includes cost-effective strategies and proven tactics for nonprofits
• An ideal resource for thriving during challenging times
• Fast, friendly, and realistic advice to help you navigate the day-by-day demands of any nonprofit
Written by one of the leading sources of how-to info and can-do inspiration for small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations, Kivi Leroux Miller is, among other things, a communication consultant and trainer, and president of EcoScribe Communications and Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week -- High Net worth Donor Trends
The 2010 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy tracks significant shifts as well as consistent trends in the giving behaviors of the wealthiest donors in the United States. The findings highlight the philanthropic legacy of high net worth households and offer valuable information to nonprofit organizations who seek to engage, sustain, and deepen relationships with these donors. Key findings include;
• High net worth households continued to support charitable organizations at levels seen in 2005 and 2007 (98.2 percent of high net worth households donated to charity in 2009). This indicates that despite the economic downturn, high net worth households remain committed to supporting nonprofits.
• Despite a strong commitment to nonprofits in 2009, average charitable giving by high net worth households decreased between 2007 and 2009. Average charitable giving dropped 34.9 percent from $83,034 in 2007 to $54,016 in 2009, after adjusting for inflation.
• About one-third of households cited an organization's own communications about its impact (34.1 percent) as important when giving to charity.
• In response to meeting community needs, nearly 64 percent of high net worth household gave more in 2009 than in 2008 to support people's basic needs and/or to fund the general operations of an organization.
• A few subsectors saw increases, between 4 and 21 percent, in the average amount given by wealthy households including arts, environment/animal care, international causes, and to giving vehicles. Other subsectors saw more significant declines from 2007, with giving to health experiencing a 63.7 percent decline, education a 55 percent decline, and combined purpose organizations (such as United Way, United Jewish Appeal, or Catholic Charities) experiencing a 44 percent decline.
For more information, go to:
http://mediaroom.bankofamerica.com.
Resource of the Week – TechSoup Grant Writing Series
Wish you knew more about applying for grant funding? Does it seem overwhelming and you wonder how to get started? TechSoup is offering a new grant series, Successful Grants in One Hour a Week. The online series will provide you with small steps that cover the entire grant writing and submission process. Weekly blog posts will outline your steps for the week so you'll be prepared to apply for a basic grant before the end of the year. For information, go to: http://blog.techsoup.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Worksheet Selection in Excel
If you have several worksheets in an Excel workbook, it can be time consuming to select the one you want to view. This shortcut can help you speed up the process.
• Right click on the sheet tab navigation arrows located in the lower left corner of the screen
• A menu of worksheet tabs pops up
• Left click the worksheet you want to view
This tip works in Excel 2007 as well as earlier versions.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Picks of the Week: November 7 - 13, 2010
Website of the Week – Our Shared Resources
OurSharedResources.com is a new free service where those who work in the field of volunteer management are able to add useful resources and others in the field will be able to access them. With many people contributing a little re-inventing the wheel time and time again is avoided. Resources are downloadable, real-world examples of forms, manuals or position descriptions, templates & tools for creating resources, as well as tips, ideas and how-to resources. OurSharedResources.com is now available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. The language of all resources in the site will be identified and users will be able to limit their search to material in their specified language. To check out the site, go to: http://oursharedresources.com.
Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka and Steve Zimmerman
From the publisher: Co-authored by CompassPoint's Jeanne Bell, Blue Avocado's Jan Masaoka and Spectrum's Steve Zimmerman, this new book offers nonprofit executives and board members a simple yet powerful framework for analyzing and adjusting their business models for greater organizational sustainability. It introduces the Matrix Map, a practical tool for determining the current impact and financial performance of core programs and fundraising activities. It also provides guidance on how leaders can make strategic business decisions on an as-needed basis, rather than wait for episodic strategic planning. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Public Trust in Nonprofits Stronger Than In Government
American Express released findings from a “Perspectives on Nonprofits” survey, which shows that while seven in ten Americans (71%) trust nonprofits more than they trust government or industry to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, more than eight in ten Americans (83%) believe that nonprofits do not always have the resources they need to invest. Other findings include:
• Only 5 percent of the people who responded said they currently work for a nonprofit group, but an additional 50 percent said they were at least somewhat interested in such employment.
• Among those interested in working at a nonprofit organization, 67 percent said such work could be more rewarding than other kinds of employment, though 41 percent said it would mean earning lower pay. Among these 14% believe that they would have fewer opportunities for training and leadership development than they would working for other types of organizations.
• About four out of five Americans also said they agreed that nonprofit groups do not have “the resources to invest in the growth and development of their employees.”
StrategyOne conducted an online survey among 1,044 Americans, aged 18 years or older, between October 25-26, 2010 on perceptions of the nonprofit sector and its ability to address society’s needs. The data is representative of census data of the American population. Go to: http://www.advisorone.com.
Resource of the Week – Special Events Guide
Network for Good has published a guide to planning and conducting large special events. “The Big Event: 5 Tips for Making Your Next Fundraising Event a Great Success”. The contents include: Set a goal that makes sense, Choose the right type of event, Secure corporate sponsors, Design a dynamic experience for your supporters, Assess what worked (and didn’t), and, Plan for next time and keep up your relationships. To download a copy, go to:
http://www.fundraising123.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Nudging Objects on PowerPoint 2007 Slides
Have you ever tried to move an object on a slide just a little? Try this:
• Select the object
• Press Ctrl + an arrow key
This tip also works in earlier versions.
OurSharedResources.com is a new free service where those who work in the field of volunteer management are able to add useful resources and others in the field will be able to access them. With many people contributing a little re-inventing the wheel time and time again is avoided. Resources are downloadable, real-world examples of forms, manuals or position descriptions, templates & tools for creating resources, as well as tips, ideas and how-to resources. OurSharedResources.com is now available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. The language of all resources in the site will be identified and users will be able to limit their search to material in their specified language. To check out the site, go to: http://oursharedresources.com.
Publication of the Week -- Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka and Steve Zimmerman
From the publisher: Co-authored by CompassPoint's Jeanne Bell, Blue Avocado's Jan Masaoka and Spectrum's Steve Zimmerman, this new book offers nonprofit executives and board members a simple yet powerful framework for analyzing and adjusting their business models for greater organizational sustainability. It introduces the Matrix Map, a practical tool for determining the current impact and financial performance of core programs and fundraising activities. It also provides guidance on how leaders can make strategic business decisions on an as-needed basis, rather than wait for episodic strategic planning. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Public Trust in Nonprofits Stronger Than In Government
American Express released findings from a “Perspectives on Nonprofits” survey, which shows that while seven in ten Americans (71%) trust nonprofits more than they trust government or industry to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, more than eight in ten Americans (83%) believe that nonprofits do not always have the resources they need to invest. Other findings include:
• Only 5 percent of the people who responded said they currently work for a nonprofit group, but an additional 50 percent said they were at least somewhat interested in such employment.
• Among those interested in working at a nonprofit organization, 67 percent said such work could be more rewarding than other kinds of employment, though 41 percent said it would mean earning lower pay. Among these 14% believe that they would have fewer opportunities for training and leadership development than they would working for other types of organizations.
• About four out of five Americans also said they agreed that nonprofit groups do not have “the resources to invest in the growth and development of their employees.”
StrategyOne conducted an online survey among 1,044 Americans, aged 18 years or older, between October 25-26, 2010 on perceptions of the nonprofit sector and its ability to address society’s needs. The data is representative of census data of the American population. Go to: http://www.advisorone.com.
Resource of the Week – Special Events Guide
Network for Good has published a guide to planning and conducting large special events. “The Big Event: 5 Tips for Making Your Next Fundraising Event a Great Success”. The contents include: Set a goal that makes sense, Choose the right type of event, Secure corporate sponsors, Design a dynamic experience for your supporters, Assess what worked (and didn’t), and, Plan for next time and keep up your relationships. To download a copy, go to:
http://www.fundraising123.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Nudging Objects on PowerPoint 2007 Slides
Have you ever tried to move an object on a slide just a little? Try this:
• Select the object
• Press Ctrl + an arrow key
This tip also works in earlier versions.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Picks of the Week: October 31 - November 6, 2010
Website of the Week – NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network
NTEN is a membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals. Members share the common goal of helping nonprofits use all aspects of technology more effectively. NTEN believes that technology allows nonprofits to work with greater social impact and supports its members to strategically use technology to make the world a better, just, and equitable place. NTEN facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information within communities by connecting members to each other, providing professional development opportunities, educate on issues of technology use in nonprofits, and spearhead groundbreaking research, advocacy, and education on technology issues. Go to: http://www.nten.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Politics of Partnerships: A Critical Examination of Nonprofit-Business Partnerships by Maria May Seitanidi
From the publisher: The Politics of Partnerships contributes to the sustainability debate a holistic framework for partnership building, based on in-depth accounts of ways and means of collaborative working to incorporate conflict as a successful way of delivering change. This is a must read book for the business community but equally for the non-profits and governments. Seitanidi's book urges us to step up to the challenge of accepting and adapting our responsibilities within our increasingly beyond boundaries social realities. Based on detailed empirical research, Seitanidi shows us the reality behind the rhetoric of partnerships. This book is animated by a profound belief in the necessity for social change and shows us how partnerships can make a real difference, but also why they so often under perform. ... An outstanding book that combines theory with practice and provides both context and challenges to our understanding of the complexity of the ethos of very different sectors and how they can work together. This is a vital book for all private sector managers engaged in voluntary sector relations and vice versa on how to do it properly. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Donor Motivation Trends
This research study, Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century, was commissioned and created by Russ Reid and conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting in June 2010. This study was conducted across the United States, in both English and Spanish, via telephone and through a demographically representative online research panel. The sample size was 2,005 adults 18 or older, with a very low margin of error. Overall, 39% of American adults are donors (meaning they have given in the past 12 months). This translates to 90 million Americans. Here are a few of the findings:
• Men and women are equally likely to be donors.
• The older the individual, the more likely he or she is to be a donor.
• Being a donor is not something that varies much with geography.
• Suburbia does provide a disproportionately large group of donors, largely because suburban residents tend to have higher incomes.
• The proportion of donors increases as education level increases.
• People who regularly attend religious worship services are slightly more likely to be donors than are those who don’t attend, but people who financially support a place of worship are far more likely to be donors to nonprofits than are those who don’t give money to a place of worship.
To download an Executive Summary, go to: http://98.129.107.186/pdf/russreid_hod_exec_summary.pdf.
Resource of the Week – Getting Social Media Right: A Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations
The Bridgespan Group has developed a social media guide for nonprofits. "Getting Social Media Right: a Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations" authored by Richard Steele Sivan McLetchie and Chris Lindquist is organized around a framework referred to as the “Seven C’s” of social media: Cause, Communication, Community, Collaboration, Costs, Capital, and Competition. According to the authors, by challenging yourself to ask questions around the Seven C’s, you can quickly begin to organize your thinking about social media, and plan or revise your approach so that your social media efforts create real value for your organization. The full data set – purged of any identifying information – survey, and framework are all available for download. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Entering the Euro in Word 2007
To enter the Euro symbol in Word 2007, use this simple keyboard shortcut:
• Hold down the Alt key and the Ctrl key
• Type the letter e
This trick also works in earlier versions.
NTEN is a membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals. Members share the common goal of helping nonprofits use all aspects of technology more effectively. NTEN believes that technology allows nonprofits to work with greater social impact and supports its members to strategically use technology to make the world a better, just, and equitable place. NTEN facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information within communities by connecting members to each other, providing professional development opportunities, educate on issues of technology use in nonprofits, and spearhead groundbreaking research, advocacy, and education on technology issues. Go to: http://www.nten.org.
Publication of the Week -- The Politics of Partnerships: A Critical Examination of Nonprofit-Business Partnerships by Maria May Seitanidi
From the publisher: The Politics of Partnerships contributes to the sustainability debate a holistic framework for partnership building, based on in-depth accounts of ways and means of collaborative working to incorporate conflict as a successful way of delivering change. This is a must read book for the business community but equally for the non-profits and governments. Seitanidi's book urges us to step up to the challenge of accepting and adapting our responsibilities within our increasingly beyond boundaries social realities. Based on detailed empirical research, Seitanidi shows us the reality behind the rhetoric of partnerships. This book is animated by a profound belief in the necessity for social change and shows us how partnerships can make a real difference, but also why they so often under perform. ... An outstanding book that combines theory with practice and provides both context and challenges to our understanding of the complexity of the ethos of very different sectors and how they can work together. This is a vital book for all private sector managers engaged in voluntary sector relations and vice versa on how to do it properly. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Donor Motivation Trends
This research study, Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century, was commissioned and created by Russ Reid and conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting in June 2010. This study was conducted across the United States, in both English and Spanish, via telephone and through a demographically representative online research panel. The sample size was 2,005 adults 18 or older, with a very low margin of error. Overall, 39% of American adults are donors (meaning they have given in the past 12 months). This translates to 90 million Americans. Here are a few of the findings:
• Men and women are equally likely to be donors.
• The older the individual, the more likely he or she is to be a donor.
• Being a donor is not something that varies much with geography.
• Suburbia does provide a disproportionately large group of donors, largely because suburban residents tend to have higher incomes.
• The proportion of donors increases as education level increases.
• People who regularly attend religious worship services are slightly more likely to be donors than are those who don’t attend, but people who financially support a place of worship are far more likely to be donors to nonprofits than are those who don’t give money to a place of worship.
To download an Executive Summary, go to: http://98.129.107.186/pdf/russreid_hod_exec_summary.pdf.
Resource of the Week – Getting Social Media Right: A Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations
The Bridgespan Group has developed a social media guide for nonprofits. "Getting Social Media Right: a Short Guide for Nonprofit Organizations" authored by Richard Steele Sivan McLetchie and Chris Lindquist is organized around a framework referred to as the “Seven C’s” of social media: Cause, Communication, Community, Collaboration, Costs, Capital, and Competition. According to the authors, by challenging yourself to ask questions around the Seven C’s, you can quickly begin to organize your thinking about social media, and plan or revise your approach so that your social media efforts create real value for your organization. The full data set – purged of any identifying information – survey, and framework are all available for download. Go to: http://www.bridgespan.org.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Entering the Euro in Word 2007
To enter the Euro symbol in Word 2007, use this simple keyboard shortcut:
• Hold down the Alt key and the Ctrl key
• Type the letter e
This trick also works in earlier versions.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Picks of the Week: October 24 - 30, 2010
Website of the Week – Nonprofit and Philanthropy Good Practice
The Nonprofit and Philanthropy Good Practice or NPGoodpractice.org is a project of Nonprofit Services at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy. NPGoodpractice.org was created in 2002 with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a one-stop shop for widely accepted and innovative nonprofit practices. Nonprofit leaders can access hands-on tips, articles and profiled links and apply them to their organizations. In 2010, the site was redesigned with interactive features. Visitors to NPGoodpractice.org come from all 50 states and over 140 countries. Go to: http://npgoodpractice.org.
Publication of the Week -- Renewal Coaching: Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations by Douglas B. Reeves and Elle Allison
From the publisher: Renewal Coaching provides a series of personal assessments that will guide individuals and teams through the seven stages of renewal. Each assessment includes both survey and narrative responses, and readers can use the journal pages in the text or convenient on-line formats to respond. The Renewal Coaching framework consists of these seven elements: Recognition Finding patterns of toxicity and renewal; Reality Confronting change killers in work and life; Reciprocity Coaching in harmony; Resilience Coaching through pain; Relationship Nurturing the personal elements of coaching; Resonance Coaching with emotional intelligence; Renewal Creating energy, meaning, and freedom to sustain the Journey. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Most Women Give More Than Men, New Study Finds
Women at virtually every income level are more likely to give to charity and to give more money on average than their male counterparts, after controlling for education, income and other factors that influence giving, new research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University finds. The study analyzed charitable-giving data from 8,000 American households. Looking at every income level, the researchers found that women give to charity more frequently than men in similar circumstances. Giving by men and women is closest at the lowest income level, $23,509 or less. But more than one third of women making less than that sum (35.2 percent) were still more likely to give to charity than men earning the same amount (27.5 percent). Those gender differences are more pronounced among people making more money, the study found. For example, all but 4 percent of women who made more than $103,000 gave to charity, while only three-fourths of men who made that much did. To download a copy of the study, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/womengive.
Resource of the Week – Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning
Today, more and more nonprofits are looking to partner with other organizations. Strategic partnerships offer benefits that range along a spectrum from simple joint programming ventures to full-scale mergers. The purpose of the Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning is to serve as a reference for board members embarking on the collaboration journey. Many factors must be considered, and the following list shares 10 key elements critical to the success of any effective partnership. Boards are encouraged to use this list as a starting point for boardroom discussions (Note: The electronic version of this guide contains hyperlinks under each topic heading to additional resources for that subject area). Finally, this guide also contains a Partnership Checklist, a useful tool in tracking your progress through the partnership process. To download a copy of the guide, go to: http://www.asu.edu.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Create Access 2007 Tables from Excel
Here's a simple way to create an Access 2007 table from an Excel worksheet:
• Open the Excel worksheet
• Select the data you want in your Access table
• Copy the data to the clipboard and paste it into Access or you can even drag and drop it into Access
The Nonprofit and Philanthropy Good Practice or NPGoodpractice.org is a project of Nonprofit Services at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy. NPGoodpractice.org was created in 2002 with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a one-stop shop for widely accepted and innovative nonprofit practices. Nonprofit leaders can access hands-on tips, articles and profiled links and apply them to their organizations. In 2010, the site was redesigned with interactive features. Visitors to NPGoodpractice.org come from all 50 states and over 140 countries. Go to: http://npgoodpractice.org.
Publication of the Week -- Renewal Coaching: Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations by Douglas B. Reeves and Elle Allison
From the publisher: Renewal Coaching provides a series of personal assessments that will guide individuals and teams through the seven stages of renewal. Each assessment includes both survey and narrative responses, and readers can use the journal pages in the text or convenient on-line formats to respond. The Renewal Coaching framework consists of these seven elements: Recognition Finding patterns of toxicity and renewal; Reality Confronting change killers in work and life; Reciprocity Coaching in harmony; Resilience Coaching through pain; Relationship Nurturing the personal elements of coaching; Resonance Coaching with emotional intelligence; Renewal Creating energy, meaning, and freedom to sustain the Journey. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Most Women Give More Than Men, New Study Finds
Women at virtually every income level are more likely to give to charity and to give more money on average than their male counterparts, after controlling for education, income and other factors that influence giving, new research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University finds. The study analyzed charitable-giving data from 8,000 American households. Looking at every income level, the researchers found that women give to charity more frequently than men in similar circumstances. Giving by men and women is closest at the lowest income level, $23,509 or less. But more than one third of women making less than that sum (35.2 percent) were still more likely to give to charity than men earning the same amount (27.5 percent). Those gender differences are more pronounced among people making more money, the study found. For example, all but 4 percent of women who made more than $103,000 gave to charity, while only three-fourths of men who made that much did. To download a copy of the study, go to: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/womengive.
Resource of the Week – Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning
Today, more and more nonprofits are looking to partner with other organizations. Strategic partnerships offer benefits that range along a spectrum from simple joint programming ventures to full-scale mergers. The purpose of the Board Members' Guide to Partnership Planning is to serve as a reference for board members embarking on the collaboration journey. Many factors must be considered, and the following list shares 10 key elements critical to the success of any effective partnership. Boards are encouraged to use this list as a starting point for boardroom discussions (Note: The electronic version of this guide contains hyperlinks under each topic heading to additional resources for that subject area). Finally, this guide also contains a Partnership Checklist, a useful tool in tracking your progress through the partnership process. To download a copy of the guide, go to: http://www.asu.edu.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Create Access 2007 Tables from Excel
Here's a simple way to create an Access 2007 table from an Excel worksheet:
• Open the Excel worksheet
• Select the data you want in your Access table
• Copy the data to the clipboard and paste it into Access or you can even drag and drop it into Access
Monday, October 18, 2010
Picks of the Week: October 17 - 23, 2010
Website of the Week – Fast Company Magazine Resource Centers of Excellence
Fast Company Magazine has launched two new online resource centers focusing on leadership and innovation. The Resource Centers of Excellence blend new Web-only content, material from the magazine’s archives, and additional tools and services -- including online discussions and polls.. In the future, the magazine plans to roll out additional resource centers.
For innovation resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/innovation.
For leadership resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/leadership.
Publication of the Week -- The Five Most Important Questions Self Assessment Tool: Participant Workbook, 3rd Edition by Peter F. Drucker, Leader to Leader Institute
From the publisher: The new edition of this transformational tool offers leaders a critical resource for better understanding their organizations and themselves, honing their skills to become accomplished long-range planners and strategic thinkers. By working through the Participant Workbook, leaders will gain the insight needed to plan for results, learn from customers and clients, and ascertain how to achieve extraordinary levels of performance. The Participant Workbook draws on Peter F. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions and is grounded in his management philosophies that address the critical aspects that make organizations viable and valuable entities. When leaders answer these questions thoughtfully and address them with purpose, these questions take one down a path to organizational transformation and enlightenment. By leveraging these essential questions, the Participant Workbook challenges leaders to take a close look at the very heart of their organization and what drives it, giving them a means to assess: how to be and how to develop quality, character, mind-set, values, and courage. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions lead to spirited discussions and action, inspiring positive change and renewed focus. Designed for today's busy professionals, this concise, clear, and accessible workbook for social sector, nonprofit, and socially minded business and government leaders can be used as preparation for a workshop, organizational self-assessment, or as a stand-alone leadership development tool for individuals looking to develop themselves and their organizations. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Technology Trends Among People of Color
Here is a summary of recent research highlights by Pew Internet Project Senior Research Specialist Aaron Smith:
• Trend #1: The internet and broadband populations have become more diverse over the last decade, although key disparities do remain. Over the last decade the internet population has come to much more closely resemble the racial composition of the population as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010 the proportion of internet users who are black or Latino has nearly doubled—from 11% to 21%. At the same time, African-Americans remain somewhat less likely than whites to go online.
• Trend #2: Access to the digital world is increasingly being untethered from the desktop, and this is especially true for people of color. Both blacks and English-speaking Latinos are more likely to own a mobile phone than whites. Foreign-born Latinos trail their Native-born counterparts in cell phone ownership, but this gap is significantly smaller than the gap in internet use between these groups. Moreover, minority adults use a much wider range of their cell phones’ capabilities.
• Trend #3: Minority internet users don’t just use the social web at higher rates, their attitudes towards these tools differ as well. Minority adults also outpace whites in their use of social technologies. Among internet users, seven in ten blacks and English-speaking Latinos use social networking sites—significantly higher than the six in ten whites who do so. Indeed, nearly half of black internet users go to a social networking site on a typical day. Just one third of white internet users do so on a daily basis.
For more information including links to relevant research, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org.
Resource of the Week – Overview of Friend-to-Friend Fundraising Tools
Mashable has compiled a useful look at ten different tools you can use to ask people to fundraise for your nonprofit online. Go to: http://mashable.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value
To freeze a formula into its current value:
• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter
Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, even 2007!
Fast Company Magazine has launched two new online resource centers focusing on leadership and innovation. The Resource Centers of Excellence blend new Web-only content, material from the magazine’s archives, and additional tools and services -- including online discussions and polls.. In the future, the magazine plans to roll out additional resource centers.
For innovation resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/innovation.
For leadership resources, go to: www.fastcompany.com/resources/leadership.
Publication of the Week -- The Five Most Important Questions Self Assessment Tool: Participant Workbook, 3rd Edition by Peter F. Drucker, Leader to Leader Institute
From the publisher: The new edition of this transformational tool offers leaders a critical resource for better understanding their organizations and themselves, honing their skills to become accomplished long-range planners and strategic thinkers. By working through the Participant Workbook, leaders will gain the insight needed to plan for results, learn from customers and clients, and ascertain how to achieve extraordinary levels of performance. The Participant Workbook draws on Peter F. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions and is grounded in his management philosophies that address the critical aspects that make organizations viable and valuable entities. When leaders answer these questions thoughtfully and address them with purpose, these questions take one down a path to organizational transformation and enlightenment. By leveraging these essential questions, the Participant Workbook challenges leaders to take a close look at the very heart of their organization and what drives it, giving them a means to assess: how to be and how to develop quality, character, mind-set, values, and courage. Drucker's The Five Most Important Questions lead to spirited discussions and action, inspiring positive change and renewed focus. Designed for today's busy professionals, this concise, clear, and accessible workbook for social sector, nonprofit, and socially minded business and government leaders can be used as preparation for a workshop, organizational self-assessment, or as a stand-alone leadership development tool for individuals looking to develop themselves and their organizations. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Technology Trends Among People of Color
Here is a summary of recent research highlights by Pew Internet Project Senior Research Specialist Aaron Smith:
• Trend #1: The internet and broadband populations have become more diverse over the last decade, although key disparities do remain. Over the last decade the internet population has come to much more closely resemble the racial composition of the population as a whole. Between 2000 and 2010 the proportion of internet users who are black or Latino has nearly doubled—from 11% to 21%. At the same time, African-Americans remain somewhat less likely than whites to go online.
• Trend #2: Access to the digital world is increasingly being untethered from the desktop, and this is especially true for people of color. Both blacks and English-speaking Latinos are more likely to own a mobile phone than whites. Foreign-born Latinos trail their Native-born counterparts in cell phone ownership, but this gap is significantly smaller than the gap in internet use between these groups. Moreover, minority adults use a much wider range of their cell phones’ capabilities.
• Trend #3: Minority internet users don’t just use the social web at higher rates, their attitudes towards these tools differ as well. Minority adults also outpace whites in their use of social technologies. Among internet users, seven in ten blacks and English-speaking Latinos use social networking sites—significantly higher than the six in ten whites who do so. Indeed, nearly half of black internet users go to a social networking site on a typical day. Just one third of white internet users do so on a daily basis.
For more information including links to relevant research, go to: http://www.pewinternet.org.
Resource of the Week – Overview of Friend-to-Friend Fundraising Tools
Mashable has compiled a useful look at ten different tools you can use to ask people to fundraise for your nonprofit online. Go to: http://mashable.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value
To freeze a formula into its current value:
• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter
Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, even 2007!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Picks of the Week: October 10 - 16, 2010
Website of the Week – International Association for Volunteer Effort
The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) was founded in 1970 by a group of volunteers from around the world who saw in volunteering a means of making connections across countries and cultures. It has grown into a global network of volunteers, volunteer organizations, national representatives and volunteer centers, with members in over 70 countries, and in all world regions. The majority of IAVE members are in developing countries. IAVE is registered as a charity in the USA, in California, with By-Laws which set out the governing principles and procedures. IAVE has special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC Committee, and associate status with the UN Department of Public Information. It is a member of the UN Confederation of NGO’s, and has a strong working relationship with UN Volunteers, underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding. Go to: http://www.iave.org.
Publication of the Week -- Women and Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World
by Sondra Shaw-Hardy, Martha A. Taylor, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and Debra Mesch
From the publisher: Women's philanthropy has led the way in virtually reinventing the world of fundraising and ways of giving. When women make a gift, are in a leadership position, or volunteer their time to a nonprofit or charitable organization, they tend to base their efforts on solid principles such as compassion, values, vision, and responsibility. Women are increasingly engaged in giving circles, global giving, transformative gifts, entrepreneurial giving, faith-based giving, family and couple giving, and social change gifts. Based on extensive interviews and the authors' combined half century of experience, Women and Philanthropy shares new ways to better engage women in giving, as well as insights into developing women leaders in the nonprofit arena, and advises women seeking to develop as philanthropic leaders and shape the future for the better. Women and Philanthropy explores women's philanthropic endeavors, offering a wealth of information on key topics such as how and why women give, what it takes to develop a gender-sensitive fundraising program, how to develop a strategic plan to involve women as leaders and donors, and suggestions for working with women of wealth. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change.
According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, Millennials -- the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millennium -- have begun to forge theirs: confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change. They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They're less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history. Their entry into careers and first jobs has been badly set back by the Great Recession, but they are more upbeat than their elders about their own economic futures as well as about the overall state of the nation. 21% of Millennials say that helping people who are in need is one of the most important things in their life. This publication is part of a Pew Research Center report series that looks at the values, attitudes and experiences of the Millennial generation. For free access to the reports, go to: http://pewsocialtrends.org.
Resource of the Week – Free E-Book on Strategic Volunteer Engagement
What do nonprofit and public sector leaders need to know to work effectively with volunteers? What systems and strategies need to be in place to effectively engage volunteers? What misconceptions stand in the way of more effective volunteer involvement? These are just a few of the questions answered in the e-book Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Nonprofit and Public Sector Leaders. This e-book captures the outcomes of a collaborative research project funded by The Volunteer Impact Fund with support from The OneStar Foundation. This 40-page booklet is available as a free PDF download for a limited time. For your free copy of the Guide, go to: http://www.utexas.edu. (registration required):
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Slide Background in PowerPoint 2007
Regardless of which design theme you have chosen, you can also change the background to a variety of options which work with your design. To change the background:
• Click the Design tab on the Ribbon
• In the Background group, click the arrow next to Background Styles
• Click a new background style
The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) was founded in 1970 by a group of volunteers from around the world who saw in volunteering a means of making connections across countries and cultures. It has grown into a global network of volunteers, volunteer organizations, national representatives and volunteer centers, with members in over 70 countries, and in all world regions. The majority of IAVE members are in developing countries. IAVE is registered as a charity in the USA, in California, with By-Laws which set out the governing principles and procedures. IAVE has special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC Committee, and associate status with the UN Department of Public Information. It is a member of the UN Confederation of NGO’s, and has a strong working relationship with UN Volunteers, underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding. Go to: http://www.iave.org.
Publication of the Week -- Women and Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World
by Sondra Shaw-Hardy, Martha A. Taylor, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and Debra Mesch
From the publisher: Women's philanthropy has led the way in virtually reinventing the world of fundraising and ways of giving. When women make a gift, are in a leadership position, or volunteer their time to a nonprofit or charitable organization, they tend to base their efforts on solid principles such as compassion, values, vision, and responsibility. Women are increasingly engaged in giving circles, global giving, transformative gifts, entrepreneurial giving, faith-based giving, family and couple giving, and social change gifts. Based on extensive interviews and the authors' combined half century of experience, Women and Philanthropy shares new ways to better engage women in giving, as well as insights into developing women leaders in the nonprofit arena, and advises women seeking to develop as philanthropic leaders and shape the future for the better. Women and Philanthropy explores women's philanthropic endeavors, offering a wealth of information on key topics such as how and why women give, what it takes to develop a gender-sensitive fundraising program, how to develop a strategic plan to involve women as leaders and donors, and suggestions for working with women of wealth. Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change.
According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, Millennials -- the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millennium -- have begun to forge theirs: confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change. They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They're less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history. Their entry into careers and first jobs has been badly set back by the Great Recession, but they are more upbeat than their elders about their own economic futures as well as about the overall state of the nation. 21% of Millennials say that helping people who are in need is one of the most important things in their life. This publication is part of a Pew Research Center report series that looks at the values, attitudes and experiences of the Millennial generation. For free access to the reports, go to: http://pewsocialtrends.org.
Resource of the Week – Free E-Book on Strategic Volunteer Engagement
What do nonprofit and public sector leaders need to know to work effectively with volunteers? What systems and strategies need to be in place to effectively engage volunteers? What misconceptions stand in the way of more effective volunteer involvement? These are just a few of the questions answered in the e-book Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Nonprofit and Public Sector Leaders. This e-book captures the outcomes of a collaborative research project funded by The Volunteer Impact Fund with support from The OneStar Foundation. This 40-page booklet is available as a free PDF download for a limited time. For your free copy of the Guide, go to: http://www.utexas.edu. (registration required):
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Slide Background in PowerPoint 2007
Regardless of which design theme you have chosen, you can also change the background to a variety of options which work with your design. To change the background:
• Click the Design tab on the Ribbon
• In the Background group, click the arrow next to Background Styles
• Click a new background style
Monday, October 4, 2010
Picks of the Week: October 3 - 9, 2010
Website of the Week – Serviceleader.org
Serviceleader.org offers specialized resources for volunteers, leaders and managers of volunteers, and instructors and thought leaders. Serviceleader.org is operated by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Site content is developed by Center faculty, guest authors, and students engaged in the study of volunteerism. Go to: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/serviceleader.
Publication of the Week -- Leading the Way to Successful Volunteer Involvement: Practical Tools for Busy Executives by Betty B. Stallings and Susan J. Ellis
From the publisher: Lay the foundation for achieving impact with volunteer engagement! Move forward from thinking "volunteers are nice to have" to initiating strategic plans for engaging community members as key ingredients in accomplishing your organization's mission. Hit the ground running with step-by-step worksheets, checklists, idea stimulators, reallife examples, self-inquiry assessments, and other practical how-to tools to:
• Develop a philosophy statement about volunteers and make it a mantra for everyone in the organization
• Create a budget for volunteer involvement
• Secure funding for volunteer engagement
• Write a position description (and pick the right title, salary, and placement) for a director of volunteer involvement
• Integrate support for volunteers into every unit and department of your organization
• Assess staff training needs for working with volunteers, and much more!
Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Social Good
According to Mashable, social media has had a profound effect on the way social good organizations approach global problems. From the Red Cross, which used text messages to raise $5 million in relief funds for Haiti, to organizations like micro-lender Kiva, which wouldn’t even exist without the concept of social networking, altruistic organizations and individuals are finding new ways to embrace social media. Mashable asked social good experts about trends that will shape the way we use social media for positive change in the future. The five trends identified were:
• Crowdsourcing
• Location, Mobile Apps and Other Experiments
• Mobilizing Actions
• Benefiting From Cause Marketing
• Cooperation Between Non-profits and Individuals
For more information and lots of great examples of each trend, go to:
http://mashable.com.
Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Webinars for October 2010
Wild Apricot, a Canadian based software development company has compiled a list of webinars on a number of nonprofit management topics being offered this month at no charge – useful for fundraisers, board members, administrators, active volunteers and volunteer coordinators. Go to: http://www.wildapricot.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Text Case in Word
To change the case of text in Word, try this:
Select text
• Press Shift + F3 until it changes to the desired case style
• Pressing Shift + F3 toggles the text case between all caps, lower case, and initial cap styles.
Be sure to hold down the Shift WHILE you press F3. You can also try this in PowerPoint.
Serviceleader.org offers specialized resources for volunteers, leaders and managers of volunteers, and instructors and thought leaders. Serviceleader.org is operated by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Site content is developed by Center faculty, guest authors, and students engaged in the study of volunteerism. Go to: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/serviceleader.
Publication of the Week -- Leading the Way to Successful Volunteer Involvement: Practical Tools for Busy Executives by Betty B. Stallings and Susan J. Ellis
From the publisher: Lay the foundation for achieving impact with volunteer engagement! Move forward from thinking "volunteers are nice to have" to initiating strategic plans for engaging community members as key ingredients in accomplishing your organization's mission. Hit the ground running with step-by-step worksheets, checklists, idea stimulators, reallife examples, self-inquiry assessments, and other practical how-to tools to:
• Develop a philosophy statement about volunteers and make it a mantra for everyone in the organization
• Create a budget for volunteer involvement
• Secure funding for volunteer engagement
• Write a position description (and pick the right title, salary, and placement) for a director of volunteer involvement
• Integrate support for volunteers into every unit and department of your organization
• Assess staff training needs for working with volunteers, and much more!
Click to preview this book on Amazon.com.
Trend of the Week – 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Social Good
According to Mashable, social media has had a profound effect on the way social good organizations approach global problems. From the Red Cross, which used text messages to raise $5 million in relief funds for Haiti, to organizations like micro-lender Kiva, which wouldn’t even exist without the concept of social networking, altruistic organizations and individuals are finding new ways to embrace social media. Mashable asked social good experts about trends that will shape the way we use social media for positive change in the future. The five trends identified were:
• Crowdsourcing
• Location, Mobile Apps and Other Experiments
• Mobilizing Actions
• Benefiting From Cause Marketing
• Cooperation Between Non-profits and Individuals
For more information and lots of great examples of each trend, go to:
http://mashable.com.
Resource of the Week – Nonprofit Webinars for October 2010
Wild Apricot, a Canadian based software development company has compiled a list of webinars on a number of nonprofit management topics being offered this month at no charge – useful for fundraisers, board members, administrators, active volunteers and volunteer coordinators. Go to: http://www.wildapricot.com.
Tech Tip of the Week -- Change Text Case in Word
To change the case of text in Word, try this:
Select text
• Press Shift + F3 until it changes to the desired case style
• Pressing Shift + F3 toggles the text case between all caps, lower case, and initial cap styles.
Be sure to hold down the Shift WHILE you press F3. You can also try this in PowerPoint.
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