Evaluation

Creating a Community of Learners.pdf
Successful Evaluative Learning for Nonprofits and Funders.

NonprofitWorldSolutionsArticle.pdf
The Nonprofit Sector Doesn't Exist! Society for Nonprofit Organizations publication, Nonprofit World, has published a must read for nonprofit leaders who are struggling with identity. Going beyond a new definition, this author advocates fresh roles, solutions, and a whole different society. Is it time for you to change your strategies? See why?

Capaciteria - Evaluation
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Dashboards
A dashboard provides you with key indicators of critical information, so you can make effective decisions quickly. © ReSolve, Inc. 2007

Evaluating Your Executive Director's End Results
When we evaluate the performance of the Executive Director, we are really evaluating the performance of the entire organization. Considered through that lens, what will you base your Executive Director's evaluation on? Will you only look to see what the ED did? Or will you look deeper, to see what both the ED and the organization accomplished?

The Free Management Library - Evaluation Activities in Organizations
Evaluation, in the context of management activities, is carefully collecting information about something in order to make necessary decisions about it. There are a large number and wide variety of evaluations that can occur in businesses, whether for-profit or nonprofit. Evaluation is closely related to performance management (whether about organizations, groups, processes or individuals), which includes identifying measures to indicate results. Evaluation often includes collecting information around these measures to conclude the extent of performance.

From Chris Ameen's January 23 workshop "Developing an Evaluation Plan That Works for Your Organization"
Evaluation Planning Helpful Websites
Evaluation Planning Power Point Presentation
Assessing Organizational Readiness Handout

Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Toolkit
These toolkits outline the essential elements for building effective communication, evaluation, and public policy programs. They have been created primarily for Kellogg Foundation grantees. We hope you will find their content provocative and action-oriented. Links to many other publications and Internet resources can help us all do a better job of communicating about our work and serving the needs of society.

Learning as we go.pdf
Making Evaluation Work for Everyone - a briefing paper for Funders and Nonprofit

Financial Management

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management
Has an FAQ on financial management, which features a collection of essays offering answers to questions including an explanation of the elements of an accounting system; what are the differences between nonprofit and for-profit accounting; and how to develop functional expense classification.

The Art & Science of Budgeting Part 1
The Art & Science of Budgeting Part 2
Steven Zimmerman of Spectrum Nonprofit Services and the Nonprofit Alliance sponsored a two-part webinar "The Art & Science of Budgeting" as part of the Nonprofit Capacity Building Series. These power point slides contain valuable information for nonprofit staff & board members that are involved with budgeting aspects of their organization.

Capaciteria - Accounting & Financial Management
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Dashboards
A dashboard provides you with key indicators of critical information, so you can make effective decisions quickly. © ReSolve, Inc. 2007

11-ways-to-focus-on-ends-over-means
Hildy's Online Journal for the Community-Driven Institute. By Hildy Gottlieb.

Fiscal Management Associates
FMA offers a range of fiscal management and accounting tools.

How Fiscal Sponsorship Nurtures Nonprofits
An article by Third Sector New England Executive Director Jonathan Spack.

Increasing Your Board's Financial Knowledge
An article on Governance by Hilda Polanco, Managing Director of Fiscal Management Associates, LLC.

Nonprofit Finance Fund
NFF is a national leader in helping nonprofits strengthen their financial health and improve their capacity to serve their communities

RSM McGladrey
RSM McGladrey is the Accounting, Tax and Business Consulting professionals who enhance business performance through insight and expertise based on their unique understanding of the needs and aspirations of companies on the move.

Sustaining Your Mission for the Long Haul
Nonprofits have had to focus so much of their efforts on raising money, that it is easy to forget that money is just one of many tools we use in our quest to build a better present and future for our communities. By Hildy Gottlieb from the Help 4 Nonprofits website.

There have been recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) changes that may affect your tax exempt organization.
Most small tax-exempt organizations are now required to file an electronic notice or “e-Postcard” with the IRS annually. In the past, charities and non-profits with gross receipts of $25,000 or less were not required to file information returns. This was changed with the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. If your organization fits this profile, it is important to follow the new guidelines or your tax-exempt status could be jeopardized.

Work with What You've Got: A Model for NonProfit Financial Sustainability
Part 1 - Introduction to Mission-based Sustainable Fund Development. By Hildy Gottlieb from the Help 4 Nonprofits website.

Write the Perfect RFP
By Wes Trochlil This article originally appeared in the September 2007 issue of Associations Now, published by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. The very term “RFP” strikes fear into the heart of association professionals and industry partners, for two very different reasons. Association professionals often dislike creating RFPs because they aren’t sure what to include, what questions to ask, and who to send it to. Industry partners fear responding to a poorly written RFP where critical information is omitted. This article outline keys to a successful RFP.

Foundations and Grantmaking

Council of Michigan Foundations
CMF's collection of resources includes research studies, newsletters, booklets, videos and audio tapes on Michigan's philanthropic issues and events.

Foundation Center
The Foundation Center is the most authoritative source of information on private philanthropy in the United States. They help grant seekers, grant makers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public better understand the field of philanthropy.

Grants.gov
Your source to find and apply for federal government grants. Grants.gov was established as a governmental resource named the E-Grants Initiative, part of the President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda to improve government services to the public.

Nonprofit Guides
Non-profit guides are free Web-based grant-writing tools for non-profit organizations, charitable, educational, public organizations, and other community-minded groups.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Is the No. 1 news source, in print and online, for charity leaders, fund raisers, grant makers, and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise.

Fundraising

Bonding information for Fundraising Professionals
www.bondsexpress.com
www.probondins.com

Capaciteria - Fundraising & Grants Management
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Charity Auctions
Charity Auctions is the first community website devoted to providing all the information and solutions facing volunteers and staff in the difficult task of implementing a fund-raising auction.

A Development Director Needs More Than "A Smile And A Shoeshine," But It's A Good Start from Tony Poderis @ Fund Raising Forum.
This is the era of high-tech delivery of information in an instant. The Internet is accessible from any telephone line, and lap-top computers let us take the facts and figures -- all the facts and figures -- to wherever they're needed. Development professionals must master this technology which lets us massage estate planning scenarios, target solicitation mailings, and develop campaign giving plans. But, we must also remember that, no matter how high-tech the tools, funds are raised person-to-person.

FriendRaising and Your Board
There are numerous realities about "boards and fundraising." Because fighting those realities hasn't worked, perhaps it is time to instead acknowledge those realities and embrace them.
By Hildy Gottlieb from the Help 4 Nonprofits website.

From the "More Askers, More Donors, More Money" workshop on March 8th, 2007, with Andy Robinson, Leading Fund Development Consultant
Board Fundraising Contracts: Board Agreement One.pdf, Board Agreement Two.pdf
Menu of Opportunities: Menu One.pdf, Menu Two.pdf
Sample Prospect List worksheet: Prospect list worksheet.pdf
Sample Board job description: Board job description.pdf

From the workshop "Making the Most of Direct Mail" on September 24th, 2007, presented by Dennis Meyer and Bonnie O’Neill, EVP of Meyer Partners.
Direct Mail & the annual fund.pdf
Direct Mail Analytics.pdf
Sample DPA Reports.pdf
30 ideas in 30 minutes.pdf
Direct Mail Secrets.pdf

Fund-raising Forum Library
A Fund raising forum site from Tony Poderis. There are some great, free, fund raising tools on this site.

Generic Business Document Templates:
Business Underwriter Agreement.doc A sample Underwriter Agreement in MS Word document format.
Underwriter Letter.doc A sample generic Underwriter Letter in MS Word document format.
Underwriter Recruitment Worksheet.doc A sample generic Underwriter Recruitment Worksheet in MS Word document format.
Event-Project Worksheet.doc A sample generic Event Project Worksheet in MS Word document format.
Letter of Inquiry.pdf A sample generic Inquiry Letter in PDF format.

Grassroots Fundraising - Fundraising Basics
Practical tips and tools to help you raise money for your organization. Here you'll find a number of free articles that are especially helpful to people new to fundraising.

New Report from the Hewlett Foundation Reveals “Hard Lessons” about Philanthropy
This is the story of a philanthropic initiative that did not meet the expectations of its many stakeholders. Given the challenging social problems that foundations and our grantees try to solve, we should expect that we will often fail to achieve our shared aspirations. When this happens, we should seize the opportunity to understand the causes in order to improve our own performance and benefit others working in the field.

NorthSky Fund Development Plan Template for nonprofit organizations

Organizers Database
Does your nonprofit need to manage contacts and contributions without making a huge investment of money or time? You’ve come to the right place. Organizers Database (ODB) costs nothing to download, runs on any Windows computer, and is easy enough for everyone on your staff to learn.

RSM McGladrey : Special Events Fundraising
In the midst of “raising the funding bar”, let’s not forget about one of the best options in this arena: Special Events. If well-planned and well-manned, these “happenings” can be the best tactic available to your organization for bringing in funds and (sometimes more important) educating the public about what we do.

YOA PowerPoint Presentation. A sample fundraising PowerPoint presentation from the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. (PowerPoint file size = 3.6 MB)

Sample Cultivation Letter
From Keith Hopkin's Break for Lunch: Conducting the Ask

Governance

Board Members 10 Basic Responsibilities
A PDF handout on board roles and responsibilities.

Break for Lunch workshops
Take a break for lunch while adding tools to your management tool kit. Gain practical knowledge to build your organizational performance. Meet local experts who will share their knowledge and introduce you to community resources.

Capturing the Power of Leadership Change.pdf
by CompassPoint and TransitionGuides.

Carver's Policy Governance® Model in Nonprofit Organizations
The Authoritative Website for the Carver Policy Governance® Model

Community Legal Resources
CLR is a nonprofit 501c3 that connects Michigan’s nonprofit organizations that serve low-income communities with pro bono lawyers. Our ultimate goal is to harness the resources of the private bar in order to tackle complex legal and technical barriers that serve as a roadblock to progress in under served communities.

Conflict of Interest template.pdf
A sample Conflict of Interest document from Judith Lindenau, Traverse Area Association of Realtors.

Directors & Officers Insurance:
Coverage for MNA Members
Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, Risk Retention Group (ANI-RRG)

# Interim Executive Directors: The Power of the Middle.pdf
by Tim Wolfred.

Up Next: Generation Change and the Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations.pdf
by Frances Kunreuther.

Risk Management Methods and Practices
Check out the Nonprofit Risk Management Resource Center for fact sheets on a range of risk management, liability and insurance topics.

Risk Management Essentials
2007 Risk Management Resolutions :: It's Never too Late to Begin Anew

Risk Management Essentials
Zero Tolerance for Workplace Violence :: Key Component of Workplace Safety

Human Resources

The Free Management Library for Nonprofits & For-Profits
The Library provides easy-to-access, clutter-free, comprehensive resources regarding the leadership and management of yourself, other individuals, groups and organizations. Content is relevant to the vast majority of people, whether they are in large or small for-profit or nonprofit organizations. Over the past 10 years, the Library has grown to be one of the world's largest well-organized collections of these types of resources.

The 501 Alliance
They help hundreds of agencies meet their obligations to employees under state unemployment compensation regulations and is an alternative to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). They provide this service free for their nonprofit members.

Human Resources, Employment Practices
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center (NRMC) aids nonprofit staff, boards, and volunteers in controlling risks so that their organizations can focus on their missions. NRMC offers publications that cover a wide variety of risk management issues and needs, provides training and consulting, and offers telephone support to answer risk management questions from nonprofits.

Independent Contractor or Employee?
You need some help in conducting your business. You’d like just to have someone come for a few hours, pay for the time and be done with it. Can it ever be that simple?

Marketing & Development Job Description.pdf
A sample of a Marketing & Development Job Description.

The Nonprofit Human Resources Center
Welcome to the Nonprofit Human Resources Center! Action Without Borders/Idealist.org runs this resource center to assist nonprofit staff in doing their HR work.

Legal Considerations

Capaciteria - Legal, Tax & Regulatory Resources
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Staying Legal Resource
A "one-stop shop" Web site developed to help new and already-established charitable nonprofit organizations comply with federal and state laws and regulations. The Web site includes sections specific to starting a nonprofit; public charities; private foundations and trusts; state and federal laws and regulations affecting nonprofit operations; exposing common myths; and much more.

Community Legal Resources
CLR is a nonprofit 501c3 that connects Michigan’s nonprofit organizations that serve low-income communities with pro bono lawyers. Our ultimate goal is to harness the resources of the private bar in order to tackle complex legal and technical barriers that serve as a roadblock to progress in under served communities.

Easy-to-Use Online 990 Form for Nonprofits
The National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute provides 990 Online, an easy-to-use Web-based system for preparing your IRS Form 990, 990-EZ, or request for extension. Returns can be e-filed directly with the IRS and participating states or you can print and mail your return and save an electronic version for distribution to your board, donors or others. The system automatically calculates totals and creates the schedules and attachments that you need to complete. Users range from the smallest organizations to those with revenues or assets in the billions. The service is completely free for organizations with less than $100,000 in gross receipts and we have a sliding scale for larger organizations ranging from $25 to $75."

Help Filling Out Your 501(c)(3) Application
This website, posted as a public service by Sandy Deja, a tax consultant with over 33 years experience with IRS Form 1023, is designed to help new non-profit organizations complete the Application for Exempt Status Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Internal Revenue Service Resources
Tax Information for Charitable Organizations
Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations
Tax Information for Contributors
Tax Information for Other Non-Profits
Tax Information for Political Organizations
Tax Information for Private Foundations

The Impact of the pension protection act of 2006 on nonprofit organizations.pdf, By Scott D. Harvey, Attorney

Information on Fair Labor Laws as they relate to small business. Also see Region 2 SBTDC for information

Sample Articles of Incorporation
The articles of incorporation set up the basic terms of the corporation, such as its purpose and board of directors. The following articles of incorporation are intended only as a model. They show some of the most general ways of writing articles of incorporation.

Sample Bylaws for Nonprofit Organizations WITHOUT Members
Sample Bylaws for Nonprofit Organizations WITH Members
The bylaws serve as the nonprofit's rule book. Although each state has its own statutes, there is substantial flexibility to writing the organizational bylaws to fit the uniqueness of an organization. From nonprofit to nonprofit, bylaws will vary according to the many decisions made by the organization's founders board members.

Marketing and Communications

eNonprofit Benchmarks Study 2008
The Study analyzes online messaging, fundraising, and advocacy data from 21 leading nonprofit organizations in order to provide readers with reliable current informaion. Questions answered by the study include: How does your email list stack up against other nonprofits? Is it just your open rate that's declining, or are all nonprofits seeing the same results? And just what is a good online fundraising response rate?

101 Writing Tips for Successful Email Marketing.pdf
Written by award-winning copywriter Steve Slaunwhite, this is a comprehensive yet easy to read guide featuring writing tips for creating effective email messages.

Communications Plan Template
This document provides a generic template for developing a communications plan for start-up nonprofits or for any organization that does not have one.

Community Research Services, LLC
Is a full-service community development consulting company, providing a wide variety of products and services, ranging from market feasibility reports to development assistance.

Creative Commons
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."

Developing a Sales Strategy.doc
A sample generic Sales Strategy in MS Word document format.

From the "What's in a Name? Learn Why Branding is Important for Your Organization" December 6, 2007 Break for Lunch Session. Branding is a critical component of your organization’s public image, marketing, and fundraising programs. Successful branding can save you money and boost your organization’s credibility.
Branding Power Point Presentation
Branding Worksheet - Pulling it all together
Branding Checklist
Developing Your Brand Position
The 200-word Watercooler Message Worksheet

Improve Media Relations with Your Web Site.pdf
by Susan Lewandowski Compare your Web site with those in a recent study to see if you are making any of these fatal errors.

Getting Started: Email Marketing for Nonprofits, By Eve Smith
This article explains why email should be a part of your marketing mix, and the seven essential elements for developing an effective email campaign.

How to Start a Blog
A "blog", abbreviated word for weblog, is a web-based journal in which people can publish their thoughts and opinions on the Internet. Anyone can start a blog. It's straight-forward and, in a lot of cases, free.

Kellogg Foundation Communications Toolkit
These toolkits outline the essential elements for building effective communication, evaluation, and public policy programs. They have been created primarily for Kellogg Foundation grantees. We hope you will find their content provocative and action-oriented. Links to many other publications and Internet resources can help us all do a better job of communicating about our work and serving the needs of society.

Marketing Checklist.doc A sample generic Marketing Checklist in MS Word document format.

Marketing Implementation Calendar.doc A sample generic Marketing Implementation Calendar in MS Word document format.

Marketing Implementation Template.doc A sample generic Marketing Implementation Template in MS Word document format.

Overnight Prints
All of our printing is produced overnight in premium quality, and offered at the most competitive rates. It`s simple to create your order online. Choose from our wide variety of designs and customize it or submit your artwork using our Insta-Proof™ system.

Sample promotional calendar.doc A sample generic Sample promotional calendar in MS Word document format.

Sample Marketing Budget.doc A sample generic Sample Marketing Budget in MS Word document format.

Should You Start a Business Blog?
Why you should consider a small-business blog--and how you can start one. By Peter Alexander

Organizational Management & Leadership Development

Meyer Foundation Report
Report finds young nonprofit leaders concerned about pay and work-life balance. Although a diverse pool of committed young people would like to be nonprofit executive directors in the future, many of them say there are significant barriers to realizing that ambition.

The Nonprofit Sector Doesn't Exist or A New Way of Viewing the Social Economy
Going beyond a new definition, this author advocates fresh roles, solutions, and a whole different society. Is it time for you to change your strategies?

Commongood Careers Report
Survey finds nonprofit jobseekers see obstacles in building long-term careers. Many nonprofit jobseekers are eager to build lon-term careers in the social sector but believe that nonprofit employers are not doing enough to address the obstacles they face, a new report from Commongood Careers outlines the challenges.

Business Planning Tools: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence and the National Center for Nonprofit Enterprise have developed these templates and guides.
Sample Business Plan Template
Business Plan Worksheets
Venture Plan Template
Nonprofit Planning Tools
Planning Template Guide: The Nonprofit Plan
Nonprofit Planning Template

Capaciteria - Organizational Development & Management
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Dashboards
A dashboard provides you with key indicators of critical information, so you can make effective decisions quickly.
© ReSolve, Inc. 2007

Emergency Succession Plan Template
As the Center for Nonprofit Advancement reviewed recent studies on executive leadership, we noticed a pattern: while more organizations are grappling with the responsibilities of an anticipated change in leadership, few have planned for an emergency change in leadership—short-term or long-term. We felt this lack of action was our call for action.

Executive Transitions Monographs
This series is managed jointly by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, TransitionGuides, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and underwritten by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund:
Capturing the Power of Leadership Change.pdf
by CompassPoint and TransitionGuides.
# Interim Executive Directors: The Power of the Middle.pdf by Tim Wolfred.
Up Next: Generation Change and the Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations.pdf by Frances Kunreuther.
Founder Transitions: Creating Good Endings and New Beginnings.pdf
by Tom Adams.

The Free Management Library for Nonprofits & For-Profits
The Library provides easy-to-access, clutter-free, comprehensive resources regarding the leadership and management of yourself, other individuals, groups and organizations. Content is relevant to the vast majority of people, whether they are in large or small for-profit or nonprofit organizations. Over the past 10 years, the Library has grown to be one of the world's largest well-organized collections of these types of resources.

Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center partners with NorthSky Nonprofit Network to provide services and support to the Michigan nonprofit community in the areas of counsel, training and research.

THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF: This brief highlights key findings from the Nonprofit Almanac 2007, prepared by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute (Urban Institute Press, forthcoming). The Almanac is the latest in the Urban Institute’s series of statistical profiles of the nonprofit sector, most recently produced in conjunction with Independent Sector in 2002.

Risk Management Essentials
Tips, Knowledge and Tools for Nonprofit Organizations :: from the Risk Management Essentials publications.

Public Policy

Advocacy Toolkit: Creating Campaigns that Change the World
This guide explains how to mobilize and engage Americans to take action. InterAction developed this toolkit out of InterAction’s Outreach and Communications Working Group: a forum for communications, fundraising, volunteering, advocacy, and grassroots organization, where professionals come together to share experiences, lessons learned, and collaborate whenever possible.

Advocacy Guide: InterAction's Eight Steps to Strategic Advocacy
This short guide gives an overview of eight steps of a strategic advocacy campaign.

ArtServe Michigan
ArtServe Michigan supports, strengthens and builds awareness of arts, culture and creativity in Michigan.   

Kellogg Foundation Policy Toolkit
These toolkits outline the essential elements for building effective communication, evaluation, and public policy programs. They have been created primarily for Kellogg Foundation grantees. We hope you will find their content provocative and action-oriented. Links to many other publications and Internet resources can help us all do a better job of communicating about our work and serving the needs of society.

Starting a Nonprofit

Business Planning Tools: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence and the National Center for Nonprofit Enterprise have developed these templates and guides.
Sample Business Plan Template
Business Plan Worksheets
Venture Plan Template
Nonprofit Planning Tools
Planning Template Guide: The Nonprofit Plan
Nonprofit Planning Template

Business Tools
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These are cool entrepreneurial tools to set the foundation for business success. Here you'll find a sample business plan for a new business, a nondisclosure statement, and a 12-month sales forecast, in addition to business quizzes & free business resources. Coming in early 2008, free nonprofit counseling provided by a partnership between SCORE and NorthSky Nonprofit Network.

Capaciteria - Starting a Nonprofit
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Help Filling Out Your 501(c)(3) Application
This website, posted as a public service by Sandy Deja, a tax consultant with over 33 years experience with IRS Form 1023, is designed to help new non-profit organizations complete the Application for Exempt Status Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

How to Start a Nonprofit from TSNE.
There are many important legal and regulatory factors involved in starting a new nonprofit, as well as strategic considerations. However, before you even begin this process, it is important to research the niche that your organization will fill to ensure that there is an unmet demand for your service and that it can sustain itself long term.

Internal Revenue Service Resources
Tax Information for Charitable Organizations
Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations
Tax Information for Contributors
Tax Information for Other Non-Profits
Tax Information for Political Organizations
Tax Information for Private Foundations

Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center partners with NorthSky Nonprofit Network to provide services and support to the Michigan nonprofit community in the areas of counsel, training and research.

Miracles - Inspiration for Starting a Nonprofit
Real-life miracles were the subject of Van Jones' keynote address at the Craigslist Foundation's "Nonprofit Boot Camp" last year. He amused and inspired his audience with the story of his early days at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Sample Articles of Incorporation
The articles of incorporation set up the basic terms of the corporation, such as its purpose and board of directors. The following articles of incorporation are intended only as a model. They show some of the most general ways of writing articles of incorporation.

Sample Bylaws for Nonprofit Organizations WITHOUT Members
Sample Bylaws for Nonprofit Organizations WITH Members
The bylaws serve as the nonprofit's rule book. Although each state has its own statutes, there is substantial flexibility to writing the organizational bylaws to fit the uniqueness of an organization. From nonprofit to nonprofit, bylaws will vary according to the many decisions made by the organization's founders board members.

The RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
Is committed to connecting economic development practitioners and policy makers across rural America to the resources needed to energize entrepreneurs and to implement entrepreneurship as a core rural economic development strategy.

Sustainability & Planning

Business Tools
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These are cool entrepreneurial tools to set the foundation for business success. Here you'll find a sample business plan for a new business, a nondisclosure statement, and a 12-month sales forecast, in addition to business quizzes & free business resources. Coming in early 2008, free nonprofit counseling provided by a partnership between SCORE and NorthSky Nonprofit Network.

Building Effective Partnerships in Service-Learning
From the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, a program of Learn and Serve America. Effective partnerships between agencies, schools, colleges or universities, businesses, government, and residents for the benefit of the community are a vital part of youth service in America. Service-learning collaborations provide students with an increased confidence in their ability and show the community that young people can make valuable contributions.

Capaciteria - Social Entrepreneurship & Sustainability
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

NorthSky Strategic Plan Template for Nonprofit Organizations

The Sustainable Nonprofit Archives
From PND - Philanthropy News Digest, a service of The Foundation Center
The Sustainable Nonprofit (TSN) examines critical issues related to nonprofit sustainability through the eyes of nonprofit leaders, practitioners, and consultants.

The Sustainable Nonprofit: Spending Your Web Site Dollars Wisely
From PND - Philanthropy News Digest, a service of The Foundation Center
Media expert Karen Roberts makes the case for not skimping on your organization's Web site and blocks out the Web development process in five simple steps.

Work with What You've Got: A Model for NonProfit Financial Sustainability
Part 1 - Introduction to Mission-based Sustainable Fund Development.
By Hildy Gottlieb from the Help 4 Nonprofits website.

Technology

10 Things Every Nonprofit Executive Needs to Know About IT
Desktops, laptops, websites, eblasts, blackberries and the many other tools of information technology have proven to be a godsend for nonprofits, especially small to midsized ones. The use of technology can help level the playing field between a five-person nonprofit and a corporate behemoth when it comes to getting a message out and mobilizing constituents around a pressing issue.

Capaciteria - Information & Communications Technology
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Determing Your Social Network Needs
Social networking sites promise to offer an array of benefits to nonprofits, from allowing them to keep abreast of trends and generate awareness to helping them raise money and connect with new supporters. As these tools continue to grow in popularity and expand beyond their traditional under-20 demographic, your nonprofit may be tempted to create a presence on one or more of the ever-growing roster of social networking sites. From PND - Philanthropy News Digest, a service of The Foundation Center.

Google Analytics
The new Google Analytics makes it easy to improve your results online. Write better ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives, and create higher-converting websites. Google Analytics is free to all advertisers, publishers, and site owners.

A Few Good Tools: Low-Cost Constituent Databases
A three-person organization is looking for a better way to track people. They currently store data on about six hundred volunteers, donors, partners, and other constituents in a series of spreadsheets. From PND - Philanthropy News Digest, a service of The Foundation Center.

Glossary of computer terms
This is where to go when somebody tells you that your IRQs are conflicting on the PCI bus and you have NC (no clue) what that means.

Making the Accounting Software Decision.pdf
by Don Frey. Use this checklist to choose the best accounting software for your needs

Need to Update Your Information Technology? Try Service Learning.pdf
by Robin A. Alexander :: High-tech needn't’t mean high-cost. Consider a service-learning project.

TechAtlas
Managed by NPower Michigan, TechAtlas is an online tool that helps nonprofits assess, plan for and manage the technology they need to make an even greater difference in their communities. TechAtlas walks nonprofits through the technology planning process, from creating a vision of how technology could be most effective in their organizations, to assessing and prioritizing their needs, to generating a final report that can be shared with board and staff. Additionally, advanced features of TechAtlas provide tools to manage existing technology more effectively, such as online inventorying, help desk tracking and special assessments. To date, more than 13,000 nonprofits have used TechAtlas to help manage their technology and plan for future needs.

TechSoup Stock
At TechSoup Stock, hundreds of donated computer products are available from partners such as Cisco, Intuit, Adobe, Symantec, Microsoft, and more. Since 2002, over 50,000 nonprofits across the United States and Canada have accessed the software and hardware products they need at TechSoup Stock.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator
Managed by NPower Michigan, the TCO Calculator is an important part of technology planning designed to help you analyze the long-term costs associated with owning technology on a per PC basis and then compare your results to industry benchmarks.

Volunteer Management

Capaciteria - Constituency, Volunteer & Member Management
Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources that help nonprofits leverage their own capacity.

Involving Youth in Nonprofit Arts Organizations
The future of nonprofit arts organizations large and small depends on attracting the best new talent to administer their affairs, to serve as artists and audiences, and to act as advocates, boosters, and financial supporters.

"The New Volunteer" materials from Pam Evan's March 5 workshop
The New Volunteer Power Point Presentation
Sample Volunteer Position Description worksheet

Volunteers and Volunteer Management
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has an extensive collection of reference material and articles which are used its many activities. These Risk Management Briefs are selected items from the NRMC collection

Volunteer Center of Traverse City
Their mission is to efficiently raise and effectively distribute financial and volunteer resources to support community-determined initiatives that improve the lives of community members.