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Nonprofit Resources

Nonprofit Assessments

An assessment will guide you to better understand what elements of nonprofit management to spend more time with.

Five Elements of a Healthy Nonprofit Self-Assessment (501 Commons)

A second assessment to consider involves nonprofit life cycles. (See Nonprofit Lifecycles by Susan Kenny Stevens.) Your nonprofit is somewhere in its life cycle. Understanding where you are in your life cycle across core organizational elements can help you decide what to focus on.

More information about Nonprofit Life Cycles

Life Cycles Self assessment

Boards

An effective board where everyone knows their role is a cornerstone to an effective organization. 

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What Makes a Good Board Member? (BoardSource)

Resources for Nonprofit Boards (BoardSource)

Service on an Idaho Nonprofit Board of Directors (Idaho Attorney General)

More resources on boards

Best (Finance) Practices for Nonprofit Boards (Nonprofit Finance Fund)

Practical Tools and Tips for Nonprofits by Nonprofits (Blue Avocado)

Board of Directors: For-Profit and Nonprofit Insights (Management Library)

Take a course

Nonprofit Board Certification Program (Nonprofit Learning Center)is free for WFC Members. Login into your WFC member account to access this on the Powerhouse Boards page.

Equity and Inclusion

Nonprofits pro-actively work to ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging inside and alongside our organizations.

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Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter for Nonprofits (National Center of Nonprofits)

9 Questions to Help You Develop An Equity Mindset (Nonprofit AF) 

Racial equity

Black History Month - Community Impact and Resource Guide (Inclusive Idaho)

Anti-Racism Resources (United Way of Treasure Valley)

Take a course

Diversity Inclusion in Thoughts and Actions (webinar by Sam Jennings)

White Fragility (recording with Dr. Robin DiAngelo)

Do Black Lives Matter in Your Organization? Living into the Values of Your Public #BLM Statement (webinar with Equity in the Center)

Human Rights Certification Course (Wassmuth Center for Human Rights)

Fundraising

How do you get your whole team involved in raising the resources you need to achieve your mission? A basic understanding of fundraising can help.

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Fundraising Basics (Cochrane) 

Nonprofit Fundraising 101 (Soapbox Engage)

Fundraising Guide (Society for Nonprofits)

Crash Course: Your 7-Step Nonprofit Fundraising Plan (Network for Good)

More on fundraising

Susan Howlett is a nationally-known fundraising expert who has written helpful books on nonprofit fundraising:

Basics of fundraising (SOFII)

How to raise money for your organization (Nonprofit Learning Center)

Grantwriting

Grantwriting is one fundraising practice that many nonprofits use to raise funds.

Courses

These two grantwriting courses have been well received by many small to medium size nonprofits:

Grants Magic with Maryn Boess

Spark the Fire Grantwriting with Allison Shirk 

Risk

When a nonprofit board or staff pays attention to risk, it prioritizes the continuation of its work should a disaster or unexpected event happen. It is a board’s responsibility to assess risk on a regular basis. 

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Nonprofit Risk Management Center

Risk Alternatives 

More resources

“A call for nonprofit risk management” (Ted Bilich)

Risk bow tie (developed by Shell, but clearly explained by Julian Talbot here)

Nonprofit Insurance Program (NPIP) based in Ephrata, WA

Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WAVOAD)

Washington Military Department: Emergency Management Division

Strategic planning

A strategic planning process involves reflection on a nonprofit’s mission to identify goals and determine the best ways to achieve them. Strategic planning can be a formal process or a way of approaching challenges and opportunities. 

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Strategic Planning in Nonprofits (Nonprofit Association of Washington)

Strategic planning for nonprofits (National Council of Nonprofits) 

More resources

The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution (David LaPiana)

Your Strategy Needs a Strategy (this is a book and an article written by Martin Reeves, Knut Haanes, and Janmejaya Sinha)

Technology

Technology helps nonprofits be more efficient and effective both in their internal operations and their external outreach. There are two main support organizations related to technology and nonprofits. 

NTEN

TechSoup - a nonprofit technical support organization that offers nearly free software by some of the biggest companies and provides a monthly update with tips

NTEN

Volunteer Management

Most nonprofits involve volunteers to do their work. Volunteers expand an organization’s capacity and provide key ways for community members to contribute to a cause they care about. Having a volunteer management strategy will help streamline the process of engaging volunteers and produce a more enjoyable experience for the volunteer. 

Start here

Volunteer Management Guide (501 Commons)

More here

Value of Volunteer Time (Independent Sector; updated annually)

Volunteer Management: How to Build a Volunteer Community with Virginia Lang

Energize Inc offers a variety of resources and training for volunteer managers.

Idealist, a comprehensive networking site for nonprofit organizations and volunteers.

National Volunteer Week, typically in April, is a great time to recognize and show appreciation for volunteers.

Volunteer Match, a leading website for connecting volunteers and nonprofit volunteer opportunities.

Craigslist and your local United Way may be helpful to find volunteers too.

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