Picks of the Week: April 6-12, 2014

Website of the Week -- Volunteer Wisconsin

Volunteer Wisconsin is managed by Marshfield Clinic and partners with Volunteer Centers and Serve Wisconsin to connect volunteers, promote volunteering, and support the capacity of nonprofits. Its mission is to leverage volunteer capabilities and local assets to enhance Wisconsin communities. Local volunteer centers mobilize people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems. To achieve this vision, volunteer centers use the following core competencies:

• Connect people with opportunities to serve,
• Build the capacity for effective local volunteering,
• Promote volunteering, and
• Participate in strategic initiatives that mobilize volunteers to meet local community needs.

For more information, go to: www.volunteerwisconsin.org

Publication of the Week --  Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World by Paul Hawken

From the publisher: Paul Hawken has spent more than a decade researching organizations dedicated to restoring the environment and fostering social justice. From billion-dollar nonprofits to single-person dot.causes, these groups collectively comprise the largest movement on earth, a movement that has no name, leader, or location and that has gone largely ignored by politicians and the media. Blessed Unrest explores the diversity of the movement, its brilliant ideas, innovative strategies, and centuries of hidden history. A culmination of Hawken's many years of leadership in the environmental and social justice fields, it will inspire all who despair of the world?s fate, and its conclusions will surprise even those within the movement itself.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India, and Brazil

Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India, and Brazil, by Joan Spero and published in collaboration with WINGS, builds greater awareness and understanding of the diversity and challenges of civil society in the so-called BRIC countries. In the absence of comprehensive data on philanthropy in these emerging market economies, the report identifies the cultural, economic, social, and political forces shaping giving in the BRIC countries and describes the growth and nature of their philanthropic activities. To download the report, go to: http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/philanthropy_bric.pdf

Resource of the Week –  The Smart Chart

The Interactive Smart Chart is based on the Spitfire Strategies Smart Chart 3.0 – a planning tool that helps nonprofits make smart choices and develop high-impact communications strategies. This online version of the Smart Chart offers an interactive approach to the planning process. As you work your way through the Chart, you'll have several opportunities to evaluate your answers and ensure you are making the smartest choices. You can also stop and save your answers at any time, and come back and finish later. This allows you to finish the planning process in your own time – and gives you maximum flexibility so you can get input on your choices from staff, board members or other outside resources as needed. At the end of the process, you will have a fully completed Smart Chart that links your organization's goals to the many strategic decisions necessary for a successful communications effort.  Go to: www.smartchart.org

Tech Tip of the Week -- Compress Pictures in PowerPoint 2010

If you’ve ever tried to email a PowerPoint presentation containing several pictures, you have probably discovered that the file size can be quite large. There is a way to reduce the file size. Here’s how:

• Select a picture to display the Picture Tools Format tab
• In the Adjust group, click the Compress Pictures button to display the Compress Pictures dialog box
• If you want ALL pictures compressed make sure the Apply only to this picture box is NOT selected
• In the Target Output section there are three compression options
• Choosing the last option, Email (96 ppi), will result in the smallest file size
• Click OK to apply the settings and close the dialog box

Remember that the more you compress the pictures the less quality there is for printing. But if you just want to share these photos online, give it a try. The procedure in PowerPoint 2007 is nearly identical.

Picks of the Week: March 30 - April 5, 2014

Website of the Week -- National Center for Family Philanthropy

Through research, educational materials and programs, the National Center for Family Philanthropy helps families and individuals better understand their roles and needs based upon their personal motivations and family values, relationships and enterprises; make their philanthropy as effective and meaningful as possible for them and their communities; and realize their desire to make a positive difference in the world around them. Go to: http://www.ncfp.org

Publication of the Week --  Every Nonprofit's Tax Guide: How to Keep Your Tax-Exempt Status and Avoid IRS Problems by Stephen Fishman

From the publisher: Your nonprofit enjoys special privileges not available to other organizations -- but they come at a price. Nonprofits must comply with rules and regulations that don't apply to for-profit ventures. Every Nonprofit's Tax Guide explains these rules and what your nonprofit must do to maintain tax-exempt status and avoid problems with the IRS. This practical, thorough, and easy-to-read book explains both ongoing and annual compliance requirements for nonprofits, including:

• rules for charitable giving and cash donations
• Form 990
• unrelated taxable business income
• annual IRS filings and disclosures
• property donations
• bookkeeping basics
• working with independent contractors and volunteers
• restrictions on lobbying and political activities

The book also includes a chapter on the types of transactions that can get your nonprofit in hot water with the IRS.

Click to previewthis book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  2014 Trends to Watch

The National Council of Nonprofits has prepared a trends summary with implications for nonprofit staff, board members, donors and community leaders. Here is a sampling:

• The Resource Squeeze: One prominent trend that began with the Great Recession will continue its drain in 2014: scarce financial resources. The vast majority of charitable nonprofits will continue to be squeezed for financial resources in 2014. In the current environment of increased competition for scarcer financial resources, no nonprofit’s board of directors should be caught ignoring its fiduciary duty to help the nonprofit fundraise.
• The Upward Spiral Of Need: The dramatic decline in government funding often increases demand for services, as communities and individuals continue to struggle and look to nonprofits to provide basic services. In 2013, more than half of nonprofits surveyed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund reported they didn't expect to have enough resources to meet increased community needs. The upward spiral of need for basic services is likely only to increase in 2014, while the resources that nonprofits have available to them will continue to be squeezed. 

To download the full summary, go to:

http://www.nprcenter.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/2014-trends-to-watch.pdf

Resource of the Week –  Interactive Collaboration Tool Finder

An interactive tool finder developed by GrantCraft, a joint service of the Foundation Center and the European Foundation Centre, presents seven distinct collaborative needs (including finding partners, designing strategies, assessing progress) and 17 types of tool functionalities (ranging from data gathering to project management to scheduling meetings) in an online matrix that facilitates intuitive exploration of available resources. This free resource helps users generate custom results that provide details on recommended solutions, including their cost; whether they are best for small-, medium-, or large-sized collaborations; how easy they are to use; and if there is a mobile-friendly version. Go to: http://collaboration.grantcraft.org

Picks of the Week: March 23-29, 2014

Website of the Week -- The Case Foundation

The Case Foundation, created by Steve Case and Jean Case in 1997, invests in people and ideas that can change the world. The Foundation creates and supports initiatives that leverage new technologies and entrepreneurial approaches to drive innovation in the social sector and encourage individuals to get involved with the communities and causes they care about. The Case Foundation has led a series of innovative and collaborative initiatives that aim to leverage new technologies to empower and engage citizens in the U.S. and around the globe. Through partnerships with hundreds of nonprofits, private sector and corporate partners, as well as the public sector, these efforts have helped to expand the role of individuals in philanthropy and in giving back to their communities. Recent examples of efforts to expand the role of citizen-centered philanthropy and experimentation with new technologies, such as social media, include America’s Giving Challenge, an online competition conducted in partnership with PARADE and Causes that engaged tens of thousands of Americans to get involved with causes they care about. In 2007, the Make It Your Own Awards called on citizens to connect with others, form solutions and take action on community issues. The website includes links to many resources that will be of use to nonprofits. For more information, go to: http://casefoundation.org

Publication of the Week --  From Passion to Execution: How to Start and Grow an Effective Nonprofit Organization by Lyn Scott 

From the publisher: Transform your vision and passion as you learn how to effectively start, grow, and lead a nonprofit organization with this practical, inspiring guide. From Passion To Execution: How To Start And Grow An Effective Nonprofit Organization combines meaningful, real examples and insights, based on the author's extensive experience, with a high-energy, powerful presentation that equips you with the confidence to follow your dream of starting a nonprofit organization. This reader-friendly book provides specific how-to steps to start a nonprofit organization with a focus on long term sustainability. The author shows you how to set the ground work, from exploring your personal passion and effectively articulating a mission statement to building a solid board. You also learn how to communicate vision, design programs, ignite volunteers, assemble the right business team, craft a strategic plan, seek supporters, and navigate differing personalities as the organization grows. Finally, you learn to assess results and adjust plans to effectively manage and continue to lead a successful organization.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week -- Nonprofit HR Trends for 2014

Nonprofits are letting fewer people go and plan to create more positions in the coming year, but they continue to struggle to adopt new and innovative human resources practices, according to the 2014 Nonprofit Employment Practices Survey, conducted by consulting firm Nonprofit HR. Of the more than 400 groups surveyed, 46 percent reported increased hiring in 2013, the highest total in the last five years. Only 17 percent said they decreased hiring, the third consecutive year that that number has dropped. And, for the first time since the end of the Great Recession, more groups said they plan to hire new staff to support new projects (45 percent) than use current staff (43 percent). A number of staffing challenges still present major hurdles and include:

• Extended time needed to fill positions, particularly for mid and high level vacancies
• The lack of formal diversity strategies and formal succession plans
• One fifth of nonprofits indicate that turnover is their biggest challenge
• Retention challenges from competitive pay, excessive workloads through to struggles to advance staff

The study also noted that entry and mid-level professionals are the hardest to retain. This is a concern as these are often going to be the front-line/public facing staff who most typically are interacting with the donor audience on an individual basis. To download a summary of the study report, go to: http://www.nonprofithr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014NEP_SurveyReport-FINAL.pdf

Resource of the Week –  The Networked Nonprofit

The article by Jane Wei-Skillern and Sonia Marciano appearing the Stanford Social Innovation Review describes a new approach to long term partnership building. The authors suggest, with some compelling examples and arguments, that nonprofits that pursue their missions through networks of long-term, trust-based partnerships achieve more sustainable mission impact than would be possible through traditional approaches to organizational growth. Management wisdom says that nonprofits must be large and in charge to do the most good. But some of the world’s most successful organizations instead stay small, sharing their load with like-minded, long-term partners. The success of these networked nonprofits suggests that organizations should focus less on growing themselves and more on cultivating their networks. Go to: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_networked_nonprofit

Picks of the Week: January 5-11, 2014

Website of the Week -- OMG Center for Collaborative Learning

The mission of the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning is to accelerate and deepen social impact through strategy, evaluation, and capacity-building.  Since its establishment in 1988, OMG has provided innovative, high impact solutions by blending new business and practice insights with the context of on-the-ground realities. Prior to 1988, many OMG staff members were based at the University of Pennsylvania. OMG's predecessor, the Organization and Management Group, was a part of the Fels Center of Government from 1986-88, and before that functioned as a subgroup within the Wharton School's Management and Behavioral Science Center (1980-85). Today OMG's professional staff brings together a diverse variety of backgrounds within an integrated professional practice. Go to: www.omgcenter.org

Publication of the Week --  Donor-Centered Leadership, by Penelope Burk

From the publisher:  In Donor-Centered Leadership Penelope Burk tackles one of our most frustrating and costly problems - the high turnover rate of staff and the financial toll it takes on not-for-profits. In plain language, backed by compelling research with over 6,000 fundraisers, Board members, CEOs, and donors, Penelope reveals how not-for-profits can raise much more money by bringing staff attrition under control. While the book speaks directly to decision-makers, Donor-Centered Leadership is also an essential resource for fundraisers at any level, including Development staff working in or aspiring to management and leadership positions. Penelope puts real numbers to the coming exodus of senior fundraisers on the verge of retirement and offers a win-win solution that capitalizes on young workers' eagerness for more responsibility and earlier promotion. Donor-Centered Leadership exposes mistaken beliefs and out-of-date practices that make it harder for fundraisers to raise money and much easier for them to move on. And it goes further to examine an issue sitting just below the surface - the role that Leadership Volunteers play in fundraising. Penelope presents a riveting case for focusing Board members' attention on the things they do best and which donors say will unleash their philanthropy at a whole new level. Written in a style that is distinctly hers and with her trademark humor, Penelope draws readers through a narrative punctuated by compelling research data and real-life stories towards a conclusion that is nothing short of inspiring. Donor-Centered Leadership is a must-read for everyone in fundraising and in the not-for-profit sector.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  NPQ’s 10 Trends and 10 Predictions

The editors of the Nonprofit Quarterly have chosen to spotlight 10 trends for 2013 and make 10 predictions for 2014. For the complete list of trends and predictions including commentary, go to: http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/23457-as-the-world-turns-npq-s-10-trends-and-10-predictions.html.

Resource of the Week –  8 Random But Useful Social Media Tips for Nonprofits

Here is a resource from Nonprofit Tech for Good: For nonprofit admins who do not have the time to regularly research social media trends, it can be a battle to stay ahead of the learning curve. In addition to the time required to create content for social media and manage social networks, new media managers need at least two hours weekly to research social media trends and best practices. For those nonprofits that allocate staff time, embracing early adoption is key to social media success. That said, here are eight timely and easy tips to help all nonprofits better utilize social media no matter their capacity. Go to: http://www.nptechforgood.com/2013/12/04/8-random-but-useful-social-media-tips-for-nonprofits/?goback=.gmr_148346.gde_148346_member_5814389287642238976#!

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

Picks of the Week: December 8, 2013 - January 4, 2014

Website of the Week -- Nonprofits Talking Taxes

Nonprofits Talking Taxes is a resource website that features a workshop and curriculum designed help people have meaningful and fun conversations about nonprofits and the common good, and the role of fair and just tax policy in making our work more mission-effective. On this website you will find a number of tools to help you think more clearly and deeply about what taxes should be used for and why nonprofit leaders need to be a stronger voice for the “common good” and help staff, volunteers, and board members understand what the common good can mean for our communities.   Using these tools will help you and your group discover how engaging people in conversations about the common good may be one of the most powerful strategies we have to shape public policy which most promotes the public benefits that we believe in. To access the website and toolkit, go to: http://nonprofitstalkingtaxes.org/the-toolkit

Publication of the Week --  The Non-Profit Narrative: How Telling Stories Can Change the World by Dan Portnoy  and Brian Morykon

From the publisher: The Non-Profit Narrative is designed to help non-profits apply storytelling principles to their day-to-day operations and communications for maximum impact. Applying the idea that all organizations have great stories to tell, Dan Portnoy encourages non-profits to interpret fundraising and engagement through the perspective of storytelling. This proven process has helped non-profits raise millions of dollars, attract donors and make a profound impact for their cause.

Click to preview this book on Amazon.com

Trend of the Week --  Government Contracting and Payment Practices: Lingering Problems for Nonprofits

Governments at all levels traditionally enter into agreements with nonprofit organizations to provide services to constituents. In 2011, one-third of revenue for 501(c)(3) public charities came from the government through formal contracts and grants (Pettijohn 2013a). Through a national survey of public charity nonprofits, The Urban Institute has assessed the size and scope of government financing, administration of contracts and grants, and nonprofit perceptions of problems and improvements in these processes. The Urban Institute also reports on the financial status of nonprofits at the end of the Great Recession. Key findings include:

• Nearly half of organizations surveyed reported that they experienced limitations on the percentage of government funds that could be used for program and organization administration costs.
• Approximately one-quarter of organizations with a contract indicated that they had to share in the cost of the contract and one-half of grantees said they had a matching requirement associated with a grant.
• During the examined period, government agencies at all levels were cutting funding as a result of the weak economy. Nearly 40 percent of organizations reported a decline in local and state government funding, while almost 50 percent experienced a decrease in federal government funds.
• With decreasing revenues, nonprofits had to make tough decisions to balance their budgets. More than 40 percent of respondents turned to their reserves to make ends meet and about 25 percent of nonprofits reduced the number of employees on their payroll. About 14 percent of organizations reduced the number of clients served and almost 11 percent cut programs.

To download a copy of the report, go to: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412962-Nonprofit-Government-Contracts-and-Grants.pdf

Resource of the Week –  Harvard Business School Working Knowledge Newsletter

The Harvard Business School publishes HBS Working Knowledge, a weekly newsletter available at no charge. The newsletter offers information from the Harvard Business School to help you run your organization better, announcements of special programs offered by the School, the latest in management-related books and Web sites, and an ongoing provocative dialogue with Professor Jim Heskett. Articles specific to nonprofit organizations are frequently included. If you would like to receive this e-mail newsletter, go to: http://hbswk.hbs.edu and click on the newsletter signup link. Once your subscription begins, be sure to click on "Social Enterprise & Nonprofit" in the left column for past articles on nonprofit topics.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Using the Data Analysis ToolPak in Excel 2007/2010

Most people are not aware of the Data Analysis ToolPak in Excel. This feature is disabled by default. To use the Data Analysis ToolPak you need to be familiar with Engineering and Statistical terminology. To enable it:

• Click the File tab (2010) or Office Button (2007)
• Click the Options button at the bottom of the menu
• Click Add-Ins in the left pane
• Click Go
• Select Analysis ToolPak
• Click OK

You can now access the ToolPak from the Data tab in the Analysis group.

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