About Nonprofits
RESOURCES ONLINE (mostly)
The inner librarian went wild with the resources listings here, and it’s not done yet. Please email us your favorite sources of information, suggest topics, review what we have.
Broad criteria we used:
•Most sites are noncommercial, it’s disappointing to find what you need and then have to put in a ‘shopping cart’. That is fine when expected, but in the library spirit, most of these are no cost or have enough freebies to warrant inclusion.
•Obviously (but maybe not) the Nonprofit Network is not responsible for the content on these sites. Some of them may have “a point of view”, including the site is not an endorsement of that point of view. It’s all about substantive, thought provoking, USEFUL content. Let us know what you like, and what better ideas you have.
Have fun!
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Content is in the following categories. Theoretically they are in alpha order, in reality the software is balking at that concept, but here they are:
•Advocacy
•Board Governance
•Finances (Coming soon)
•Fundraising
•Funders of Interest (mostly local)
•Jobs (places to post & find listings)
•Literature of the Field
•Management , Leadership (This category has both the Nonprofit FAQ & Management Library so be sure to look at those for pretty much everything)
•Marketing
•Philanthropy (Coming soon)
•Places to Post Your Organization
•Professional Development & Resources (real time, real people)
•Regulations, Risk Management
•Starting a Nonprofit
•Technology
•Volunteers
TECHNOLOGY
This topic, to paraphrase Dr. Seuss, “...is so big, and so deep and so tall I cannot pick it up there is no way at all!”
• Idealware a 501(c)3 nonprofit, provides candid Consumer-Reports-style reviews and articles about software of interest to nonprofits.
• NPower Oregon is associated with TACS They can help you with technology assessments, training, planning.
• ONE Northwest Tools and strategies for engaging people in protecting the environment. I think these guys are an excellent example of tech done right. If you are interested in technology and nonprofits you might want to subscribe to their newsletter just to hear their take on things. There other services however, are focused solely on environmental groups (good news if you fit in that category).
• Tech Soup Donated and discounted technology products for nonprofits and public libraries. The Tech Soup clearinghouse of software is how many of the major software firms make their donations. Don’t buy retail (even online) before checking here.
LITERATURE OF THE FIELD
Often the current thinking, research, or envelop pushing in the civil sector is published in magazines… it is there before the book comes out, and it almost always is more in depth than the blog. So, these are good places to search for current thinking on a topic.
• Chronicle of Philanthropy The established (east coast) historical voice for the sector.
• Harvard Business Review Because it’s always good to see how smart people are seeing around corners.
• Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly If reading the interpretation of research makes you wonder what the research really says. You might need to get the copy you want of this via inter-library loan if you don’t want to purchase.
• Nonprofit Quarterly I am a longtime fan of the sometimes irreverent perspective and new thinking here.
• The Nonprofit Times Many executive directors of direct service organizations qualify for a no-cost subscription. I think of this as the “Time” of nonprofit publications.
• http://www.ssireview.com/(” title=“Stanford Social Innovation Review “]Stanford Social Innovation Review [/url] A west coast HBR for nonprofits. If I skip reading an issue I always end up going back to find it since these articles (like Nonprofit Quarterly) are referenced in lots of other publications and blogs.
• The Columbian It is really very cool to live in a city with a hometown paper. If you are a local organization, you need the local news.
• The Daily Insider Published (via email) Monday thru Friday, Of all the publications I read, this is the one I would miss the most if it disappeared. Because it’s positive, it’s local, and its irreplaceable - what else could you make up to replace the Town Tabloids?
• The Vancouver Business Journal Only for those nonprofits that solicit donations from business, or do any business, or admit that they are a business.
• BLOGS
Too numerous to list but check out Nonprofit All Top Blogs and the Chronicle of Philanthropy Online “Give and Take” as places to find some that suit your fancy.
JOBS (Places to post & read listings)
Most of these are nonprofit specific job posting sites or lists.
• Bridgestar. National, executive level positions.
• CNRG Portland/Vancouver area focus of nonprofit-related positions, all types.
• Idealist National, includes all types of nonprofit-related positions including internships.
• Institute for Nonprofit Management, Portland State University (INPM) Their email list includes jobs and internships.
• Nonprofit Network Employment Classifieds We post jobs online, and send out emails to our Classifieds list.
• Washington State Employment What you need to know as an employer, or employee in Washington.
• Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO) Portland/Vancouver positions related to fundraising. (They also have a consultant directory of WVDO members who do work as independent contractors.)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES
Groups focused on info, and/or networking.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) The Oregon & SW Washington Chapter.
• AGAP Association of Grantwriting is creating an Oregon & SW Washington Chapter.
• CNRG is a Portland/Vancouver area resource network. Online digest of jobs, events, trainings, and much more.
• Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (Note that there are several more local chambers)
• Institute for Nonprofit Management at Portland State University (INPM) Masters Degree & Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management
• Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy, University of Washington (NBEC) Masters Degree (& research)
• NW Planned Giving Roundtable (NWPGRT)
• Southwest Washington Human Resources Management Association
• Technical Assistance for Community Services (TACS)
• Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO)
PLACES TO POST YOUR ORGANIZATION
Don’t be shy!
• Guidestar They are going to post your Form 990 so take advantage of the opportunity and clarify the numbers picture.
• Idealist You can post for things you need, or simply say who you are and what you are doing.
• Network for Good You may even get donations through this site.
Also:
211 Info’s Guide and database for human services programs
The Columbian’s Answer Book (in print)
Vancouver Business Journal’s Book of Lists (in print)
FUNDERS OF INTEREST (mostly local)
This list will continue to expand.
• Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
• FirstGov for Nonprofits Information about federal grants and contracts
• M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
• Pacific Northwest Combined Federal Campaign is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace for charitable organizations.
• United Way of the Columbia Willamette
MARKETING
communications for all
• A Goodman On Line Go here to download “Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes” … got your attention?
• Nonprofit Marketing Guide Look here for free articles
• Katya’s Nonprofit Marketing Blog
• Nonprofit Marketing & Fundraising Zone This is a collection of several resources by a couple of the sharpest thinkers in nonprofit marketing.
• Seth Godin’s Blog highly recommended to get you out of your box.
FUNDRAISING
The Internet machine is full of resources on this topic.
• Basics for those new to fundraising. About.com
• Association of Fundraising Professionals The national site, offers information on public policy and some resources. Many are for members, but good info for all is there. Did you know that you can get a certification as a professional fundraiser?
• The Foundation Center The Reference Guides are a good no cost resource. You can use the Foundation Center database of grantmakers at the Fort Vancouver Regional Library.
• Mal Warwick Associates offer a plethora of no cost articles on fundraising. Terrific resources from someone who has actually done it.
• Network for Good This is a website where you can give to your favorite charity/charities and have all your donation records stored and accessible at any time.
• Nonprofit Guides are free Web-based grant-writing tools for non-profit organizations, charitable, educational, public organizations, and other community-minded groups.
ADVOCACY
“Much of the social change in American had its origin in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit lobbying is the right thing to do. It is about empowering individuals to make their collective voices heard on a wide range of human concerns.” Bob Smucker, Founder of CLIPI
• Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest sections include “Nuts & Bolts” and “The Law” and “Why Advocacy” and more.
• Independent Sector’s Public Affairs program advocates on behalf of the nonprofit community and works with IS members to educate public leaders about nonprofits improve lives and strengthen society. (Nonprofit Network SW is proud to be a member of the Independent Sector.) Check out their Public Policy pages.
• The National Council of Nonprofits is the network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving more than 20,000 member organizations. Check out “Public Policy” and the great things they have uncovered for their “Resources Pages”.
• Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN ) is dedicated to expanding the role of America’s nonprofits in voting and elections. NVEN works with state nonprofit VOTE initiatives and its national website to provide resources and tools for 501(c)(3) nonprofits to help their communities participate and vote.
• OMB Watch exists to increase government transparency and accountability; to ensure sound, equitable regulatory and budgetary processes and policies; and to protect and promote active citizen participation in our democracy.
• Washington State Legislature How to Connect to issues, legislation, your elected representatives in Olympia.
• Washington Governor Gregoire site
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS & RISK MANAGEMENT
Knowing the risks, and the rules
• The Nonprofit Risk Management Center was established in 1990 to provide assistance and resources for community-serving nonprofit organizations. As a nonprofit, the Center is uniquely positioned to both understand and respond to questions with practical, affordable suggestions for controlling risks that threaten a nonprofit’s ability to accomplish its mission. They do not sell insurance or endorse organizations that do.
• FirstGov for Nonprofits Primarily seen as a source of information on government funding this site also includes many links for Management and Operations and Tax Information.
• Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations WAACO’s mission is to promote community development and organizational capacity-building in Washington State by assisting charitable and community-based nonprofit corporations to obtain free legal assistance on business-related matters.
• Washington Secretary of State Charities Program Registration with the Charities Program is separate from filings required under corporate law.
MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP
Several links here should be in every section!
• Alliance for Nonprofit Management is the professional association of individuals and organizations devoted to improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits - to assist nonprofits in fulfilling their mission. While it is a membership organization, it opens many of its resources to non-members.
• Bridgestar This site has some excellent HR nonprofit specific resources.
• Capaciteria is a searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.
• FASTEN The Faith and Service Technical Education Network offers informational resources and networking opportunities to faith-based practitioners, and private philanthropies. 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.
• Free Management Library There are approximately 650 topics in this Library, spanning 5,000 links. Maintained by Authenticity Consulting, LLC
• Innovation Network is a nonprofit organization sharing planning and evaluation tools and know-how.
• The Nonprofit FAQ at Idealist is an indexed collection of answers to Frequently Asked Questions about nonprofit organizations. Started in 1994, the Q&A in the FAQ is continually updated using new materials from many sources including online discussion. The range of resources in the FAQ is accessed through five topical indexes: Organization, Management, Regulation, Resources, and Development.
VOLUNTEERS
Reaching out to those who want to help.
• Volunteer Connections – to volunteer, & for nonprofits to post a volunteer opportunity
BOARD GOVERNANCE
Many other links here also contain good pieces for Boards.
• BoardSource Most of the resources here require being a member, but it is a good resource.
• Free Management Library There are approximately 650 topics in this Library, spanning 5,000 links. Maintained by Authenticity Consulting, LLC
• The Nonprofit FAQ at Idealist is an indexed collection of answers to Frequently Asked Questions about nonprofit organizations. Started in 1994, the Q&A in the FAQ is continually updated using new materials from many sources including online discussion. The range of resources in the FAQ is accessed through five topical indexes: Organization, Management, Regulation, Resources, and Development.
• Oregon Department of Justice An excellent download PDF guide. (If you are an Oregon Corporation you can request hard copies.)
STARTING A NONPROFIT
The tip of the iceberg…
• Download a quick quiz to see if you are ready to start a nonprofit corporation. Thank you to Liz Heath at Nonprofit Center serving Tacoma & South Puget Sound for permission to pass this along to you.
• 7 Essential Tips for Starting a Nonprofit - Start Your New Nonprofit by Thinking Ahead
• Executive Service Corps Washington has created a great guide. Download is in the left column of this link.
• Becoming a nonprofit in Washington State- first you incorporate .
Nonprofit corporate status is established in a particular state.
• Form 1023 Help is a step-by-step guide through the process of applying to the IRS for recognition of tax exempt status.
• IRS website The experts.
• King County Bar Association publishes a handbook on starting a nonprofit This book has been updated, the revised handbook will be online soon.
• Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations
http://www.waaco.org/
offers assistance to nonprofits in getting started as well as other non-litigious legal work.
• National Council of Nonprofits has a good overview of this as well.
