Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland

Thoughts and Highlights from the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Conference

(This post is from Jimeka Holloway, training coordinator, Foundation Center-Cleveland, who recently attended the 2009 national YNPN conference.)

Last week, I was asked if I knew any next generation “thought leaders” emerging from Northeast Ohio's nonprofit sector, particularly young leaders who embrace and effectively use social media and other technology, and who are not afraid to put their fresh, bold ideas out there for discussion and consideration. As a founding member of the Cleveland chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, I pondered this as I traveled to Washington, DC to attend the 2009 Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) leadership conference. Why don't I know who they are? We need them right now!

The conference was good and conference-goers were generally upbeat, despite the economic doom and gloom all around us. One conference highlight for me was a gathering with representatives from the Chronicle of the Philanthropy to talk about next generation interests and issues. When asked what online resources young nonprofit professionals find helpful in their daily work, the group mentioned Philanthropy News Digest, Cause Planet, All Top, Great Nonprofits, Beth's Blog, Forte Foundation, The Nonprofit Consulting Cafe, Blue Avocado, and Nonprofit Leadership 601. I've been taking the time this week to explore them.  

Overall, I left the conference feeling personally inspired, full of information, and grateful to have had an opportunity to gather with such amazing people. I’m still wondering though, who are the creative, bold, emerging thought leaders making waves in Cleveland's and Northeast Ohio's nonprofit sector? Maybe it's you? How can YNPN Cleveland support them? How can we amplify their voices? I know they're out there!

--Jimeka Holloway

Is 2009 the Year of Social Media?

Stan Schroeder on the Mashable blog has dubbed 2009 the year of social media. And if his statistics don't convince you that Twitter is worth the fuss, maybe Hugh Jackman can. The Australian actor made news last week after he asked his followers on the popular microblogging site to help him choose a charity to donate $100,000 to. The catch? You had to make your case in 140 characters or less. Jackman ended up splitting the $100,000 between two organizations, Charity:Water and Operation of Hope.

On her own blog, Beth Kanter urges nonprofit organizations that are struggling to develop a social media policy to first have a discussion about their social media strategy. Writes Kanter:

There needs to be discussion. Not only about the potential concerns and how to respond, but how the organization or its internal culture can embrace social media....

A policy in of itself does not guarantee effective social media use, and if the policies magnify dysfunctional internal communications issues or silo culture, a policy may even get in the way of the organization owning social media.

As part of effective social media strategy development, the internal conversation must take place. But the policy can only be effective if the organization's culture can become agile enough to allow the rapid response to stakeholders and accommodate experimentation. The conversation is the first step. And it probably won't happen unless the organization's leadership facilitates the conversation and using social media to have that internal conversation is also a great way to improve understanding.

Excellent advice, as always.

On the NetSquared site, Amy Sample Ward has posted the twenty-four finalists in the Change the Web challenge, a competition designed to encourage the building of innovative online tools that help people find and share opportunities to take action for social change. The top three winners will be announced at the NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco on April 28.

The response on Twitter and in the nonprofit blogosphere to an article in the Washington Post on Wednesday ("To Nonprofits Seeking Cash, Facebook App Isn’t So Green") that painted a rather grim picture of the popular Facebook Causes application was immediate and almost universally negative. According to Allison Fine, the Post article repeated many of the same criticisms of the Causes app featured in an earlier WaPo article and included a number of inaccuracies. For a different take on the controversy, read this post by We Media blogger Brian Reich.

And, as we hope you know by now, the Foundation Center-Cleveland has moved into the Twitter-verse, so be sure to follow us there!

If you are just starting to think about social media and need some expert guidance and advice, join our live, text-based chat with Cleveland social media guru George Nemeth on May 20, 2009, 12-1pm, right here!

This post was originally featured in PhilanTopic, the Foundation Center's blog of opinion and commentary from Philanthropy News Digest.

From The Answer Desk: Where Can I Search for Job Openings in the Nonprofit Sector?

A: In addition to consulting general sources like classified advertisements in your local newspaper and web sites like Monster.com and craigslist.org, many web sites provide searchable listings of jobs currently available in the nonprofit sector.

The Job Corner at the Foundation Center’s Philanthropy News Digest provides listings of current full-time job openings at U.S.-based foundations and nonprofit organizations. Sign up to receive the Job Bulletin free of charge.

The following web sites also provide searchable listings of nonprofit positions currently available:

Philanthropy Careers at The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Nonprofit Jobs at idealist.org

Jobs at Nonprofit Times

Job Seeker Center at Opportunity Knocks

Career Centerat Philanthropy News Network Online

Community Career Center

Nonprofit Jobs at ExecSearches.com

BridgeStar, a service of the BridgeSpan Group

All Foundation Jobs, a service of the Council on Foundations

Careers at The Chronicle of Higher Education

Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Job Center

Sponsorship Industry Careers, a service of IEG (registration is required)

New York Foundation for the Art’s Jobs in the Arts (registration is required)

Have a question? Ask Us!

Nonprofits and Social Media: A Live Q&A Session

Social media guru George Nemeth will be here live on Wednesday, May 20th, 12-1pm ET, to answer any and all of your social media questions about blogging, Twitter, podcasting, Facebook, you name it. 

How it Works
This live, text-based Q&A session will take place right here at our blog. Through the viewer window (below), you can easily submit questions and comments, interact with the presenter, and follow the conversation as it happens. Don't miss it!

Updated! From The Answer Desk: What do Nonprofits Need to Know About the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Bill)?

A: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, will provide more than $787 billion in spending and tax cuts intended to help stimulate the national economy.

The Foundation Center has collected the best resources on how nonprofits may be able to access stimulus package funding and our new MapShot: Best ARRA Funding Resources by State connects you to information about funding and other current opportunities in each state.

The Act includes new or expanded government grant programs to provide funding for assistance to communities or individuals affected by the economic crisis. Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for grants provided by this Act should visit the Grants.gov website for a listing of Recovery Act funding opportunities. For-profit organizations can find recovery procurement and contracting opportunities at FedBizOpps.gov.

In order to provide full accountability and transparency for the distribution of stimulus funds, the Federal government has created the Recovery.gov website. Visitors to the site can read the full text of the Act, view a timeline of administrative deadlines, and find news and updates on funding opportunities from Federal agencies.

Most state governments and Federal agencies have also created their own economic recovery sites. Directories of these official sites can be found at Recovery.gov:

• State Recovery Sites 
• Agency Recovery Sites

The National Council of Nonprofits has issued a series of special reports on the economic stimulus and recovery, including:

• Nonprofit Grant Opportunities - Summarizes the major spending and tax cut provisions of the Act and identifies potential grant opportunities for nonprofits.
• Stimulus Grant Tips and Thoughts - Offers grant information, tips, and considerations for nonprofits interested in applying for stimulus funds.
• Whether and How States are Accepting & Distributing Federal Stimulus Funds - Reviews how state governments have indicated they will handle the Federal funds.
• Sources of Information Regarding Stimulus Funds - Identifies sources of information about the Act and stimulus funds.

The National Council of Nonprofits also encourages organizations to contact their state nonprofit associations or their state and Congressional representatives for more information on local stimulus funding.

Selected resources below may also be helpful.

Independent Sector - Economic Recovery Act and Nonprofits - Provides this analysis and commentary on the Act at its site, along with tips for nonprofit organizations on establishing strong ties with policymakers.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: State-By-State Estimates of Key Provisions Affecting Low- and Moderate-Income Individuals - This report, issued by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, outlines key provisions of the Act affecting low- and moderate-income individuals and includes a state-by-state analysis of these funding provisions.

StateRecovery.org - A service of the Council on State Governments, StateRecovery.org is targeted towards officials in state government, but contains useful information on federal assistance, listings of grant opportunities, and a series of reports analyzing the prospective impact of stimulus funding at the state level.

National Conference of State Legislatures - Economic Stimulus 2009 - Provides summaries and analysis of major provisions of the Act for state legislators, but also includes information that can useful to the general public.

National Governors Association - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Created to provide information on state implementation of ARRA, analysis of the Act’s provisions for a range of topics, and links to additional resources.

View our other posts here.

Have a question? Ask Us!

(This post is from Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta)

News Roundup: Verizon Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Verizon recently announced that thanks to the generosity of its customers who support Check Into Literacy, nonprofit organizations in 23 states and Washington, D.C., will receive more than $1.1 million to bolster literacy efforts. The participating states are: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The Check Into Literacy initiative allows Verizon landline phone customers to make a $1-a-month, tax-deductible donation to literacy programs when customers pay their Verizon bill. The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

 

The Kresge Foundation recently announced awarding $10.6 million in grants to 19 human service organizations around the country that provide food service and distribution, shelter to homeless individuals and families, affordable housing for the poor, and legal aid to residents of North Carolina's Appalachian Region.The largest single human service award - $1.45 million - went to Mid-Ohio Foodbank. As the state's largest food bank, it distributes more than 29 million pounds of food to 20 counties through a network of 530 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters and after-school programs.

 

A recent article at Bloomberg.com announced a $1 million gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to start a classical music festival in New York that will offer reasonably priced seats. Set to debut in 2011, the Spring for Music Festival will feature orchestras from Dallas (TX), St. Paul (MN), and Toledo (OH), among others.

This Week at the Foundation Center (April 27-May1)

You can connect with our free classes in the field this week:

Monday, April 27: Aliquippa, PA.
Proposal Budgeting Basics at the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at the Beaver County Library System,10:00-11:00 am.

Tuesday, April 28: Elyria, OH.
How to Approach a Foundation at the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at the West River Branch of the Elyria Public Library. Cecilia H. Render, director of the Nordson Corporation Foundation, will be on hand to introduce the foundation and discuss grantseeking in today's tough economic environment, 6:00-8:00 pm.

Wednesday, April 30: Urban League of Greater Cleveland.
Grantseeking Basics with a Special Introduction to the Foundation Center web site at the  Urban League's Small Business Development Center, 5:30-7:30 pm.  

Friday, May 1:
Piqua, OH: Introduction to Foundation Directory Online at the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at Edison Community College, 10:00-11:30 am.

Dayton, OH: Introduction to Fundraising Planningat the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at the Dayton Metro Library, 2:00-3:30pm.

Library Hours:
Monday: 12:00-4:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 12:00-4:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday: 12:00-4:30pm

From The Answer Desk: What Is Social Entrepreneurship?

A:The term “social entrepreneurship” broadly encompasses ventures of nonprofits, individuals, and for-profit businesses that can yield both financial and social returns. While social entrepreneurship may be a newer addition to our vocabulary, it is not a new concept or endeavor. The Skoll Foundation provides more background on the concept of social entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurship may be translated into an earned income venture, such as selling goods or services, that allows a traditional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to diversify its funding base while providing positive impact in the community. The Free Management Librarystates that “nonprofits have to recognize that they're businesses, not just causes”. For more information on starting a business venture within your nonprofit organization, visit Fieldstone Alliance's Tools You Can Use newsletter to assess whether you have the capacity and readiness to launch such a venture.

The concept of social enterprise also applies to civic-minded individuals, businesses and other hybrid organizations that engage in for-profit ventures with a strong social bottom line. Social Edge, a program of the Skoll Foundation, is a "global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources."

Other web resources that address the concept of social entrepreneurship:

Idealist: What Is Social Entrepreneurship? - Summarizes the concept of social entrepreneurship from a number of different perspectives.

Institute For Social Entrepreneurs - Provides seminars and training for social enterprises around the world.

Fieldstone Alliance: Short- and Long-Term Approaches to Finding New Revenue Sources - Tips and techniques for conducting a feasibility study and market research on your target audience before launching your venture idea.

The Stanford Social Innovation Review - The Stanford Social Innovation Review offers strategies, tools and ideas for nonprofits, foundations and socially responsible businesses.

National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise - Learn here about training, planning, financing and managing nonprofit risk.

Social Venture Network provides information and convenes conferences for charities and businesses interested in operation in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable way.

Books on the topic of social enterprise include:

• Venture Forth! The Essential Guide to Starting a Moneymaking Business in Your Nonprofit Organization by Rolfe Larson
  
• Social Entrepreneurship: A Modern Approach to Social Value Creation by Arthur C. Brooks
  
• Mission, Inc.: The Practitioners Guide to Social Enterprise by Kevin Lynch and Julius Walls, Jr.
  
• Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets that Change the Worldby John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan
  
• The World We Want: New Dimensions in Philanthropy and Social Changeby Peter H. Karoff and Janet Maddox

To locate more resources on this topic, search the Foundation Center's Catalog of Nonprofit Literature; you could start by searching on "Social entrepreneurship" in the subject field.

Have a question? Ask Us!

(This post is from Katie Artzner and Sarah Jo Neubauer, online librarians at the Foundation Center)

Free shipping on 2009 Foundation Directories and Directory Sets

This April, the Foundation Center is offering free shipping on our newly-published 2009 Foundation Directories and Directory Sets. With vital facts on leading U.S. funders, including fields of interest, financial data, decision-makers, and contact information, the 2009 Foundation Directories can help you identify key funding prospects for your organization.

Purchase any of these titles online and get free shipping during the month of April:

• The Foundation Directory
  The 2009 edition features key facts on the nation's top 10,000 foundations - the most influential foundations in the nation!
  Buy now >>
  
• The Foundation Directory Part 2
  Features the next 10,000 largest U.S. foundations to broaden your fundraising base.
  Buy now >>
  
• The Foundation Directory Supplement
  The Supplement provides revised entries for hundreds of foundations in The Foundation Directory and The Foundation Directory Part 2.
  Buy now >>
  
• Companion Directory Set
  Save $40 on the Companion Directory Set! Includes The Foundation Directory, as well as expanded data on the next 10,000 largest funders in The Foundation Directory Part 2.
  Buy now >>
  
• Classic Directory Set
  Save $40 on the Classic Directory Set! Includes The Foundation Directory, and an update to that information in September 2009 with The Foundation Directory Supplement.
  Buy now >>
  
• Comprehensive Directory Set
  Save $60! Includes The Foundation Directory and The Foundation Directory Part 2. Then, receive updated information with The Foundation Directory Supplement.
  Buy now >>

See all 2009 Directory Sets or browse our full catalog of publications in the Marketplace section of our web site.

This Week at the Foundation Center (April 20 - 24)

Classes:
Monday, April 20: Webinar: Find and Apply for Government Grants Using Grants.gov, 1:30 - 2:30pm.
To view this presentation, attendees must come to the Foundation Center-Cleveland's training classroom where we will provide a direct link to the webinar voice and audio. Come and network with your colleagues and learn the secure and reliable entry way to more than 1,000 federal grant programs from 26 federal grantmaking agencies.

Tuesday, April 21: Before You Seek a Grant at the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Toledo, OH, 10:30am- 12:30pm.

Wednesday, April 22: Grantseeking Basics with a Special Introduction to the Foundation Center Web Site at the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection at Westlake-Porter Public Library, Westlake, OH, 10:00am - 12:00pm.  

Thursday, April 23: Outcome Thinking and Management, 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Now, more than ever, donors ask nonprofits to prove the effect of their programs on the communities they serve. In this course you'll learn how to apply an outcomes approach to your project, produce better proposals, and report on project impact. Developed in partnership with The Rensselaerville Institute.

Library Hours:
Monday: 12:00-4:30pm.
Tuesday: 9:30am-4:30pm.
Wednesday: 12:00-4:30pm.
Thursday: 9:30am-4:30pm.
Friday: 12:00-4:30pm.