Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Special Series for Nonprofit Managers: 2010 Class Now Enrolling

Please join the Center for Nonprofit Advancement for our 2010 edition of Project LEAP (Leaders Emerging through Ability and Potential). This series is an opportunity for senior staff of area nonprofits to strengthen their leadership skills. Participants engage in individual and group activities to examine and assess their leadership skills and how it impacts their current organization. Workshops include critical thinking and problem-solving activities including essential financial leadership skills. Participants will work in learning circle cohorts to learn from one another, as well as hear from other experienced professionals. Some in-class and out-of-class preparatory readings and journaling will be required.

This series is ideal for deputy directors, program directors or other experienced senior level managers. Participants should have three or more years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector. Participants should supervise at least one person for optimum class results.

The five-class series begins on February 26 and run through June 4. Registration is now open. Class-size is limited to 25.

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Veteran Exeuctive Directors: Join the Journey to a Sustainable Organization

As the economy has changed, the skills that a nonprofit leader needs to succeed have not changed. Understanding one's self is key to understanding one's competencies, motivations and challenges as a leader of a sustainable organization.

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement presents the CEO Leadership Series, a special, four-part series that focuses on helping nonprofits survive this financial downturn and face a “new normal” as you lead your organization to move forward. The series sets a path for CEOs who wish to go on a journey of self-discovery to build a sustainable organization.

The four-class series begins on February 11 and run through April. Registration is now open. Class-size is limited to 20.

Click here to learn more. Click here to register.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Free Workshop: Doing Business with the Commonwealth of Virginia

From Arlington Economic Development and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance:

Wednesday, January 20, learn the Commonwealth of Virginia's latest mandates for spending, and helpful eVA tips that may help increase your chances of selling to the Commonwealth. Also hear about details on purchases of $50,000 or less going to state certified “small” vendors and other important information that may increase your chances of selling to the Commonwealth.

Click here for additional information. Register online or download the event flier.

Event Details:
Date: January 20, 2010
Time: 8:00 to 10:00 am
Location: Arlington Economic Development, 1100 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 1500, Arlington, VA
Fee: Free - Registration is required

Sponsored by Arlington Economic Development and Arlington County Public Library.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Special Thanks

In 2009, as we continue our celebration of 30 years of service to nonprofits, we wanted to take a moment to thank those member nonprofit organizations who have been with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement for 20 or more years!

Special Thanks to Center Members:
Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington | Barker Foundation | Black Student Fund | Center for Child Protection and Family Support | Center on Conscience and War/NIBSCO | Congress of National Black Churches | Council for Court Excellence | Damien Ministries | District of Columbia Nurses Association | Downtown Cluster's Geriatric Day Care Center | Family & Child Services of Washington | Federally Employed Women | Food & Friends, Inc. | For Love of Children | Friends Meeting of Washington | Higher Achievement Program | Interages | IONA Senior Services | Ionia R. Whipper Home | Junior League of Washington | Management Assistance Group | My Sister's Place | National Association for Bilingual Education | National Catholic Partnership on Disability | National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform | National Network for Youth | National Puerto Rican Coalition | Orphan Foundation of America | Phillips Programs | Potomac Appalachian Trail Club | Public Access Corporation of D.C. (DCTV) | Public Leadership Education Network | RAP, Inc. (Regional Addiction Prevention) | Sarah's Circle | Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) | Terrific, Inc. | Travelers Aid International | Visitors' Service Center | Washington Child Development Council | Washington Regional Alcohol Program | Young Woman's Christian Home |

Grant Opportunity: Social Media

Fenton Communications is offering a $10,000 Social Media Grant to nonprofits in the Washington, DC area. Selected recipients will receive up to $10,000 worth of social media analysis, monitoring and strategy services from the group in the winter of 2010.

The application deadline is Friday, December 18.

Click here for additional information and to access the online application.

IRS Announces 2010 Standard Mileage Rates

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued "2010 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes."

Click here for details.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Nonprofits: Apply to have a PSA created

Center member Women in Film & Video of Washington, DC is seeking local nonprofit applicants for its 2010 Image Makers Program. The program takes a diverse group of high school students and allows them to explore careers in film and television by pairing them with WIFV professionals. They gain hands-on production experience while producing public service announcements for local charitable organizations.

Applications to the program from nonprofits are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18. Click here to learn more. Click here to download the nonprofit application.

Be a Mentor for young people in your community!

Center member Higher Achievement is in need of Mentors at two of its Achievement Centers: Ward 7 (Kelly Miller Middle School) and Alexandria (Hammond Middle School); and Study Hall Aides (for all centers) for this academic year.

The commitment is at least once per week, Monday, Tuesday and/or Thursday; Study Hall Aides- 3:30-6:00 p.m; Mentors- 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Click here for more information or to fill out an application. If you have further questions please e-mail or call Matt B. Thornton, director of volunteer management, at 202.375.7733 or mthornton@higherachievement.org.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Now Accepting Applications: Social Venture Consulting Program

The Center for Social Value Creation at the Smith School of Business is now accepting applications for the spring 2010 Social Venture Consulting Program, in partnership with Grassroots.org.

Since 2006, the program has matched more than 100 MBA students with 44 nonprofit organizations across the country, combining capacity-building consulting services with hands-on learning experiences. Student consultants are selected to participate in a highly competitive application process, and there is no fee charged to the nonprofit organization.

Projects are designed for 60-80 hours over 3 months to address issues — whether financial, marketing, operational, organizational or strategic — and to develop the necessary steps to solve the problems and improve the business. The application is open to all registered 501c3 US Nonprofit and Canadian Charitable Organizations. Please note that it is free to join Grassroots.org before applying.

Click here for program details as well as case studies and examples of past projects.

Click here for the online application for the spring 2010 program. Organizations with annual budgets greater than $1M are invited to click here to apply.

The application deadline is December 21.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Top 10 Myths...and Truths...


...about The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management

If you are considering applying for the 2010 Award (applications due December 7), here are a few myths and truths to keep in mind!

#10
MYTH: My organization can win if we have one example of excellence in nonprofit management.
TRUTH: Winners show examples of excellence in nonprofit management in many areas.

#9
MYTH: My organization applied before and did not make it out of round one or round two; we don’t have a chance. We should never apply again.
TRUTH: It takes most organizations several years to nurture and grow in their management practices. Applying for the award for several years is welcomed…especially if your management practices strengthen during that period.

#8
MYTH: Great programs and services will compensate for only so-so management practices.
TRUTH:
This program rewards excellence in nonprofit management. Program information is useful only when it provides context for management achievements.

#7
MYTH: The selection committee only likes new/established, small/large, or local/national scope organizations.
TRUTH: The selection committee seeks excellence in nonprofit management – no mater the organization’s age, size or community served.

#6
MYTH: An organization must have gone through a major crisis or turnaround in order to win.
TRUTH:
The selection committee values organizations with consistent solid management, as well as organizations that grow and prosper after a management crisis.

#5
MYTH: My organization is not widely known; we can’t win.
TRUTH: The selection committee considers what is written on the application, rather than the organization’s name or stature in the community.

#4
MYTH: It’s too much work to complete the application for so little return.
TRUTH:
Past participants who have recognized the value of self-assessment benefited from the process; the application feedback adds even greater value.

#3
MYTH: The selection committee knows who is going to win even before they see the applications.
TRUTH: Each year, the selection committee’s choice is based on the information included in the submitted applications.

#2
MYTH: If one type of organization won last year, it will not win this year.
TRUTH:
Program area is not a consideration in the decision-making process of the selection committee

#1
MYTH: We can complete the application quickly, so we don’t need to allow too much time to write and submit the application.
TRUTH: The strongest applications are from those organizations whose staff, board, volunteers and other stakeholders have invested time in discussion and reflection prior to completing the application. The questions in The Washington Post Award application can spur on this work.

The Washington Post 2010 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, a project of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement with support from RAFFA, PC, includes a $10,000 cash grant and much more! Plus, all applicants receive feedback on their management practices from the selection committee. So, your nonprofit can benefit just from completing the application. There is no fee to take part. Applications are due Monday, December 7! Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

View the November/December Nonprofit Agenda online

The November/December 2009 issue of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement's print newsletter, Nonprofit Agenda, is now available electronically.

Inside this issue:

  • A Celebration of Excellence and Service
  • 5 Tips to Get the Most from Your Graphic Design Experience
  • Meet the Newest Center Members
  • Center Recognizes Excellence in Washington Region Nonprofit Leadership
  • Meet Our Newest Partners in Advancement
  • Individual Philanthropy: What Does Building Meaningful Donor Relationships Look Like?
  • Recruit, Engage and Leverage: Providing Meaningful Volunteer Opportunities
  • Partnering for Success
  • Learn About The Washington Post 2010 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management
  • Member News

Click here to download the PDF.

And don't forget to explore the offerings in our latest catalog of courses from the Center's Learning and Leadership Institute. View upcoming classes by date or subject.