Capacity Building Workshops for Nonprofits

The Evanston Community Foundation is sponsoring a terrific series of workshops to help non-profits learn to build their capacity by collaborating, empowering their boards and through marketing and branding.  Scheduled for Wednesday December 1, 2010.  Tuesday January 11, 2011 and Wednesday March 23, 2011 at the Evanston Public Library, these affordable workshops will provide valuable information and networking opportunities.

See the following link for more information:

http://www.evanstonforever.org/community/convener.html

Fiscal Sponsorship

Fiscal sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which a 501(c)(3) public charity sponsors a project that may lack exempt status. This alternative to starting your own nonprofit allows you to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under your sponsor’s exempt status.

The Foundation Center recently ran a webinar on this topic

Here is a list of their resources about fiscal sponsorship:

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/fiscal_agent.html

 

 

 

 

Grantspace

Grantspace, a new service of the Foundation Center, offers information and resources that are specifically designed to meet the needs of grantseekers.

GrantSpace is the place for grantseekers to:

EXPLORE in-depth content
ENGAGE with a community of peers and experts
ENERGIZE your fundraising efforts

Sign up is free at http://grantspace.org/user/register

 

 

 

Not-for-Profit Forms for Illinois

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office provides forms and other materials useful for nonprofit organizations including an informative brochure that is also available in Spanish.

Report on foundation use of social media

In July 2010, the Foundation Center surveyed members of its
Grantmaker Leadership Panel in order to find out how they were using social media tools.

Turns out that usage of social media by foundation leaders is catching
on, but it’s not yet part of the regular routines of most chief executives. Aside from relatively “old-fashioned” online communications tools such as e-newsletters and Listservs, fewer than one-third of foundation chief executives are using Web 2.0 services such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Podcasts on a regular basis.

See the full report for more details.

Non-Profit Collaboration Database

The Foundation Center has been selected as the new home of the Nonprofit Collaboration Database, created by the Lodestar Foundation.

The Nonprofit Collaboration Database was originally developed by Lodestar as part of its work related to The Collaboration Prize competition, which it launched in 2008. In 2009, Lodestar awarded its $250,000 collaboration prize to two winners. Capitalizing on the wealth of material created through the collaboration prize nomination process, the Nonprofit Collaboration Database provides access to more than 250 entrants including all of the relevant information about and documents from the collaborations.

Visit the Non-Profit Collaboration Database at:

http://collaboration.foundationcenter.org/search/searchGenerator.php

Jobs in Non-Profit organizations

With the job market as challenging as it is today, it’s always helpful to have a few additional resources for job-seeking.

Try the following resources from Donor’s Forum

http://www.donorsforum.org/s_donorsforum/sec.asp?CID=10817&DID=24205

And Foundation Center

http://www.foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/nonprofitlinks/npr-general-management.html#npm-jobs

Foundation Directory Online Training

We are doing a series of Foundation Directory Online training sessions at Evanston Public Library for Grantees of the Evanston Community Foundation.  You can benefit from this training as well by contacting Jennie Berkson, Reference Librarian/Cooperating Collection Supervisor at 847-448-8644 or emailing jberkson(at)cityofevanston(dot)org to set up training for yourself or your organization.

Leadership Evanston

Here is a great way to get to know your community and to get involved in a meaningful way.

The Evanston Community Foundation sponsors an annual training program for community members.

Leadership Evanston’s signature program goals are to:

• Train participants in community leadership skills.  Key skills include creative problem-solving, collaboration, conflict resolution, consensus building, public policy analysis, effective advocacy and visioning.
• Broaden participants’ understanding of Evanston and the issues it faces.
• Create opportunities for participants to build a network enabling them to work together to strengthen the community.

To reach these goals, participants undertake a ten-month experiential program from September to June.  During all-day monthly sessions, they use Evanston as a learning laboratory as they learn and practice leadership skills.  They meet and work with Evanston leaders who are making a difference to learn first-hand how they tackle challenges and work with others in the community. Participants also engage in small group projects.

Program participants
Leadership Evanston participants represent Evanston’s strengths.  Each year, a diverse group of up to 30 participants who live and/or work in Evanston and have displayed the capacity for leadership are selected.  Participants include staff of local institutions and companies, educators, clergy, small business owners, and volunteers involved in area non-profits, schools, sports organizations and faith communities.  Above all, Leadership Evanston seeks people who will become stewards of the community and take increased responsibility for Evanston’s future.

Click here to view our 2009/2010 Leadership Evanston graduates!

Program cost
Total signature program cost for 2010 – 2011 is $1,000, including a $100 registration fee.  Tuition covers all materials and meals for the program.  Tuition may be paid by participants or by their employers or sponsoring organizations.  Payment plans and limited scholarship funds are available.  Interested? Learn more about program highlights and the 2010/2011 program calendar.

Nonprofit Resource Fair

Nonprofit Resource Fair

Thursday, July 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Community Meeting Room, Main Library

Sponsored by ShoreBank NonProfit Resources

If you are interested in learning more about nonprofit management, fundraising, strategic planning, program development and evaluation, nonprofit finances, or communications, you should attend!

There is no cost to attend; however, reservations are required.Please RSVP by Thursday, July 8 at shorebanknonprofitresources@sbk.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Subject Line – Nonprofit Resource Fair or 773.420.5143

(Please mention The Nonprofit Resource Fair in the message)