Issue 35
March 17, 2005

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. It includes items of interest to the nonprofit community in Washtenaw County and the surrounding areas, as well as resources available at NEW. Encourage your friends and colleagues to join over 500 other NEWSNOTES subscribers!

NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its Community Partners:

IN THIS ISSUE

LEAD STORY

The Board's Role in Fundraising

By Jean Block, Jean Block Consulting, Inc.*

The Board’s key role is governance and ensuring the success of the organization’s mission. This means taking responsibility for and ownership of identifying and developing the necessary resources to meet the mission.

Board members are personally responsible for their organization’s financial performance and must take an active role in ensuring it.

Board members who actively participate in resource development give credibility to the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Board members are expected to set the example for others by making an individual and/or professional contribution every year.

Is resource development a critical role of the Board? YES!

So, how do we make this clear to Board members?

Start at the Beginning. Recruit new Board members effectively. Clarify the organization’s expectations about Board members and fundraising up front and discuss how the prospective volunteer can get involved. Do not assume the new Board member understands this role and do not assume he or she will just “get it.” I recommend using a Board Member Job Description when interviewing prospective members. A sample is included in The ABCs of Building Better Boards.

Develop a Strategic Plan. Identify programs and services to be provided. Identify specifically what and how much funding is required for current programs and services, expanded or additional programs and services, operating expenses, growth and/or capital needs, etc.

Design a Development Plan to meet funding requirements. The entire Board should be involved in the initial planning so they will understand and own the success of the plan.

Match funding methods to organizational needs, e.g. grant writing vs. special events. Review current development activities and their strengths and weaknesses. Perform a Cost:Benefit Analysis on current activities. Identify targets for improvement or enhancement.

Diversity is the key to a successful development plan. There is danger in relying on one or two sources of revenue. Consider grants from foundations and corporations, individual gifts, an annual campaign, direct mail, major gifts, deferred/planned giving, endowment, in-kind support, special events, and earned income-producing activities.

Build an Effective Development Committee chaired by a member of the Board. Consider adding ad hoc members from the community, former Board members, clients, donors, etc. Develop a written plan to support the strategic plan. Make regular progress reports to the full Board and hold this committee responsible for achievement.

Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate! Seize every opportunity to recognize and celebrate the success of individual Board members and the development committee as a whole. Remember that You Get What You Accept and What You Reward. Make resource development a successful part of every Board member’s responsibility.

Ways Board Members Can Get Involved in Fundraising.

Need some ideas about ways your Board members can get involved in fundraising? Try these on for size!

Source: Grants from Foundations, Corporations, etc.
Involvement: Research their own company’s giving programs...research other company’s giving programs...provide testimonials, sign cover letters, make presentations…

Source: Annual Campaign, Direct Mail Campaign.
Involvement: Provide testimonial for fundraising letter...write personal appeal letters to names in their rolodex (and be willing to follow up)...make thank you calls to donors...make fundraising calls to donors and prospects...host an event at their home or office...underwrite the cost of the campaign (printing, postage, etc.).

Source: Major Gifts Campaign
Involvement: Open doors for other Board members and staff...make personal gift and ask others to match it...accompany staff on calls.

Source: Underwriting, Sponsorships, In-Kind
Involvement: Understand agency needs...research their own company’s giving programs...research other company’s giving programs...write proposals and ask for sponsorship and underwriting...solicit in-kind contributions of goods and services.

Source: Special Events
Involvement: Plan it! Organize it! Serve on a committee...sell tickets...buy tickets...solicit auction items and other requirements...get sponsorships and underwriting.

Source: Planned Giving
Involvement: Make a personal planned gift...serve on planned giving committee...solicit planned gifts.

Source: Other
Involvement: Testify and advocate for funding at the legislature.

This is just a start to get you and your Board members thinking outside the box. Remember, it is every Board member’s responsibility to support and sustain your organization!

*Jean Block is head of Jean Block Consulting, Inc, a firm in Albuquerque New Mexico that consults with organizations in the areas of nonprofit management, fundraising and board development. This article was reprinted with permission from her online Newsletter dated March 2004.

Additional Resources:

• Jean Block’s website: Subscribe to her newsletter and see a related article also in the March 2004 issue “Common Obstacles to the Board’s Enthusiastic Involvement in Fundraising.”
  
  
• Fundraising: Get Your Board on Board! Register for this informative workshop offered Thursday April 7, 4- 7 p.m. at the NEW Center. Mathwon Howard, Director of Major Gifts at Eastern Michigan University Foundation will walk you through the steps to develop a successful plan of action.
  
  
• Resource Connect links you to services providers, web resources and print resources. The latter includes board fundraising.

FEATURED ITEMS

Workshops at NEW to Feature a Funders' Forum

NEW’s Spring Managing for Nonprofit Excellence workshop series has begun in earnest, continuing the fundraising theme from the Fall 2004 term. In addition to workshops on endowments, the inner workings of foundations, obtaining corporate underwriters, and grant writing, NEW will host an exciting Funders’ Forum on Wednesday, April 6. Panelists:

• Mariam Noland, President, Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan
• Sandra Ulsh, President, Ford Motor Company Fund
• Peg Talburtt, Executive Director, James A. and Faith Knight Foundation

These dynamic executives will talk about their foundations’ giving programs, application procedures and reporting requirements, as well as the types of programs they support.

Register online for this informative session: Cost is just $15.
When: Wednesday, April 6, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: Washtenaw United Way building, 2305 Platt Road, Ann Arbor, between Huron Pkwy and Washtenaw Ave. Please park next door in the Vineyard Church parking lot. Map.

Leadership²Go

Friday, April 22, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter, 4624 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor

The Dynamic Duo: Cultivating Your Executive Director and Board Chair Team is the topic for the upcoming Leadership²Go Executive Director Series. Because effective communication is essential to a healthy working relationship between a nonprofit executive and board chair, NEW invites both parties to attend. The cost of $15 per team includes a continental breakfast and the opportunity to network with other nonprofit leaders. Take note of the location: the new American Red Cross building, 4624 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor. Map.

Please register in advance.

Nonprofit Library Named

Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (“NEW”) has announced that it has received a generous contribution from Borders Group, Inc. to sponsor NEW’s library, including its web-based information resources. NEW has renamed the library as the Borders Group Nonprofit Resource Library. This gift from Borders Group, Inc. follows several years of in-kind support. “This significant commitment by Borders Group, Inc. allows NEW to continue providing many information resources, both in our Library and on our website,” said Susan Katz Froning, President & CEO of NEW. “The contribution will affect hundreds of local nonprofits, helping them better achieve their missions.”

Michigan Nonprofit Sector Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Westin Southfield-Detroit, 1500 Town Center, Southfield, MI 48075

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Nonprofit Association invite you to a town hall meeting of the Michigan nonprofit sector. At the encouragement of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, INDEPENDENT SECTOR created the National Panel on the Nonprofit Sector to make recommendations to Congress to improve the oversight and governance of nonprofit organizations.
It is critical that the Panel receives feedback from you -- the nonprofit organizations that will be most impacted when legislation passes. The National Panel on the Nonprofit Sector recently presented its interim report to the Senate Finance Committee, and this Town Hall meeting and others around the country are important forums where nonprofit leaders can influence the final report.
Panel Presenters:

• William C. Richardson, President, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• Dorothy Johnson, President Emeritus, Council of Michigan Foundations
• Sam Singh , President and CEO, Michigan Nonprofit Association

Learn to Be an Advocate

Michigan ’s Mentoring Advocacy Network and the Michigan Nonprofit Association are sponsoring free opportunities for nonprofit professionals to learn basic advocacy techniques. Erin Skene, Director of the Michigan Public Policy Initiative at the Michigan Nonprofit Association, will lead the upcoming sessions of Raise Your Voice, interactive workshops in which participants will learn basic advocacy techniques for 501(c)(3) organizations, the rules governing nonprofits’ participation in the policy process, and how to develop grassroots networks. Besides Marquette and Traverse City, the workshop is offered in:

Lansing, Thursday, April 14, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Registration deadline: March 31.

Detroit, Wednesday, April 27, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Registration deadline: April 13.

The workshops are open to all staff, board members, and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, schools, mentoring and national service programs in Michigan. Registration is required.

To register or get further information, please contact Kathie Vasilion (517 373-4200).

Rotary Club Grants

April 13 is the deadline for applications to the Ann Arbor Rotary Club’s 2005 Community Allocations grant program. The club will give priority to projects that fit with their theme of “Helping Kids Succeed.” Contact Charles Olson for an application form: 3327 Yellowstone Dr., Ann Arbor 48105.

Trainings for Government Grant Searching

Tuesday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 19, 2 p.m.
Washtenaw County Library, Learning Resource Center

Grants Locator is the definitive tool for finding sources of federal government funding. Washtenaw County subscribes to the service online and offers free access to all 501(c)(3) organizations in the County. Take advantage of trainings to help you be successful in identifying relevant grant opportunities for your organization. Space is limited. Register online or email Linda Wicks. Call the Washtenaw County help desk (734-222-3737) to get a password for access to Grants Locator.

Marketing Seminar Offered

Tuesday, April 5, 9 a.m. – noon
UAW Region 1, 27800 George Merrelli Drive, Warren, MI 48092 (1 mile north of I-696, West of Van Dyke) Map

Representatives from mentoring programs, community and faith-based organizations, and nonprofits are invited to attend Marketing Your Program.

This quarterly meeting of the Metro Detroit Mentor Collaboration (MDMC) will cover the key strategies for getting the word out about your organization. The MDMC is an organization created to enhance the state of mentoring in Southeast Michigan through collaborative efforts in mentor recruitment and program training. For more information contact Kris Marshall (586 294-8449).

Community and Health Expo

Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Rd. Ann Arbor

The annual Health Expo, sponsored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women and Pfizer – ADVANCE (African-Americans Dedicated to Value-Added Networking for Corporate Excellence) will be held this weekend. This family-oriented event is your opportunity to obtain information about local nonprofit organizations and wellness issues, including preventative health measures. Contact Teletha Gipson (734-6222-5214) for more information.

Multi-tenant Center Conference

NEW will send representatives to the 2005 Collaborating for Success National Conference May 12-13 in San Francisco. The conference, sponsored by the Nonprofit Centers Network, is open to all who want to learn about creating and operating multi-tenant nonprofit centers. The conference will include such topics as collaboration strategies, green building practices, financing, and much more.

Nonprofit Innovation Award

Is your organization using innovative approaches to improve your community? If so, Amazon.com is encouraging you to apply for their Nonprofit Innovation Award. Ten nonprofit organizations will be chosen as finalists and profiled on their own Amazon.com pages, where customers will be invited to vote for their favorites by making monetary donations. The organization that receives the largest amount of customer contributions by the deadline will receive the award, along with a matching grant of up to $1 million from Amazon.com. All 501(c)(3) organizations in existence for a minimum of two years may submit applications by the April 28 deadline.

Careers in Nonprofit Management

Monday, March 21, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00pm
Social Work Building Rm. 3816 University of Michigan, South University Ave., Ann Arbor. Map.

Interested in opportunities for advancement in your current organization? Would you like to learn more about the necessary skills and responsibilities in organizational management? Get an inside view from professionals in this exciting field. Learn about career paths leading to nonprofit management positions, skills and characteristics needed for success, how to locate opportunities, and more.
Panelists include:

--Penny Bailer, CEO, City Year, Detroit
--Laurel Davenport, Director, YMCA of South Toledo
--Susan Katz-Froning, CEO, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW)
--Bill Tennant, Associate Director, Mental Health Association in Michigan

Cosponsored by the Nonprofit and Public Management Center (NPM) and the U-M Career Center.

News for Arts Organizations

MCACA Grants
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has posted Grant Program Guidelines online. Download the booklet that provides general requirements for application to all MCACA programs. The deadline for the majority of grants programs is May 1 for arts and cultural activities which will take place between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006.

Arts Alive Day
Learn how to advocate for improvements in arts and culture and arts education in your community on April 21 at the Lansing Center. From Backstage to Civic Engagement: Integrating Civic Engagement into Everyday Practices is the title of Art Serve Michigan’s annual arts advocacy meeting. Artists, arts educators, arts and culture leaders, business leaders, community arts advocates, activists, public officials, students, and the general public are invited to attend. More information and registration.

Artist Legal Clinics
ArtServe Michigan is providing free legal services to area artists and arts organizations via walk-in legal clinics throughout Michigan. The clinics offer artists in all disciplines a chance to have a private consultation on their arts-related legal concern with an attorney through Volunteer Lawyers for Arts & Culture Program.

The local area clinic will be offered on April 2, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Xhedos Café, 240 West 9 Mile, Ferndale. Walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact Kim Dabbs (248.557.8288 x14).

Reminders

Applications for Ann Arbor Thrift Shop grants are due March 31.

Nonprofit office space is available for rent at NEW. Please contact Director of Administration and Facility, Lia Stevens (734-998-0160 x203) for more information.

ResourceConnect welcomes suggestions for new resources. Are there service providers, websites, or print materials that you think the rest of us should know about? Please share by clicking on “suggest a resource” in the header.

Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference will be held June 14-15, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency, Dearborn. Consider being an exhibitor.

REGULAR FEATURES

Nonprofit Bulletin Board

Visit NEW's Nonprofit Bulletin Board to post and view notices about free resources, fundraising opportunities, and other items relevant to the southeast Michigan nonprofit community.

Events Calendar

Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events. E-mail Nick Miller to request a password to submit an event.