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More information is available on the Internet by clicking on the links provided. The information is provided to you from the sources. Any links are the responsibility of the source.
Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program – Deadline: December 13, 2007
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking applications for funding under the G.R.E.A.T. Program. The Program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The Program’s primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. Funds of up to $150,000 will be awarded to state, local or tribal jurisdiction or law enforcement agencies with an active G.R.E.A.T. Program, or committed to starting a G.R.E.A.T. Program, in cooperation with a local education agency. All awards will have a 12-month project period.
Entertainment Software Association Foundation Grant – Deadline: April 15, 2008
The Foundation is dedicated to supporting positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the quality of life, health and welfare of America’s youth. The Foundation seeks to harness the collective power of the interactive entertainment industry to create positive social impact in our communities which supports geographically diverse projects and programs. Applicants must seek funding for a specific project or program that is or will be in two or more states and serves youths 7-18. Applicants must also provide youth programs in one or more of the following areas: Skills & Personal Development, General Health & Welfare, Risk Behavior Prevention, Education, Multimedia arts/ technology related or applied.
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08 November 2007
07 November 2007
2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines
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2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services.
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2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services.
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31 October 2007
Quote of the Day
Welcome back! Quote of the Day
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"One must be able to get indignant."- Abbé Pierre
- African proverb
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.”
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07 October 2007
One Size Fits All Governance
Welcome back! The question is a good one, is it possible to define governance function in its most theoretical sense that can be used by any governing board. This is John Carver with Miriam Carver explaining the answer.
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Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
06 October 2007
Recommended books [UPDATED]
Welcome back!
I've been asked a couple of times recently about what books I recommend for nonprofit professionals. Here is a sampling of what I recommend.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
I've been asked a couple of times recently about what books I recommend for nonprofit professionals. Here is a sampling of what I recommend.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
02 October 2007
Board Member Recruitment, Selection, Election, Retention
Welcome back!
The most important issue for selection of board members is to first define what the board is to do, then determine the kind of person needed to do that job with a group. Most boards that are frustrating their staff because the are micromanaging were selected for their management skill. It does not see too surprising that they would therefore manage things.
Donor fundraising
Increasing the board's size cannot ensure that the board will do more. Especially if the board has not articulated what it should produce as a group.
How the board elects and installs new members is in your bylaws. Look there first. If it does not serve the needs of the organization, revise them within the limits of the laws of you state or province.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
The most important issue for selection of board members is to first define what the board is to do, then determine the kind of person needed to do that job with a group. Most boards that are frustrating their staff because the are micromanaging were selected for their management skill. It does not see too surprising that they would therefore manage things.
- These are sample characteristics that I recommend when looking for good board members:
- Ability & discipline to think
- Recruited for demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of the organization
- Connections to the “moral ownership” and resources
- Creative Thinker, Open Minded, Team Player
- Time and energy to meet
- Strong Ethics, Possess Integrity
- You might think of some others…
- Linkage to “ownership”
- Explicit governance values
- Assurance of organizational performance
Donor fundraising
- Personal/corporate donations
- Legislative impact
- You may think of others. . .
Increasing the board's size cannot ensure that the board will do more. Especially if the board has not articulated what it should produce as a group.
How the board elects and installs new members is in your bylaws. Look there first. If it does not serve the needs of the organization, revise them within the limits of the laws of you state or province.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
29 September 2007
Key Principles of Policy Governance®
Welcome back! These are the foundational principles upon which we build a comprehensive system of governance.
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- Governance is a function of ownership not management.
- Boards are the highest authority under ownership.
- Boards are the initial authority within the organization
- Board authority is group authority
- Boards are accountable to the ownership for everything within the organization
- Boards need to empower those to whom they delegate authority while remaining fully accountable for the use of their authority.
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Fund raising is not begging
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In a great discussion with a good friend who is the Executive Director of a new organization that he has founded about fund raising I said, it's not about begging for money. In fact, I said, it is giving people the opportunity to participate in what we are doing through giving. I stumbled across this article this evening at The Extreme Fundraising Blog.
Click here to read!
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
In a great discussion with a good friend who is the Executive Director of a new organization that he has founded about fund raising I said, it's not about begging for money. In fact, I said, it is giving people the opportunity to participate in what we are doing through giving. I stumbled across this article this evening at The Extreme Fundraising Blog.
Click here to read!
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
21 September 2007
Board Goverance Workshop at Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership October 4
Welcome back!
"Board Leadership - Governance Excellence" is the 3-hour workshop that I am presenting at the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership on Thursday, October 4, 2007; 3 PM until 6 PM.
Your participation is welcomed and encouraged. There is a rather nominal fee of $30 for LBNP members and $45 for “not-yet-members for the workshop and you need to pre-register at the lbnp.org.
This is what the workshop is about:
How can you attract, motivate and retain good board members? Give them the right job and the right tools. Governance is the highest level of organizational leadership. The role of governance needs to lead with values and vision, and empower both board and staff, and practice the strategic ability to lead leaders. The board’s role is servant leadership. Participants in this workshop – board members and staff leaders will:
This workshop will not be a rehash of information that you have heard before and will not be a lot of stories about how boards have failed to do their job. It will provide an introduction to a comprehensive system of board governance that when used well will ensure that the board accomplishes its job outputs, keeps the organization on track with its fiduciary responsibility and makes a difference in the world.
The Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership is located at 3635 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807; (562) 290-0018
I am giving a shorter version of this workshop in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Please contact me for further information. The workshop is also available for organizations and their boards of directors in 90-minute, 3-hours, and all day formats. The training is also included as part of a complete package of board development services that in addition to training includes technical assistance to define the boards role, the writing of board level policies, monitoring of organizational activities and production of results.
For more information, check out our capacitypartnership.com and contact me gpeterson [at] capacitypartnership [dot] com.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
"Board Leadership - Governance Excellence" is the 3-hour workshop that I am presenting at the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership on Thursday, October 4, 2007; 3 PM until 6 PM.
Your participation is welcomed and encouraged. There is a rather nominal fee of $30 for LBNP members and $45 for “not-yet-members for the workshop and you need to pre-register at the lbnp.org.
This is what the workshop is about:
How can you attract, motivate and retain good board members? Give them the right job and the right tools. Governance is the highest level of organizational leadership. The role of governance needs to lead with values and vision, and empower both board and staff, and practice the strategic ability to lead leaders. The board’s role is servant leadership. Participants in this workshop – board members and staff leaders will:
- Access value for leadership through governance with Policy Governance® model
- Focus contributions to fulfill their role as servant leaders and avoid meddling or “rubber-stamping”
- Define roles of management and board distinct from one another
- Identify a conceptually complete system of governance that ensures organizational results on behalf of the moral ownership
This workshop will not be a rehash of information that you have heard before and will not be a lot of stories about how boards have failed to do their job. It will provide an introduction to a comprehensive system of board governance that when used well will ensure that the board accomplishes its job outputs, keeps the organization on track with its fiduciary responsibility and makes a difference in the world.
The Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership is located at 3635 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807; (562) 290-0018
I am giving a shorter version of this workshop in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Please contact me for further information. The workshop is also available for organizations and their boards of directors in 90-minute, 3-hours, and all day formats. The training is also included as part of a complete package of board development services that in addition to training includes technical assistance to define the boards role, the writing of board level policies, monitoring of organizational activities and production of results.
For more information, check out our capacitypartnership.com and contact me gpeterson [at] capacitypartnership [dot] com.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
13 September 2007
Should the executive director, especially the founder of an organization also serve as Board Member?
Welcome back!
This is a question that I get asked often. There are a lot of passionately held opinions about this. It is really a question about clarity of roles.
When an organization’s founder suggests to me that he or she should be a voting member of the board it is because that person perceives that there is a need to vote as an exercise of power. Frankly, I cannot think of a situation that this kind of power to vote against other board members either to break a tie or to exercise a dissenting vote against the majority would ever be a good idea.
The real answer is that the executive director, founder or not, has a role distinct from that of the board. The role of the board is to govern the organization, first articulating what the organization is to be for and then holding it accountable for accomplishing what it should while avoiding unacceptable situations and circumstances. The role of the ED is to carry out that direction from the board. The founder of an organization will be prudent to have well articulated what the expected results are to be produced, from whom those results should be produced and something about the value of how competing results should be prioritized.
A wise board will ensure that the person in the role of the ED will have the expertise required to accomplish this. The ED will likely be the most informed person in the room when the board is ready to learn what it needs to know to make a good decision. The ED is a colleague and expert to the board of directors.
We provide training and technical assistance to boards of directors to help them fulfill their governance responsibilities, write explicit board level policies, represent the moral ownership and hold organizations accountable. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or need assistance. Because poor governance costs more than learning to govern well, the board ought to invest in its governance capacity—the best time to do this is at the start-up stage of any organization
Note: When asked this question recently, it was suggested that good conflict of interest policy would make it ok to have the ED serve as a board member. Having a good conflict of interest policy in place is wise and prudent regardless of whether the executive director has a voting position on the board of directors. Again, the real question is that of clear role distinction and serving those roles.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
This is a question that I get asked often. There are a lot of passionately held opinions about this. It is really a question about clarity of roles.
When an organization’s founder suggests to me that he or she should be a voting member of the board it is because that person perceives that there is a need to vote as an exercise of power. Frankly, I cannot think of a situation that this kind of power to vote against other board members either to break a tie or to exercise a dissenting vote against the majority would ever be a good idea.
The real answer is that the executive director, founder or not, has a role distinct from that of the board. The role of the board is to govern the organization, first articulating what the organization is to be for and then holding it accountable for accomplishing what it should while avoiding unacceptable situations and circumstances. The role of the ED is to carry out that direction from the board. The founder of an organization will be prudent to have well articulated what the expected results are to be produced, from whom those results should be produced and something about the value of how competing results should be prioritized.
A wise board will ensure that the person in the role of the ED will have the expertise required to accomplish this. The ED will likely be the most informed person in the room when the board is ready to learn what it needs to know to make a good decision. The ED is a colleague and expert to the board of directors.
We provide training and technical assistance to boards of directors to help them fulfill their governance responsibilities, write explicit board level policies, represent the moral ownership and hold organizations accountable. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or need assistance. Because poor governance costs more than learning to govern well, the board ought to invest in its governance capacity—the best time to do this is at the start-up stage of any organization
Note: When asked this question recently, it was suggested that good conflict of interest policy would make it ok to have the ED serve as a board member. Having a good conflict of interest policy in place is wise and prudent regardless of whether the executive director has a voting position on the board of directors. Again, the real question is that of clear role distinction and serving those roles.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
23 August 2007
Quotation
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-- Thomas Edison
"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."
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11 August 2007
Pro Bono Legal help for Nonprofit Organizations
Welcome back!
Lots of questions at our workshop on Friday. That is good. Some of the questions were related to legal issues that I declined to answer, even though I may have expressed my opinions or told you what I had heard attorneys say to others. For real legal help you can contact Public Counsel.
Nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County can access pro bono (free) legal help for your organization through Public Counsel.
For organizations working in the area of community development, you can go directly to this. Other areas of specialty areas are listed here and include immigrant rights, consumer law, child care law, children's rights, and homelessness prevention.
You may want to get legal counsel before entering into a contract, incorporating, developing a partnership where two parties will have responsibilities and benefits. Realize that it may take some time to get your legal counsel. But if you are not in a hurry, this is the place to go. Public Counsel may choose not to help with issues that are already or going to litigation.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
Lots of questions at our workshop on Friday. That is good. Some of the questions were related to legal issues that I declined to answer, even though I may have expressed my opinions or told you what I had heard attorneys say to others. For real legal help you can contact Public Counsel.
Nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County can access pro bono (free) legal help for your organization through Public Counsel.
For organizations working in the area of community development, you can go directly to this. Other areas of specialty areas are listed here and include immigrant rights, consumer law, child care law, children's rights, and homelessness prevention.
You may want to get legal counsel before entering into a contract, incorporating, developing a partnership where two parties will have responsibilities and benefits. Realize that it may take some time to get your legal counsel. But if you are not in a hurry, this is the place to go. Public Counsel may choose not to help with issues that are already or going to litigation.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
"See you in Court . . ."
Welcome back!
. . . promises to answer these questions:
Speakers such as Kafi Blumenfield, President/CEO of Liberty Hill; and James Cordi, representative from California's Attorney General's Office will answer your your questions and more in "See You In Court" on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 from 9 AM to 12 Noon at the Center a Cathedral Plaza.
When we talked Friday about training programs and sessions we noted that not all are as good as they should be. One of the ways that I try to determine the potential quality of a workshop is to look at the person who is presenting it. In this case, I would want to hear what these people have to say about these topics.
I found this information in Nonprofit Directions (Vol. 14, Issue 31), a publication of Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
. . . promises to answer these questions:
- What is conflict of interest?
- Can nonprofits hold a raffle?
- What constitutes wrongful termination?
- Are the independent consultants you use really employees?
- Do you know what the penalties are for these and other management mistakes?
Speakers such as Kafi Blumenfield, President/CEO of Liberty Hill; and James Cordi, representative from California's Attorney General's Office will answer your your questions and more in "See You In Court" on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 from 9 AM to 12 Noon at the Center a Cathedral Plaza.
When we talked Friday about training programs and sessions we noted that not all are as good as they should be. One of the ways that I try to determine the potential quality of a workshop is to look at the person who is presenting it. In this case, I would want to hear what these people have to say about these topics.
I found this information in Nonprofit Directions (Vol. 14, Issue 31), a publication of Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
California Nonprofit Integrity Act
Welcome back!
There is a variety of information for charities and nonprofit organizations on the website of the California Attorney General's office here. You can find important information on the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2005 as a pdf:
http://caag.state.ca.us/charities/publications/nonprofit_integrity_act_nov04.pdf
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
There is a variety of information for charities and nonprofit organizations on the website of the California Attorney General's office here. You can find important information on the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2005 as a pdf:
http://caag.state.ca.us/charities/publications/nonprofit_integrity_act_nov04.pdf
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
07 August 2007
Value of Volunteer Time 2005 and 2006
Welcome back!
The estimated dollar value of volunteer time in the US is $18.77 per hour for 2006. For California it was $20.36 in 2005.
The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.
Learn more about these figures, including how they are calculated and how nonprofit organizations often use them, at the Independent Sector website.
The dollar value of volunteer time for 2006 is estimated at $18.77.
More information about this value and how to use it can be found at Independent Sector's Research on Volunteer Value page here.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
The estimated dollar value of volunteer time in the US is $18.77 per hour for 2006. For California it was $20.36 in 2005.
The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.
Learn more about these figures, including how they are calculated and how nonprofit organizations often use them, at the Independent Sector website.
The dollar value of volunteer time for 2006 is estimated at $18.77.
More information about this value and how to use it can be found at Independent Sector's Research on Volunteer Value page here.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
CAPACITY BUILDING: Financial Systems
Welcome back! I am teaching a one-day seminar on Financial Systems for Nonprofits for:
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT NETWORK
Management Training Series
Friday August 10, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Washington Mutual, First Floor Training Room
4401 Crenshaw Blvd,. Los Angeles, CA
Make Check Payable to: "SCPIP"
Facilitator: Glen Peterson.
Mail to: 4401 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 315
Los Angeles, CA 90043
REGISTRATION DEADLINE August 8, 2007
Fee: $70.00 ESN Members
$85.00 Non - members
$95.00 On Site Registration
OBJECTIVE: Participants will learn requirements and regulations of nonprofits finance and budgets.
Continental breakfast & Lunch Served
SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 TO REGISTER
For additional information contact: Eddie Mae Williams (323) 290-3593
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITIES PREVENTION & INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, INC.
4401 CRENSHAW BLVD, SUITE 315 (323) 290-3593 Phone (323) 290-3594 Fax
I plan to cover how to understand various financial statements, audits, governance role and staff role, certain legal issues such as the California Nonprofit Accountability Act, how to demonstrate accountability and generate confidence among donors and other constituents.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
Management Training Series
Friday August 10, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Washington Mutual, First Floor Training Room
4401 Crenshaw Blvd,. Los Angeles, CA
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Executive Director, COO, Bookkeeper, Board members
Executive Director, COO, Bookkeeper, Board members
Make Check Payable to: "SCPIP"
Facilitator: Glen Peterson.
Mail to: 4401 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 315
Los Angeles, CA 90043
REGISTRATION DEADLINE August 8, 2007
Fee: $70.00 ESN Members
$85.00 Non - members
$95.00 On Site Registration
OBJECTIVE: Participants will learn requirements and regulations of nonprofits finance and budgets.
Continental breakfast & Lunch Served
SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 TO REGISTER
For additional information contact: Eddie Mae Williams (323) 290-3593
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITIES PREVENTION & INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, INC.
4401 CRENSHAW BLVD, SUITE 315 (323) 290-3593 Phone (323) 290-3594 Fax
I plan to cover how to understand various financial statements, audits, governance role and staff role, certain legal issues such as the California Nonprofit Accountability Act, how to demonstrate accountability and generate confidence among donors and other constituents.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
14 July 2007
Technology Consulting--Free
Welcome back!
I have a friend/client with a technology consulting business who will take a look at your current technology costs and what you are receiving for that cost, and make recommendations on how you can save money. Other clients have saved considerable amounts on what they spend for internet access, web-hosting, telephone service and equipment, wireless, etc. I will be happy to connect you with him if you request in a comment below.
Additionally, your community organization could become an affiliate for wholesale services and earn money for your nonprofit cause. Let me know so I can make the connection for you.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
I have a friend/client with a technology consulting business who will take a look at your current technology costs and what you are receiving for that cost, and make recommendations on how you can save money. Other clients have saved considerable amounts on what they spend for internet access, web-hosting, telephone service and equipment, wireless, etc. I will be happy to connect you with him if you request in a comment below.
Additionally, your community organization could become an affiliate for wholesale services and earn money for your nonprofit cause. Let me know so I can make the connection for you.
Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.
09 July 2007
Welcome back!
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"We have to step out of this charity model, and as nonprofits, we have to start being involved in the political discourse. Hunger's not about food."
- Robert Egger, anti-hunger activist, founder of D.C. Central Kitchen, and recent recipient of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award. (Source: The Washington Post)
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