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Learning the FAQs:
Free Education and Training for Nonprofits
By Marilyn Gross Managing Editor "Best of the 'Net - for Nonprofit Organizations" For nonprofits with small staffs, tight budgets, inconvenient locations -- or simply too much work and not enough time -- opportunities for staff education, board development, and management training or career advancement may seem extremely limited. But a simple Internet connection can go a long way toward leveling the playing field between your organization and those enjoying easy access to conferences and workshops, and consequent opportunities for learning, mentoring and networking. While there are many articles, mini-courses, discussion groups online and otherwise, and bulletin boards for managers of nonprofits, substantial knowledge can be gained just from the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions pages) which abound on the World Wide Web and cover virtually every imaginable aspect of nonprofit management. Without leaving the office, nonprofit managers and fundraisers can learn a wealth of information, benefit from the counsel of peers who have already been there and done it, and perhaps most importantly, learn where to go to find out more. Not only is all this free, but by selectively printing out FAQs of specific concern to your organization (almost all allow such distribution for not-for-profit, educational purposes), organizations can provide in-house staff or board development with little effort and practically no expense. Here are some examples of useful FAQs and tip sheets, arranged by subjects: Starting Out The Evergreen State Society's Information for Nonprofits: Starting a Nonprofit - Where to Start (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/02/01.html) How Do I Incorporate an Organization as a Nonprofit? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/02/02.html) Alliance for Nonprofit Management: What's in a Mission Statement? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/spfaq6.html) What's in a Vision Statement? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/spfaq7.html) The Foundation Center: Where Can I Find Information about Bylaws for Nonprofit Organizations? (http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faq9.html) Where Can I Find Information about Mission Statements for Nonprofit Organizations? (http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faq20.html) The Role of the Board The National Center for Nonprofit Boards' "Board Information Center" Frequently Asked Questions about Nonprofit Governance (http://www.ncnb.org/faq.html) Alliance for Nonprofit Management: What Is the Role of Governance? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/bdfaq1.html) What Is the Role of Governance in Planning and Budgeting? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/bdfaq5.html) How Do I Get My Board Involved in Fundraising and How Much Should a Board Member Give? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/frfaq3.html) The Foundation Center: Where Can I Find Information on Nonprofit Boards? (http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faq19.html) The Evergreen State Society's Information for Nonprofits: What Are the Key Duties of the Board? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/03/01.html) What Should Be the Relationship between the Board and the Executive Director? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/03/16.html) Strategic Planning Alliance for Nonprofit Management: What Is Strategic Planning? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/spfaq1.html) What Are the Basic Steps in a Strategic Planning Process? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/spfaq3.html) What Should a Strategic Plan Include? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/spfaq11.html) The Evergreen State Society's Information for Nonprofits: What Is Strategic Planning? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/03/22.html) What Are the Steps of a Strategic Planning Process? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/03/24.html) Financial Management and Legal Issues Alliance for Nonprofit Management: What Are the Elements of an Accounting System? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/fmfaq1.html) What Is the Board's Responsibility in Investment? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/fmfaq17.html) How Do We Prepare a Budget? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/fmfaq20.html) What Financial Statements are Nonprofits Required to Issue? (http://www.allianceonline.org/clearinghouse/fmfaq25a.html) The Evergreen State Society's Information for Nonprofits: What Are Our Legal Responsibilities? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/03/27.html) Fundraising Jane Craven's Marketing Do's and Don't's for Organizations Promoting a Nonprofit or Public Organization Online (http://www.webcom.com/jac/promote.html) The Evergreen State Society's Information for Nonprofits: How Should I Use Direct Mail? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/08/07.html) Is Telemarketing Generally a Useful Fundraising Strategy? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/08/10.html) Are Events Really a Good Way to Raise Money for an Organization? (http://www.eskimo.com/~pbarber/npofaq/08/17.html) Large Donor Fundraising: What Are the Differences among Charitable Trusts? (http://www.nonprofit-info.org/npofaq/09/02.html) The Foundation Center: How Do I Find Out about Grants for My Subject Area or Field of Interest? (http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faq2.html) Where Can I Find Information on Government Grant Resources? (http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faq14.html) The Council on Foundations: Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Grantmaking and Community Involvement (http://www.cof.org/FAQ/Corp3.html) And Your Next Assignment Is Now that you've gotten answers to some of the more common nonprofit questions, how do you get answers to your own organization's specific problems and issues? Here are two online discussion groups -- also called listservs or mailing lists -- where you can trade expertise and war stories: Charity Village http://www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/stand.html American Philanthropy Review http://philanthropy-review.com/forums As President of Educational Funding Strategies, Marilyn Gross offers online courses for grantseekers, and consulting. She is a former program officer with the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation. Email mlgross@aol.com, or call (914) 368-2950 or (914) 357-8645. |
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