Idealware
Idealware, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides thoroughly
researched, impartial and accessible resources about software to help
nonprofits make smart software decisions. From the most basic questions
(like how to use software to help manage emailing hundreds of people at
once), to the more complex (like understanding the role of social networking
and mobile phone text-messaging in fundraising strategy), organizations need
a trusted source for answers. Idealware provides an authoritative online guide to the
software that allows U.S. nonprofits—especially small ones—to be more
effective. By synthesizing vast amounts of original research into credible
and approachable information, Idealware helps nonprofits make the most of
their time and financial resources. Go to:
www.idealware.org
July 18 - 24, 2010
Midwest Center for Nonprofit
Leadership
The mission of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit
Leadership (MCNL) is to enhance the performance and effectiveness in the
nonprofit sector through high quality community-oriented education, applied
research, problem solving and service. MCNL applies the resources and
talents of the University and the sector to the problems and issues facing
the nonprofit sector so its members are better prepared to serve their
communities. MCNL creates opportunities for the leaders of this vital
community to come together as colleagues to learn, network and support each
other, and to encourage personal, professional and organizational renewal
and effectiveness. The Midwest Center is a service and outreach unit of the
L.P. Cookingham Institute of Public Affairs in the Henry W. Bloch School of
Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri - Kansas
City. Go to:
www.bloch.umkc.edu
July 11 - 17, 2010
Johns Hopkins Center for Civil
Society Studies
The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies
seeks to improve understanding and the effective functioning of
not-for-profit, philanthropic, or “civil society” organizations in the
United States and throughout the world in order to enhance the contribution
these organizations can make to democracy and the quality of human life. The
Center is part of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies and carries
out its work through a combination of research, training, and
information-sharing both domestically and internationally. Go to:
www.ccss.jhu.edu
June 20 - July 10, 2010
Information on Federal Funds
for Nonprofit Groups
A new feature of a Web site devoted to tracking
government subsidies allows the public to search a database for detailed
information about federal grants to -- and contracts with -- nonprofit
organizations. The Web site, created by Subsidyscope, also provides
information and analysis on federal loans and tax expenditures. Subsidyscope,
a project of Pew Charitable Trusts and the Sunlight Foundation, says it aims
to make government subsidies more transparent to the public and
policymakers. By aggregating information across sectors of the economy,
Subsidyscope hopes to inform the debate over the creation of new subsidies
and the efficacy of existing ones in a nonpartisan manner, according to the
project. The federal government gave $38-billion in grants to nonprofit
organizations in 2008 and provided groups with $10-billion through
"non-competed" contracts, according to Subsidyscope. For more information,
go to:
subsidyscope.com
June 13 - 19, 2010
Lodestar Foundation
The Lodestar Foundation seeks to maximize the leverage
of philanthropic dollars and engagement through the pursuit of two
strategies: By supporting organizations, programs and projects that
encourage philanthropy, public service and volunteerism; and, by encouraging
and supporting long-term collaborations among nonprofits working in the same
area in order to increase efficiency, reduce duplication of efforts and
maximize impact through the application of sound business practices. The
foundation sponsors the Collaboration Prize, a $250,000 national award
designed to identify and showcase models of collaboration among nonprofit
organizations. The foundation also hosts an extensive Nonprofit
Collaboration Database. Go to:
www.lodestarfoundation.org
June 6 - 12, 2010
CreateAthon
CreateAthon is a 24-hour, work-around the clock
creative blitz during which local advertising agencies generate advertising
services for local nonprofits that have little or no marketing budget. Since
the program’s expansion from a single market to an international effort in
2001, 40 agencies have joined the CreateAthon network, holding CreateAthon
events in their cities. This effort has benefited 833 nonprofit
organizations with 1,809 projects valued at $7 million. Go to:
www.createathon.org
May 30 - June 5, 2010
WomenOnCall.Org
WomenOnCall.Org is a unique online network that
connects women with specific volunteer opportunities that allow them to
share their professional skills and expertise with nonprofits. Through
on-site and virtual volunteer opportunities, WomenOnCall.org members provide
short, high-impact, skills-based service, making giving back realistic and
efficient. In 2005, Margot Pritzker developed the idea for a web-based
organization that eased the difficulty of matching the right volunteer with
professional skills with the right non-profit that needed them. In addition,
the organization had to emphasize how much could be done in one hour –
maximizing both the non-profit’s and volunteer’s valuable time. Thus,
WomenOnCall.org was born. While there are many volunteer match sites, none
focus specifically on the high-impact method of utilizing professional
skills and short-term commitments that WomenOnCall.org emphasizes. In
addition, many of the volunteer opportunities can be completed
virtually–during a busy woman’s lunch hour or in the evening. Go to:
www.womenoncall.org
May 23 - 29, 2010
Social Edge
Social Edge, a program of the Skoll Foundation, is a
site where social entrepreneurs, nonprofit professionals, philanthropists,
and other practitioners of the social sector connect to network, learn,
inspire, and share resources. Social Edge launched in June 2003 with the
mission to: connect social entrepreneurs, their partners and allies to
discuss cutting-edge issues shaping the field; foster frank dialogue, mutual
respect and a sense of community among all in the sector; and promote
learning from the best, promising and disastrous practices. The site
attempts to strike a balance between the visionary and the practical, with
discussions, blogs, many resource links, and online workshops and features.
Social Edge has an audience of tens of thousands of social entrepreneurs
around the world; it is particularly targeted at social entrepreneurs with
limited access to other local resources and practitioners due to the nature
of their work (e.g., international development) or their location (e.g.,
developing countries or in rural areas). Go to:
www.socialedge.org
May 16 - 22, 2010
FASTEN
The Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTEN) offers
informational resources and networking opportunities to faith-based
practitioners, private philanthropies, and public administrators who seek to
collaborate effectively to renew urban communities. An initiative of Pew
Charitable Trusts, FASTEN actively identifies best practices in faith-based
services and multi-sector collaboration, and produces and disseminates
educational materials for practitioners in the public and private sectors.
Go to:
www.fastennetwork.org
May 9 - 15, 2010
Ventureneer
Ventureneer is a web-based education and professional
development portal that aims to provide a new approach to learning that
blends traditional formal instruction with informal learning derived from
problem solving with peers using Web 2.0 technology. Members use Ventureneer
to solve problems, request resources or information, seek guidance from
others and, most important, how to have the greatest impact. Through
Ventureneer, you can:
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Take interactive classes to develop critical
thinking skills and heighten your ability to make effective
decisions. |
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Use a peer rating-and-commenting system similar
to Netflix, Amazon and Zagat that organizes content so you know what
others think is most relevant. |
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Share resources – share your perspectives and,
in turn, learn from the experiences of your peers to address your
own recurring problems. |
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Participate in one-to-one peer partnering..
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Go to: ventureneer.com
May 2 - 8, 2010
The Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit nonpartisan policy
research and educational organization established to examine the social,
economic, and governance problems facing the nation. It provides information
and analysis to public and private decision makers to help them address
these challenges and strives to raise citizen understanding of the issues
and tradeoffs in policy making. Go to:
www.urban.org
April 25 - May 1, 2010
MarketingPower.com
The American Marketing Association, one of the
largest professional associations for marketers, has 38,000 members
worldwide in every area of marketing. For over six decades the AMA has been
a leading source for information, knowledge sharing and development in the
marketing profession. The AMA's website, MarketingPower.com, supplies
marketing professionals and AMA members with the information, products and
services required to succeed in their jobs and careers. The site offers a
comprehensive collection of articles, reports, webcasts and a newsletter
focused on marketing, public relations, advertising, trends and industry
news. While some of the resources are available to members of the AMA only,
many resources can be accessed through a no cost registration on the
website. Go to:
www.marketingpower.com
April 18 - 24, 2010
Capable Communities
Capable Communities is a website created by Michigan State University’s
Office of University Outreach & Engagement. University Outreach & Engagement
(UO&E) offers practical support to local groups and organizations who are
working to improve their own communities and the lives of their residents
through partnerships based on a model, the Outcome-Asset Impact Model
developed by the work of Brown and Reed and elaborated by UO&E, to increase
local capacity for building positive change. This website is designed to
improve the ability of anyone working to achieve healthy, fundamental, and
sustainable change for individuals, families, groups, neighborhoods, and
communities. Go to:
outreach.msu.edu
April 11 - 17, 2010
Jim Collins
This website offers resources by management
guru and author of "Good to Great", Jim Collins. It provides access to the
teaching, writing and ideas of Jim Collins including free access to
insights, articles, audio files, answers to the latest questions and more.
Go to:
www.jimcollins.com
April 4 - 10, 2010
Cause Marketing Forum
Cause Marketing Forum (CMF) was founded in 2002 to
advance and expand cause marketing in America. Activities of the Forum
include:
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The Cause Marketing Forum Conference – an annual
summit that attracts business and nonprofit executives to learn, connect
and celebrate cause marketing’s best campaigns and outstanding
practitioners. |
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The Cause Marketing Halo Awards – Judged by an
interdisciplinary panel of cause marketing experts, the Halo Awards
recognize outstanding cause marketing programs. |
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The Cause Marketing Resource Center – case studies,
best practices, “Cause Marketing 101” and more to support creation of
effective cause marketing programs. |
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Cause Marketing Forum Membership - Individuals who
join the CMF receive free admission to monthly Cause Marketing Masters
teleclasses, 10% off other CMF teleclasses and advance notice of CMF
events and more. |
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Cause Marketing Forum Workshops and Teleclasses
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Cause Alliance Research Service - Offers
specialized background profiles on nonprofit organizations for
corporations researching potential partners. |
For more information, go to:
www.causemarketingforum.com
March 28 - April 3, 2010
B Corporations
B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses
the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B
Corporations are unlike traditional responsible businesses because they:
meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance
standards; institutionalize stakeholder interests; and build collective
voice through the power of a unifying brand. B Corporations address two
critical problems which hinder the creation of social and environmental
impact through business:
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The existence of shareholder primacy which makes it
difficult for corporations to take employee, community, and
environmental interests into consideration when making decisions; and
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The absence of transparent standards which makes it
difficult for all of us to tell the difference between a 'good company'
and just good marketing. |
B Corporations' legal structure expands corporate
accountability and enables them to scale and achieve liquidity while
maintaining mission. B Corporations' transparent and comprehensive
performance standards enable consumers to support businesses that align with
their values, investors to drive capital to higher impact investments, and
governments and multinational corporations to implement sustainable
procurement policies. For more information, go to:
www.bcorporation.net
March 21 - 27, 2010
Institute on Governance
The Institute on Governance is a non-profit
organization founded in 1990 to promote the concept of good governance in
Canada and abroad, and helps governments, the voluntary sector, communities
and the private sector put effective governance into practice. The Institute
concentrates its work around specific knowledge areas, including: Aboriginal
Governance, Accountability and Performance Measurement, Board Governance,
Building Policy Capacity, Technology and Governance, Values, Ethics and
Risk, and International Programming. The site contains an extensive
collection of resources and publications. Go to:
www.iog.ca
March 14 - 20, 2010
FindYouthInfo.gov
FindYouthInfo.gov is the U.S.
government Web site that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen
effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and
tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and
federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep
up-to-date on the latest, youth-related news. Go to:
www.findyouthinfo.gov
March 7 - 13, 2010
ArtsLab
ArtsLab is an in-depth three year learning and
technical assistance program offering a diverse set of activities designed
to strengthen small arts organizations. The program brings together eight
nonprofit arts groups in northern Minnesota and eight in urban
Minneapolis/St. Paul to share ideas and study best practices. ArtsLab
provides peer learning seminars or “Labs,” one-to-one consulting, distance
learning and modest grants to support the work undertaken through ArtsLab.
This unique capacity-building program focuses on four dimensions of
capacity: Leadership Capacity, Adaptive Capacity, Management Capacity, and
Operational Capacity. Go to:
www.artslabonline.org
February 28 - March 6, 2010
The San Francisco Foundation
For more than 60 years, The San Francisco Foundation
has been an incubator for community investment, original ideas, and
passionate leadership. Learn about our origins and our vision for the
future. The Foundation is a vehicle for change and a network of
philanthropists and civic leaders bringing resources together to support and
build on the strengths of community and make the Bay Area the best place it
can be. The San Francisco Foundation ranks among the largest of the nation’s
community foundations in grantmaking and assets. The Foundation is strongly
committed to diversity, publishes their diversity policy on the website and
describes the levels of diversity attained within the board and staff in
concrete terms – rare leadership in itself and a model for other foundations
and nonprofit organizations to adopt. Go to:
www.sff.org
February 21- 27, 2010
Centre for Social Innovation
The Centre co-locates a diverse set of organizations
and individuals who work for social innovation. Founded in 2004, the Centre
provides physical desk space, virtual resources, and social opportunities to
nurture collaboration, community, and innovation. Shared services include:
office space, meeting rooms, internet and phone services, reception
services, cross organizational marketing and electronic newsletter, office
equipment, optional health and dental insurance, collaborative programs, and
even shared bicycles. The Centre sets pricing for shared spaces and services
to cover the operating expenses. This matches the Centre’s mission to be
financially self-sustaining. Members of the Centre also sign a Cooperation
Policy, pledging to actively support the community and maintain a culture of
collaboration. This commitment is evidenced by numerous inter-organizational
programs and a highly diverse calendar of public events that take place at
the Centre each month. According to the Nonprofit Centers, Inc. key lessons
learned from the experience of the Centre for Social Innovation include:
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Create multiple shared spaces offerings to suit
participants’ needs. |
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Create cost structures that are equitable and
also strengthen the community of participating organizations.
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Encourage a general commitment of participating
organizations, beyond a rental agreement, that supports the mission
of the shared service and its community. |
Go to:
socialinnovation.ca
February 14 - 20, 2010
BEST Project
BEST (Building Excellence, Sustainability and Trust) is
a comprehensive, capacity building program in Flint and Genesee County
Michigan. The BEST Project is an initiative of the Flint Funders
Collaborative (FFC). FFC members include the Charles Stewart Mott
Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the Ruth Mott
Foundation and the United Way of Genesee County. BEST brings together
regional funders, consultants, technical assistance providers, and nonprofit
agencies to achieve a more viable, sustainable and effective nonprofit
community. The Case Studies and Resource links will be of interest to many
nonprofits. Go to:
www.bestprojectonline.org
February 7 - 13, 2010
Public Agenda
For over 30 years, Public Agenda has been providing
unbiased and unparalleled research that bridges the gap between American
leaders and what the public really thinks about issues ranging from
education to foreign policy to immigration to religion and civility in
American life. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, Public Agenda was founded by
social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State
Cyrus Vance in 1975. Public Agenda's two-fold mission is to help American
leaders better understand the public's point of view and enable citizens
know more about critical policy issues so they can make thoughtful, informed
decisions. Go to:
www.publicagenda.org
January 31 - February 6, 2010
Center for Nonprofit Management
As one of the nation's leading management support
organizations, the Center for Nonprofit Management brings the most current
tools for best practices in nonprofit management to thousands of nonprofit
boards, staff and volunteers each year. The mission of the Center for
Nonprofit Management is to build stronger communities by increasing the
performance and impact of nonprofit organizations. In the late 1970's, the
Meadows Foundation in Dallas recognized a significant need for staff
development and management assistance to charitable organizations. In 1980,
with the support of other local funders, Meadows provided the seed funding
to establish the Center for Nonprofit Management. Today, the Center receives
support from donations, grants, fees for services and annual membership dues
at a minimal cost and is a United Way affiliate. Go to:
www.cnmdallas.org
January 24 - 30, 2010
Conflict Resolution Information Source
Conflict Resolution Information Source (CRInfo) is a
free, online clearinghouse, indexing more than 25,000 peace- and conflict
resolution-related Web pages, books, articles, audiovisual materials,
organizational profiles, events, and current news articles. In addition to
its easy-to-use search engine, CRInfo (along with its partner project,
Beyond Intractability) provides easy browsing of information on 600 peace-
and conflict resolution-related topics. Also available are recommended
readings from a panel of editors on 425 topics, along with 225 "executive
summary"-type overview essays on key topics. The education section includes
a "build your own" virtual textbook system, an Internet-based conflict
research training program, and extensive links to resources on elementary,
secondary, and higher education, as well as professional training. An
extensive Networking section helps users connect with the network of people
working in conflict resolution-related fields. Finally, a set of Conflict
Resolution FAQs provides easy access to many of the most common questions
asked by CRInfo users. Go to:
v4.crinfo.org
January 17 - 23, 2010
Standards for Excellence Institute
The first program of its kind in the United States, the
Standards for Excellence Institute is a national initiative that promotes
the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance,
management, and operations, and facilitates adherence to those standards by
all nonprofits. The Institute, an operating division of Maryland
Association of Nonprofit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits), uses the
Standards for Excellence program, a comprehensive system of nonprofit sector
self-regulation as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for
Excellence program works to strengthen the ability of nonprofit
organizations to act ethically and accountably in their management and
governance, while enhancing the public's trust in the nonprofit sector. For
more information, go to:
www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org
January 10 - 16, 2010
Everyday Democracy
Everyday Democracy helps local communities explore ways
for all kinds of people to think, talk and work together to solve problems.
Using groundbreaking tools and methods for organizing large-scale dialogue
and collaborative problem solving, Everyday Democracy works with
neighborhoods, cities and towns, regions, and states, helping them pay
particular attention to how racism and ethnic differences affect the
problems they address. The organization partners with local, regional and
national innovators to explore ways to connect public dialogue to community
change and governance, and to place racial inclusion at the forefront of
practices to strengthen democracy. Building on the real-life challenges and
successes of communities, Everyday Democracy creates flexible tools and
processes that are widely used and adapted in the United States and beyond.
For more information, go to:
www.everyday-democracy.org
January
3 - 9, 2010
Asset-Based Community Development Institute
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute is
located at the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern
University. ABCD has a staff of four individuals working at the university,
including founders, John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann. The Asset-Based
Community Development Institute (ABCD) is at the center of a large and
growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks
of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local
residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of
local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing
community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the
future. ABCD and its affiliated faculty have created a library of community
building workbooks, published scholarly articles, books, and chapters
oriented to an array of audiences, and developed training curricula and
other materials associated with the asset-based community development
approach. Additionally, ABCD has gathered community stories from many of its
partners and feature them on this website as a resource from which other
communities can learn. Finally, ABCD provides examples of asset-mapping
tools so that community groups and organizations can borrow from the
experiences of others doing asset-based community development work. Go to:
www.abcdinstitute.org
December 20, 2009 -
January 2, 2010
The 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 13
categories. Go to:
www.connectccp.org
To view
2009 Websites of the Week, click here. To
view 2008 Websites of the Week, click here. To
view 2007 Websites of the Week, click here. To
view 2006 Websites of the Week, click here. To view 2005
Websites of the Week, click here.
To view 2004
Websites of the Week, click here. |
