Seeking the "Best Fundraiser"

The NonProfit Times is compiling nominations for their "best fundraisers" feature story. Make a nomination for categories including: Younger Than 40; Living Legend; Direct Mail; Major Gifts; Online; Special Events, Education; DRTV; and Sector Leadership.

Nominees must be employed at a nonprofit. Send your suggestions, along with contact information and a few lines about the person, to editor2@nptimes.com.

Join Us This Week

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

• Tuesday, December 1, Building Your Team: Making Your Board Members Your Greatest Asset
• Wednesday, December 2, Developing A Technology Plan That Moves Your Organization Forward
  

Center Members Recognized in Catalogue for Philanthropy

Since 2003, the Catalogue for Philanthropy has spotlighted high impact, carefully evaluated, community-based Greater Washington nonprofits with budgets of less than $3 million. To date, the Catalogue has helped featured nonprofits to raise more than $9.6 million from new donors.

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is pleased to recognize Center members featured in the new 2009-2010 Catalogue for Philanthropy. Click below to see member catalogue profiles.

• Amazon Conservation Association : Washington, DC
• A-SPAN (Arlington Street People's Assistance Network) : Arlington, VA
• Carpenter's Shelter : Alexandria, VA
• Computer CORE : Alexandria, VA
• DC LEARNs : Washington, DC
• Jubilee Jobs : Washington, DC
• Mary House : Washington, DC
• Mentoring Today : Washington, DC
• STRIVE DC : Washington, DC
• Tahirih Justice Center : Falls Church, VA
• The Barker Foundation : Bethesda, MD
• The Downtown Cluster's Geriatric Day Care Center : Washington, DC
• The Dwelling Place : Gaithersburg, MD
• Turning the Page : Washington, DC
• Us Helping Us, People Into Living : Washington, DC
• Visitors' Services Center : Washington, DC
• Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless : Washington, DC
• Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) : Washington, DC
  

Special Opportunity for Arlington Nonprofits

Please join Arlington Economic Development and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement on Tuesday, December 8 for "Effective Boards that Work: How You Can Make it Happen." This workshop is free for Arlington Residents and nonprofits; $49 for Center members; $89 for all others.

Workshop description: Effective boards don’t just happen; they need thought, creativity, planning and even luck. If you’re feeling your board could be improved, you’re having trouble recruiting board members or you’re frustrated with the board you have, join us. Learn about the characteristics of well-functioning boards, setting an effective meeting strategy and the secrets to building strong staff-board relations.

Faculty: Sandra Renner, Principal, Renner Consulting

The workshop runs from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm on December 8 and is presented at the Arlington County Central Library (1015 North Quincy Street, Main Auditorium, Arlington, Va.). Click here to register.

Grant Opportunity: Technical Assistance

The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) is seeking applications from nonprofits serving Wards 5,6, 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia to receive technical assistance and/or sub-awards through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children and Families.

"The goal of CCF is to assist nonprofit faith-based and community-based organizations in: increasing their effectiveness, enhancing their ability to provide social services, expanding their organizations, diversifying their funding sources and creating collaborations to better serve those most in need."

Click here to download the Grant Announcement.

CNE is hosting an information/question and answer session on Monday, November 30. Details and registration information available on page two of the grant announcement.

Free Webinar: Recession-Proof Your Grantwriting

The Maryland Governor's Grants Office is hosting a free webinar, "Recession-Proof Your Grantwriting," on Wednesday, December 2 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.

With presenter Beverley Francis, president and CEO of the Columbia Foundation,this session is intended to answer your questions about resources in your own backyard.

Visit the Web site to learn more and register.

Seeking Nominees: Those Who Made a Difference

Do you know a Prince George's County resident who made a difference in their community in 2009? The Gazette is seeking nominees for its annual "Those Who Made a Difference" recognition.

See those recognized in the 2008.

See what nominations should include and how to submit them.

The nomination deadline is November 30.

Help the Homeless This Weekend

If you're looking for something to do on Saturday (November 21), it's not too late to take part in the 22nd Annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon.

This community-wide program raises funds and awareness that help support organizations in our region working to prevent and end homelessness. According to the programs Web site, "More than 12,000 people in the Washington metropolitan area do not have homes a number that is expected to grow under current economic conditions. This includes people living on the streets, staying in shelters or living in transitional housing.

"There are many misconceptions about homelessness. Fewer than 11 percent regularly live on the streets. More than 40 percent of homeless people are families and about one in four are children. Nearly one-third of homeless people are employed."

Since 1988, the Help the Homeless Program has raised more than $75 million for nonprofits serving the homeless in our region. 100% of your donation through the program goes directly to the Help the Homeless nonprofit beneficiary nonprofits.

Center for Nonprofit Advancement Member beneficiary groups include:

• Access Housing, Inc.
• Arlington Street People's Assistance Network (A-SPAN)
• Bethany House of Northern Virginia
  
• Bread for the City
• Bright Beginnings
• Byte Back
• Capitol Hill Group Ministry
• Carpenter's Shelter
• Catholics for Housing, Inc.
  
• Community Family Life Services
• Community Tax Aid, Inc.
• Damien Ministries, Inc.
• D.C. Central Kitchen
• District Alliance for Safe Housing
• Dwelling Place, Inc.
• Housing and Community Services of Northern Virginia
  
• JHP Inc.
• Jubilee Jobs, Inc.
• Little Blue House
• Lorton Community Action Center
  
• Martha's Table
• Mary House
• Miriam's House
• Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc.
  
• My Sister's Place
• N Street Village
• Neighbors' Consejo
• New Endeavors By Women
• New Hope Housing
  
• Open Arms Housing
• Reston Interfaith
  
• Samaritan Inns, Inc.
• Sarah's Circle
• Sasha Bruce Youthwork
• Shepherd's Table
  
• Transgender Health Empowerment
• Transitional Housing Corporation
• United Communities Against Poverty, Inc.
• Unity Community Ministries
  
• Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
  

Click here to learn more about taking part in Saturday's walk.

Visit the Help the Homeless channel on YouTube to meet several of the organization's whose work benefits from the program. Click below to watch the video from 16-year Center member Mary House.

Community Comes Together for Nonprofit 911: What's Next?

Today, 8 Neighbors, a collaborative group which includes the Center for Nonprofit Advancement and seven other organizations serving the Greater Washington region, convened “Nonprofit 911: What’s Next?” to explore the economic realities of Washington, DC area nonprofits and the people they serve.


Board members, funders, executives and other key leaders in the nonprofit, business and government arenas came together to share what has worked (and what has not) in 2009 and to discuss the outlook for the months and year ahead.

Click here to download the report shared with attendees of "Nonprofit 911: What's Next?"

Click here for additional findings from the Center’s survey of the region’s nonprofits.

Click here for live posts on Twitter from the meeting.

Click here for event photos.

This 8 Neighbors event was hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Leadership Greater Washington, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, United Way of the National Capital Area and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers.

Volunteer Day with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia

Center for Nonprofit Advancement staff were delighted to join Center member Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia at ReStore Alexandria last week.

From the group's Web site, "ReStore is a resale business that sells new and used building materials and home improvement items to the general public. All materials are donated by local retail businesses, building contractors, suppliers and individuals, and are made available for sale to the public at 50% to 90% below retail prices."

Center staff had a great time pitching in to help polish furniture, display housewares, set lighting displays and much more.

Click here to see additional photo's from the Center's volunteer day.

Click here to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia's Alexandria and Chantilly ReStore locations.

Grant Opportunity: Community Summer Jobs Program

The online application for the 2010 ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program Grant is now available. From Center member Volunteer Fairfax, "for the eleventh year, Exxon Mobil Corporation will award grants to fund 8-week summer internships at sixty 501(c)(3) agencies in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. This year, the grant amount is $2,750."

Click here to view the online portion of the application. The application deadline is Friday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m.

Get Discounted Arts and Culture Tickets

Center member the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington brings you two online marketplaces for arts and culture.

Find discounted arts and culture tickets in advance and online throughout Greater Washington on Ticketplace. Find family and free event information through CultureCapital.com.

New and Updated IRS Compliance Guides

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a new Compliance Guide for Tax-Exempt Organizations (other than 501(c)(3) Public Charities and Private Foundations).

This IRS guide "addresses activities that could jeopardize an organization's exempt status and discusses the general recordkeeping, reporting and disclosure responsibilities that apply to non-501(c)(3) exempt organizations." Click here to download the PDF.

The Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities has also been updated to "incorporate changes in the compliance requirements that apply to public charities and includes information about the redesigned Form 990, the 'e-Postcard,' as well as information about classification as a public charity after the elimination of the advance ruling process." Click here to download the PDF.

Meet a Member: National Museum of Americans in Wartime

On this Veteran's Day, we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to Center for Nonprofit Advancement Member the National Museum of Americans in Wartime™.

Opening Veterans Day, November 11, 2012 near Manassas, Va., the "museum will engage visitors in the stories of men and women—in uniform and on the home front—who have answered the nation’s call to serve."

Click the video below or visit their Web site to learn more about the National Museum of Americans in Wartime™.

Free Seminar: Managing Personnel in Tough Economic Times

From the DC Bar Pro Bono Program:

Pfizer Inc, in conjunction with the DC Bar Pro Bono program and the law firm of DLA Piper is sponsoring a free video conference seminar, "Managing Personnel in Tough Economic Times: Smart Ways to Avoid Legal Problems While Reducing Personnel Costs," on Thursday, December 3.

The seminar will be held at the law offices of DLA Piper, 500 8th Street, NW (Metro stop – Gallery Place on the Red, Yellow and Green lines). It will begin at 10:50 a.m. and run until 3:30 p.m. Lunch will be served.

This seminar will discuss legally permissible ways to help conserve resources and avoid employee terminations. For those organizations that must terminate staff, the laws regulating reductions in force will be explained and demystified. This seminar will also highlight other legal risks facing employers in hard times, including the misclassification of employees, wage and hour violations, and union organizing campaigns.

This seminar is designed for executive directors, board members, and officers with financial, operations and human resources responsibilities.

The seminar is free. To register, e-mail: registerdc@dlapiper.com

The video conference will also be held at the following locations:

DLA Piper LLP (US)
6225 Smith Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209-3600
Register via e-mail to registerbaltimore@dlapiper.com

and

DLA Piper LLP (US)
1775 Wiehle Ave, Suite 400
Reston, VA 20190
Register via e-mail to: registernova@dlapiper.com

Application Workshop Added!

If your organization is considering participating in The Washington Post 2010 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, the awards selection committee can help you!

Join a free Webinar on Friday, November 13 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. to learn what committee members look for in wining applications and presentations. Speakers will include a past award winner and members of the selection committee. Applicants are not required to attend this workshop to participate in the annual award competition.

Free. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Click to learn more about The Washington Post 2010 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

New at the Center: Workshops through January

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement's Learning and Leadership Institute provides more than 100 workshops annually on a range of nonprofit management topics for all levels of nonprofit professionals.

New this week--explore course offerings through January! Whether you're looking for support in board goverance, fundraising, human resources or technology, the Center has an accessible and affordable workshop for you! In addition to courses at our offices in Washington, D.C. (convenient to the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stops), we're also offering workshops in Arlington and online Webinars.

Visit the Nonprofit Learning section on the Center's Web site to explore the complete schedule of upcoming courses by date or by subject.

DCTV Recognized with Center for Nonprofit Advancement Award

Courtesy of DCTV, click below to watch a clip from the Center's 30th Anniversary Meeting and Celebration.

During the event, the Center recognized long-time member, the Public Access Corporation of the District of Columbia (DCTV), with the 2009 Center for Nonprofit Advancement Award for their vision and dedication in finding new ways to support the Greater Washington nonprofit sector.

New Nonprofit Channel Launches This Week!

On Tuesday, November 3, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement and DCTV will launch a new channel, DCTV Focus, to highlight the work of local nonprofits and provide resources, training and tips for nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers.

Click to learn more about the channel and sharing your video content with more than 300,000 in the region.

As a part of this partnership, the Center will also host a weekly, 30-minute show, Connections, beginning Tuesday, November 3 on Comcast 96 and RCN 11. Click below to watch a preview for the show.

Save the Date: "Nonprofit 911: What's Next?"

Join 8 Neighbors for
Nonprofit 911: What's Next?
Implications of the Economic Realities

The past year has been extremely difficult for nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Last December, more than 500 members of the community came together for "Nonprofit 911." Join board members, funders, executives and other key leaders in the nonprofit arena on Monday, November 16 for "Nonprofit 911: What's Next?" to share what worked and what did not as we discuss the outlook for the months and year ahead.

Each participant will receive a report with a snapshot of how the economic downturn has affected nonprofit organizations and a list of strategies for succeeding during challenging times.

Registration is free. Attendance is limited to one person per organization. Space is limited. Center members, contact us for the registration link. Space is limited!

This 8 Neighbors event is hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Leadership Greater Washington, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, United Way of the National Capital Area and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers.

Meet a Member: HasNa

Center for Nonprofit Advancement Member HasNa promotes cross-cultural understanding and economic empowerment in culturally divided areas of the world and encourages individuals and communities in such areas to work together toward advancement and peaceful coexistence.

They work at the grassroots level to create communication and collaboration among ethnically divided peoples, providing the tools and ongoing assistance to support small-scale, sustainable efforts aimed at economic and social development. Click the video below or visit their Web site to learn more about HasNa.

Join the group at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2 at the Avalon Theater for the screening of "Bliss". Click here to download the PDF with details about the movie.

Seeking Applicants: Pro Bono Internet Consulting

The Bivings Group will award $10,000 in Internet consulting services to a a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the metropolitan Washington, DC area through its "TBGIVES" contest.

The group's "ideal partner will be an organization with a budget of less than one million dollars per year whose impact can be enhanced through the strategic use of technology."

Entries are due by Wednesday, November 25.

Click here to learn more and access the application.