Make YOUR nomination TODAY!

Do you know an outstanding Washington Metropolitan area nonprofit leader? Make a nomination for the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2009 EXCEL Award! Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. today (June 30).

This competitive award spotlights up to three outstanding nonprofit leaders in the Washington metropolitan area for outstanding nonprofit chief executive leadership. Each winner receives a $5,000 professional development account to use in their role as an organization’s chief executive. In addition, the winning organization receives a $2,000 grant to provide professional development opportunities for their staff.

The competition is open to any chief executive of a Washington-area nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $10 million and under. Any individual meeting the competition's requirements may be nominated. There is no fee to participate.

Board members, staff members, volunteers, clients or community members can nominate chief executives.

Click here to download the nomination packet.

The Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman EXCEL Award is a project of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.

Congratulations to our Project LEAP 2009 Graduates

Congratulations to our class of emerging nonprofit leaders graduating from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s 2009 Project LEAP Series. This five-part series is tailored specifically for individuals with three or more years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector to strengthen their leadership skills. Click here to learn more.

Nonprofit Document Retention Policies

We've had several questions lately from nonprofits looking for samples/advice regarding document retention policies.

Click here to download a PDF from the DC Bar Pro Bono Program or here to access sample policies from the National Council of Nonprofits.

7 Days Remain to Nominate an Outstanding Nonprofit Leader

Do you know an outstanding Washington Metropolitan area nonprofit leader? Make a nomination today for the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman 2009 EXCEL Award! Nominations are due by Tuesday, June 30.

This competitive award spotlights up to three outstanding nonprofit leaders in the Washington metropolitan area for outstanding nonprofit chief executive leadership. Each winner receives a $5,000 professional development account to use in their role as an organization’s chief executive. In addition, the winning organization receives a $2,000 grant to provide professional development opportunities for their staff.

The competition is open to any chief executive of a Washington-area nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $10 million and under.

Any individual meeting the competition's requirements may be nominated. There is no fee to participate. Board members, staff members, volunteers, clients or community members can nominate chief executives.

Click here to download the nomination packet.

The Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman EXCEL Award is a project of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.

Award for Nonprofit Taglines

Does your nonprofit have an outstanding tagline? Enter it for the 2009 Nonprofit Tagline Award.

Click here to see the 2008 Award winners.

Join Us This Week at the Center

We hope to see you this week at one of these upcoming workshops at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. Click each listing below for event and registration details.

• Tuesday, June 23: How to Prepare a Competitive Government Proposal
• Thursday, June 25: Center 101

Online Discussion: Using Social Networks to Promote Good Causes

Join the Chronicle of Philanthropy for a free, online discussion of "Using Social Networks to Promote Good Causes" on Tuesday, June 23, at 12:00 p.m. Explore how online networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can complement traditional marketing efforts and how to teach everyone in your organization to speak with one voice about the great work you are doing.

Click here to learn more. Click here on Tuesday to take part or follow along.

Seeking Applicants: Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI)

The DC Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grant Services is seeking applicants for the 2009-2010 class of the Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI). This is a one-year comprehensive training program for leaders of emerging nonprofits and faith-based organizations in the District.

The application deadline for the 2009-2010 class is August 28. Click here to learn more.

Free Training Call: The Language of Change

The Network for Good Learning Center is hosting a free training call on Tuesday, June 23 at 1 p.m. on "The Language of Change: 20 Words and Phrases that Impact Attitudes, Actions and Funding."

Click here to learn more about, or register for, this session.

Doorways for Women and Families Wins The Washington Post 2009 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is pleased to announce that Doorways for Women and Families of Arlington, Va., has received the 15th annual The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. The competitive award recognizes outstanding achievement in nonprofit management for a Washington-area nonprofit organization.

As the winner, Doorways receives a $10,000 cash grant and a scholarship to Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership’s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program. The award selection committee noted several outstanding management practices for Doorways. Some examples of management excellence include:

• Extensive policies and planning efforts
• A multi-layer fundraising program
• Reflective supervision
• Effective leveraging of volunteers

“At this critical time for our communities, the Center is pleased to recognize Doorways for Women and Families’ achievement of excellence in nonprofit management,” said Center CEO Glen O’Gilvie. “We are also proud to share the best practices of Doorways and our 2009 honorable mention recipients with nonprofits throughout Greater Washington.”

Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2009, Doorways strives to end homelessness and family and intimate partner violence by offering safe shelter and housing, life changing support services and community advocacy for thousands of women and families in Arlington and the Northern Virginia area.

The remaining four finalists received honorable mention awards at Monday’s event. These organizations included the Latin American Youth Center of Washington, D.C., MVLE, Inc., of Springfield, Va., New Hope Housing of Alexandria, Va., and the Washington Office on Latin America of Washington, D.C. Each honorable mention recipient received a $2,500 award.

The Washington Post Award Selection Committee judges applicant organizations in the areas of fiscal management, information and communication, organizational development, people development, planning, resource development, risk management, and use of technology.

This is the 15th year of competition. The program is sponsored by The Washington Post, with additional support from RAFFA, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement Benefits Trust and Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership. The Center for Nonprofit Advancement administers the program.

Recent winners of The Washington Post Award include the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (2008), Tahirih Justice Center (2007), N Street Village (2006), Higher Achievement Program (2005), Bread for the City (2004) and Miriam’s House (2003).

If you attended Monday's Best Practices Workshop and are interested in the sample documents discussed, please click here.

Filing Tips for the IRS Form 990

As part of a series of tips for nonprofits on filing the new Form 990, the IRS is providing tips on how to complete Part VI relating to governance. Click here to learn more.

Locally, the Center has shared a number of workshops, articles and resources related to the new Form 990. Our next workshop takes place Thursday, July 9. Click here to learn more.

Make a Nomination: National Capital Philanthropy Day Awards

The Association of Fundraising Professions/Washington DC Metro Area Chapter seeks nominations for its National Capital Philanthropy Day Awards. Awards will be presented in the following six areas:

• Outstanding Philanthropist
• Outstanding Corporate Partner
• Outstanding Foundation Partner
• Outstanding Fundraiser Professional
• Outstanding Diversity Leader
• Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer

Nominations are due by Monday, June 22. Click here to learn more.

Last Chance to Apply for the 2009 Technology Innovation Awards

Tomorrow (June 12) is the deadline for you to apply for NPower Greater DC Region's 2009 Technology Innovation Awards. Two winners will each receive an NPower Technology Assessment and free Microsoft software.

If your nonprofit is effectively using technology in your operations to fundraise, communicate, advocate, operate, or change the world, apply today.

Charitable Donations Fall in 2008

Giving USA has released their annual report on charitable giving in the United States. Among the findings, while charitable giving surpassed $300 billion for the second year in a row, it represents a 2 percent decline in current dollars over 2007. This is only the third decline in current dollars since Giving USA began publishing its annual report in 1956.

Click here to learn more about the report as covered by NPR's Morning Edition (including comments from Center CEO Glen O'Gilvie and Center member N Street Village).

Click here for a transcript of a discussion hosted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy with the report's author and two fundraising consultants involved with gathering the data.

Interested in learning more about giving, the economy and the impact locally? See results of 2009 and 2008 surveys by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.

Nonprofits and Social Networking

Last week ,the Chronicle of Philanthropy hosted an online discussion to explore "Promoting Causes on Online Social Networks." In addition to a transcript of the discussion, they've compiled a list of resources to help nonprofits navigate social media.

We'll be exploring the role that social networking can play at your nonprofit during several upcoming Center workshops. Click below to learn more.

• Thursday, June 18, Using Technology to Build Your Individual Donor Strategy: Fundraising Using the Latest Technologies
• Tuesday, July 21, Nonprofit PR Essentials: Tapping Traditional and Viral Methods to Get Valuable Coverage for Your Organization
• Tuesday, July 28, Truth & Consequences: Are Social Networking Strategies a Good Fit for Your Organization?

Join Us This Week at the Center

We hope to see you this week at one of these upcoming workshops at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. Click each listing below for event and registration details.

• Wednesday, June 10: How to Target Your Communications to Bring Results
• Wednesday, June 10: Time Management for Busy People
• June 11: EXCEL Award 2008 Winners' Breakfast
• Thursday, June 11: Strategic Planning That Works: An Introduction

Center Continues Partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton

The Center is pleased to partner with Booz Allen Hamilton in presenting the 2009 Nonprofit Conference on Fundraising Development Speaker Series. This five-part series shares best practices and lessons learned across a range of topics with nonprofits throughout Greater Washington.

In today's session, the third in the series, Center CEO Glen O'Gilvie served as one of three expert panelists and focused on the role of a shared back office as a solution for nonprofits in these times.

On May 1, Center Deputy Executive Director Susan Sanow moderated a discussion focused on re-tooling your organization by focusing on the core mission of the organization.