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125 Ways to Save on Meetings from Meetingsnet.com

Network for Good free e-books, guides, white papers on online fundraising and marketing.

For more info: WNA Career Center

President and CEO, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Milwaukee

Program Manager, Innovative Services, Sheboygan

Director of Licensing, WI Alumni Research Foundation, Madison

Our purpose is to increase the effectiveness, visibility, and credibility of Wisconsin's nonprofits through advocacy, resource sharing, and technical support.
We find common ground for common good to offer a collective voice for nonprofits.

3rd Annual Summit • May 17 - 18 • Green Bay
Early bird, Member, & Multiple-Registration Discounts!

Download registration form HERE. Online registration opens soon.

Keynote Presentation
Nan Aron, President and Founder, Alliance for Justice
Making Advocacy Work for All Nonprofits

Workshops • Roundtables • Exhibits

Board Governance • Social Enterprise • Management
Development • Transforming through Technology
Advocacy • Organizational Growth • Left-Brain Thinking

   

Charities Spend Millions On Census Outreach
Charitable foundations and nonprofits are taking an unusually active role this year in trying to get an accurate census count. They say the people they serve have the most to benefit but are also among the least likely to participate.

Census: Battleground for Money and Justice
Suppose the U.S. Census had forgotten to include Chicago? In 2000, the U.S. Census missed three million people, the approximate population of Chicago. If we had missed three million people at random, maybe it wouldn't have made a big difference. But most of those we missed are poor people, people of color and children. In other words: the Census missed much of the nonprofit sector's communities. 

[editorial] Tucson: Together They Did
Tucson nonprofits aren't just complaining about budget cuts; they are doing something about it. When nonprofit leaders expressed concern about how proposed budget cuts would harm the people they serve, the City Manager had asked the nonprofit community to suggest an alternative way for the city to consider human services funding in light of reduced revenues. Working together, community nonprofits and the city developed a three-tiered plan to prioritize resource allocation. This effort outlines a new path for elected officials and nonprofits to create a better model for service delivery.

Nonprofit sector needs to be better understood
The nonprofit sector does not get enough respect. The sector is big and sprawling, plays an indispensable role in society and the economy, and faces daunting financial and operating challenges. Yet the sector generally is poorly understood and underappreciated. A report prepared for Congress last fall by the Congressional Research Service gives a good snapshot of the sector’s magnitude and impact.

Donors Pick St. Jude’s, Komen As Most Respected
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. and Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Dallas, Texas, are the two most trusted nonprofit organizations in America, according to results of the new Harris Interactive’s EquiTrend annual brand equity poll.

Participate in Landmark Survey on Government Payments to Nonprofits
Virtually every day we read another story about a cash-strapped state or local government withholding or delaying contract payments to nonprofits, altering terms of contracts, or taking other actions that hurt nonprofits. To document the extent of the problems, the National Council of Nonprofits is working with the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute to conduct special research. Questionnaires are being sent to nonprofits across America, on a random basis, over the next few weeks. Only some organizations will receive questionnaires, so it is especially important that those who are selected respond. Your voice matters!

Maneuvering the mine field of a nonperforming board member
As an executive director, the hardest thing I ever did (other than lay off a staff person) was maneuver the mine field of dealing with a nonperforming board member. Structurally, this was not my role as lead staff – it was the board chair’s role. But as half of the organization’s leadership team, I had an important part to play in helping solve the problem. It was fraught with danger.

[National Council of Nonprofits recorded webinar] Learn from the Experts: What Forms Must Nonprofit, Tax-Exempt Organizations File to Meet IRS Requirements and Preserve Tax Exempt Status?
Did you know that tax-exempt organizations could have their status revoked for not filing the annual Form 990? Access this free pre-recorded webinar.

[BoardStar podcast] Maintaining Board Engagement
She’s been recruited, oriented, and is officially on board, but now how do you help this new board director build commitment and truly engage in the work of the organization? Through a short and informative conversation, poPat Wyzbinski of the Nonprofit Management Fund talks with Sara Wilson learn about numerous ways to help, such as using mentors, facilitating board education, focusing on the impact of the individual’s and board’s work, and expressing appreciation. From the BoardStar free podcast series "On Being Board," inspiring conversations with nonprofit leaders perfect for introducing a topic for discussion at board meetings. 

Free Download - Homer Simpson for Nonprofits: The Truth about How People Really Think and What It Means for Promoting Your Cause
The success of your online outreach hinges on your understanding of the inner workings of the human mind. Learn the basics of the new and revolutionary field of behavioral economics and how you can use these principles to craft more effective messages that will win the hearts and minds of your audience.

Participate in 3-minute survey on Mobile Giving and receive survey results.

Pretty Please…Convincing Your Boss to Take the Plunge into Social Media
... all your social media doubters fear one of three things: Loss of control of message and brand; Mean people will say mean things about you; There isn’t enough time to sustain your engagement. These fears are legitimate, but are also seeded in a lack of understanding of social media. Here are some quick answers to those concerns:

Breaking the Least-You-Can-Do Cycle
Just 10% of the $300 billion given to charity each year comes from major institutional funders — the Fords, the Gateses, the MacArthurs, and the Rockefellers. Yet those funders have a monopoly on the term "philanthropy." The billionaire who spends 99% of his time building his own wealth and 1% of his time thinking about charity is elevated to the status of "philanthropist," while the poor b*&#ard who spends 100% of her time serving as the executive director of a homeless charity and 0% of her time amassing wealth is called, at best, "staff."

How Much Do Webinars Cost?
Nobody ever likes the answer, “It depends on a lot of factors,” but here is some information to get a better understanding the three primary variables that affect your webinar pricing. (Editor's Note: WNA members receive deep discounts with ReadyTalk.com - very easy-to-use audio/web conferencing and podcasting services that include 24/7 live technical support and ongoing live training. No monthly fee or contract.)

2010 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) of Greater Wisconsin Accepting Applications
Open to charitable organizations providing health and human welfare services to residents of Adams, Brown, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln,  Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menomonee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood Counties  Deadline: April 2, 2010 at 5pm CDST. For more info email or 414-263-8150.

Forward Community Investments (FCI), a statewide community
loan fund, has capital to lend to Wisconsin nonprofits. FCI has a 15-year
history of making below-market rate loans to projects that expand affordable housing, improve community facilities and services, create sustainable-wage jobs, and promote initiatives that strengthen the long-term economic health and viability of low-wealth neighborhoods and communities. FCI’s below-market rate loans have been used to finance pre-development costs; purchase land; construct, acquire and rehab facilities; purchase equipment and vehicles; and bridge funding gaps. For more info: 866-687-1468 or 608-257-3863 or www.forwardci.org. FCI is a WNA Annual Partner.

Admission Possible, a nonprofit that helps low income, promising students prepare for and earn admission to college, is one of three winners of the first CollegeKeys Compact Innovation Awards from the College Board. Read more.

See Full Calendar for More

Workshop -  After The Grant: Evaluation & Reporting, Green Bay, 4/8, 9a - 3p. Strategies for monitoring your grant submission as well as understanding the next steps once you are awarded the grant. Learn how to create and use evaluation tools for data collection and provide valuable and meaningful information to the appropriate government entities. For more info/to register.

Webinar - Prioritizing and Collaborating in Hard Times, 4/13, 10a - 11:30a Central. The challenging economy provides a great opportunity to look at your work with fresh eyes, focus on core programs, and think about how to "adopt out" programs that are less central to your mission. Learn to use the MacMillan Matrix, a tool developed by the Wharton School of Business to help nonprofits identify ways to both compete and collaborate more effectively. For more info/to register.

Seminar - Federal Regulations and Leadership Skills for Nonprofits, Milwaukee, 4/20 - 4/22. Hot topics that meet the training needs of your organization include Federal Regulations, Governance, Financial Management, Risk Management and Human Resources. WNA members & E-news subscribers - save $150. (Discount courtesy of Wipfli, a WNA member and the Seminar host.) Register online; enter promo code WNA0410.

Since 1978, First Nonprofit Insurance Company has made specialized insurance coverage available to nonprofit organizations. First nonprofit understands the invaluable services your organization provides and the challenges it faces. So we have developed special programs to meet your needs.

The company insures only nonprofits, primarily 501(c)(3) nonprofits in these fields:

• Mental Health/Counseling
• Youth Services
• Housing & Shelter
• Education
• Religious Groups
• Community Programs
• Arts & Culture 

Property and Liability Insurance
 
Commercial insurers generally do not offer the specialized insurance coverages and services needed by nonprofits. In addition to protecting nonprofits from loss or damage to property and equipment, First Nonprofit offers protection from a wide range of legal liability exposures including Social Workers Liability/Foster Care, Pastoral Counseling/Teachers Professional and Explicit Sexual Abuse and Molestation. They have a broad “insured” definition for legal liability coverages including executives, employees, board members and volunteers.
 
Other coverage includes: Auto Insurance, Umbrella Coverage, Directors and Officers Insurance.
 
For a local Wisconsin agent referral, contact Katie Badeusz, Nonprofit Liaison, or 800-526-4352 or 312-715-3049.
 
Be sure to say you're a Member of the Wisconsin Nonprofit Association!

Read about other Wisconsin Nonprofits Association Member Benefits here.

At Your Service, Hales Corners
Kristin Beres, Milwaukee
BoardStar, Milwaukee
Native American Youth Institute, De Pere
The Sharing Center, Salem
Webstix, Sun Prairie
Voluntary Action Center, Beloit
Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges, Milwaukee

See our full Member List here.

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