Probono Architectural Services

Are you a nonprofit looking for architectural services? Community Design Services (CDS), a program of Center member Washington Architectural Foundation, can help! Founded in 1991, CDS provides local nonprofits with pro bono design services if they can not otherwise afford these services. CDS architects can:

• put clients’ dreams on paper in drawings or reports to be used to gain community support or for fundraising;
• assist in preparing a design program for your project;
• evaluate buildings to determine whether the structure can accommodate your program;
• and provide conceptual designs, and cost estimates

Visit the Washington Architectural Foundation Web site or click here to learn more.

Seeking Applicants: Celebrated Pro Bono Coaching Program for 12 Executive Directors

Would you like to be one of 12 top executives selected for a pro bono program called Leadership Sanctuary. This six-month program (3 hours per month) is specifically designed to guide a cohort of nonprofit executives to broaden their options in response to today’s turbulent environment. Give yourself the gift of sanctuary! Join like-minded leaders to safely and wisely determine how to meet the current leadership challenges of our times. An informational Preview Event is being held at the Center on Tuesday, March 2 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The next program will begin March 9 at 2:00 pm. Click here to learn more.

In partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, the Leadership Sanctuary is a pro-bono forum for executives of Washington area nonprofit agencies to create a more abundant future. Led by Kanu Kogod and Heather Kaye, expert coaches and facilitators, the first six-month program was launched last summer and completed to rave reviews. There is great enthusiasm for the collective wisdom and collegial support. A new program will begin March 9 and applications are being accepted until March 3.

Please click here to learn more. E-mail info@leadershipsanctuary.org to RSVP to the preview event, submit your application and/or to get answers to your questions.

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.

Call for Applications: Cause Consulting Nonprofit Communications

From the Center for Social Impact Communication.

"The Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC) at Georgetown University is accepting applications from area non-profits to receive eight months of strategic communications consulting from its Public Relations/Corporate Communications masters degree students.

"Now in its third year the Cause Consulting program an initiative of the Center for Social Impact Communication in the Masters of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications is a two semester course that teaches students how to build the capacity of non-profit organizations through strategic communications. The course offers an applied learning experience by enabling students to work directly with non-profits to develop and implement a communications plan. The first semester students work with the client to learn about the organization and their communications goals while the second semester of the course is focused on implementation of the plan.

"The program serves a dual purpose, to provide hands on training for its students while also helping DC area nonprofits build their communications capacity.

"To apply for the program, fill out the Cause Consulting Application Questionnaire. For more information about the Cause Consulting program, please click here."

Now Accepting Applications: Social Venture Consulting Program

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business Center for Social Value Creation is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for its Fall 2009 Social Venture Consulting Program. Projects are designed for 80 full-time equivalents (FTEs) 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. MBA students are selected to participate in a highly competitive application process and there is no fee charged to the organization.

Click here to learn more about the program. Click here to apply (organizations with annual budgets > $1M may also click here to apply directly).

The application deadline is Friday, July 31.