Executive Service Corps Nonprofit Agency Resource Page

November 2009 Community Bulletin Board

The following seminars are offered by
Public Counsel Law Center – Community Development Project
610 S. Ardmore
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 385-2977
www.publiccounsel.org

FREE NONPROFIT CLINICS
Public Counsel announces free legal clinics on nonprofit formation and tax exemption issues.

What is the Nonprofit Legal Clinic? At the clinics, attendees will be able to meet one-on-one for up to one hour with an attorney or law student to discuss specific questions and legal issues relating to forming a nonprofit and obtaining tax exemption.

Who is Eligible to Attend? These clinics will generally be open ONLY to people who have already attended one of Public Counsel’s free seminars “How To Form A California Charitable Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Corporation.”

When Will These Clinics Take Place? Public Counsel will hold various clinics throughout the year.

Upcoming Clinic dates:

How to Form a Charitable, Tax-Exempt, Nonprofit Corporation
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
6 - 9 PM

** All seminars require advanced registration. Additional Seminars may be offered; for more information on each seminar, and instructions on how to register, please visit http://www.publiccounsel.org/overview/cdp.html or call the seminar information line at (213) 385-2977, extension 210.

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The following seminars are offered by the
Center for Nonprofit Management
1000 N. Alameda Street, Suite 250
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-9511
www.cnmsocal.org/

The Unbearable Lightness of Planning: Strategic Planning For Arts Organizations
Monday, November 16 2009, 9:30am - 1:00pm

Instructor: Judith Teitelman
Course Description
Do you have a vision for your organization’s future? A clear and compelling view of what programs you will offer and whom you will serve in the next three years? Is it aligned with your staff and board of directors? Do you have a sense of how you will achieve this future? Through this seminar, you will learn how to: (1) build a vision for your organization; (2) identify issues and obstacles facing your organization; and (3) formulate and implement effective strategies and plans. Topics include developing vision, mission, and values statements; identifying organizational “Current Realities”; creating the planning doc; and implementing effective strategies.

How to Read A Financial Statement & Make Better Decisions
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Instructor: Howard Levine
Course Description
What reports do I need to prepare and how do I read them once they are done? The current financial environment can pose some of the greatest challenges facing nonprofit organizations today. This seminar explains the basic elements of financial statements and how to understand them. Designed for you, the executive director, manager or board member of a nonprofit organization, this session explains financial statements in plain English. Topics include the uses and limitations of nonprofit financial statements and the difference between annual audited reports and interim management reports. Come get an introduction to the world of nonprofit financial accounting and get the tools you need to get meaningful information from your financial management system to those who need to act on that information.
***Bring your organization’s current internal financial statements for comparison and suggestions for improvement.***

Basics of Grantseeking
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Instructor: Sok Tng
Course Description
Want to know more about finding grants but don't know where to begin? Attend this seminar developed by the Center for Nonprofit Management and learn from the experts! Beneficial for beginning grantseekers, this session provides key information and definitions from the world of philanthropy; elements that should be in place before grantseeking; and how to identify funding partners.

Three Day Executive Director Roundtable (Day 1)
Thursday, November 19 2009, 11:00am - 1:00pm
(This series is 3 sessions: Thursdays, November 19, December 10, 2009 and January 14, 2010)
Box lunch included!

Course Description
Join Damian Goldvarg for coaching, problem-solving and interactive discussion with other nonprofit leaders that are facing the same challenges you are. The goal of this session is to explore challenges with other executive directors, share experiences and learn from each other strategies to survive and thrive in this tough economy.

Excel 2 & 3 (Office v. 2007)
Monday, November 23 2009, 10:00am - 2:00pm

Instructor: Dana Lee
Course Description
Learn the basics of writing calculations and formatting concepts. Tips for managing and printing large worksheets or printing will be discussed.
•    Basic Calculations with Formulas
•    Copying Formulas using AutoFill
•    Copying Formulas using a manual copy & paste command
•    Using Percents
•    Rounding Numbers
•    Using Absolute Cell References
•    Error Codes
•    Using Functions to calculate larger ranges
•    Highlighting multiple ranges
•    Chart practice – creating a line chart
•    Applying text wrapping
•    Changing the angle of text
•    Inserting and Deleting Columns and rows
•    Using formulas to derive new spreadsheet data from given information
•    Applying cell formatting
•    Using Freeze Panes to manage large worksheets
•    Analyzing Worksheet Data using the “If” function and Goal Seeking
•    Printing large worksheets
•    Renaming/Copying Worksheets

Past, Present and Future Fundraising
Past, Present and Future Fundraising

By Aileen Preonas
ESC Project Director
It is already 2008. A burning question is how many outdated assumptions and methods of operating have the Boards and staff of nonprofit organizations eliminated or changed in this new millennium, particularly when it comes to “fundraising.” Take a minute and review the following statements that capture the views of many of the past and current Board members and staff. As you go through the list, put a check next to the ones that you have heard a Board member or staff person say in the last few years.

Change Through Leadership

November 2007

CHANGE THROUGH LEADERSHIP
By Marlene Singer
ESC Consultant, Former Director – Santa Monica, Jewish Family Service

How can you, as an Executive Director (E.D.) lead change in your organization? The basis for implementing change is something we do everyday – relate. It is about connecting, interacting and communicating. The bottom line, for better or worse, is how you form relationships. Building trusting relationships with your staff is the core matter in changing the behavior of people. This concept overrides many previously held beliefs that suggest we restructure or change systems to get results in our organizations. These functions are valuable, and without them no action can be accomplished - but not without first instilling hope and creating affiliations that are inclusive.

Making Boards More Effective

By Roberta Suber
ESC Consultant, Former Senior Vice President, CareAmerica/Eldermed America

Executive Directors frequently contact ESC with the request, “How do I get my Board members to be more engaged or more effective?” They describe a full range of problems, such as:
·   Difficulty getting a quorum at meetings
·   Straying from agenda
·   Lack of follow-through on assignments
·   Poor financial oversight or understanding of financial reports
·   Failure to adhere to term limits or other bylaws requirements
·   Resistance to adding new members
·   Resistance to fundraising role
·   Lack of leadership for chair and committee roles
Executive Directorsfrequently contact ESC with the request, “How do I get my Board members to be more engaged or more effective?” They describe a full range of problems, such as:·   Difficulty getting a quorum at meetings ·   Straying from agenda·   Lack of follow-through on assignments·   Poor financial oversight or understanding of financial reports·   Failure to adhere to term limits or other bylaws requirements·   Resistance to adding new members·   Resistance to fundraising role·   Lack of leadership for chair and committee roles

Delegating Effectively

Delegating Effectively

By Gene Torgow
ESC Consultant, Former Program Manager, Hughes Aircraft Company

In the January 2007 issue of FEO, ESC consultant Hal Gordy discussed essential qualities of leadership, and stressed the role of the executive leader as accomplishing work through others. This issue will discuss how that is done. By effectively delegating the responsibility of carrying out tasks, the leader/manager will:
Allow staff to handle more complex activities and increase the scope of the manager’s control.
Expand a subordinate’s skills and contribute to his/her professional development.
Reduce an organization’s dependence on a limited number of key individuals.
Enable an agency to grow and expand its capabilities.

Behold the Power of Branding

Behold the Power of Branding:
It May Be the Best Investment You Can Make
in the Long-Term Success of Your Organization

By Ellen Tuch, ESC Consultant, Former Director,
Women’s Issues, State of Illinois Office of Treasurer

Everyday, myriads of messages compete for people’s attention and their charitable dollars. The result is communication clutter and a corresponding increase in donor fatigue. To compete, a growing number of nonprofits are responding by taking on the marketing strategy of the business community and “Building a Strong Brand.” Powerful nonprofit brands are more likely to raise more money, attract more volunteers and help more people! But powerful brands just don’t happen—they are developed by careful planning and extensive work.

Tips on Interviewing Candidates for Employment

Tips on Interviewing Candidates for Employment
By Richard Pancost, ESC Consultant, Former Director, Center for Program Excellence Child Welfare League of America, Inc.

It is important for the interviewer(s) to understand that interviewing is a two-way process. First, the candidate is obtaining information and impressions about the agency and the job. Does the agency, its mission, culture, organizational structure, job specifications, etc. fit the needs and expectations of the candidate? Second, the interviewer(s) for the agency is trying to obtain information and impressions about the candidate. Early in the interview it’s helpful to ask what the candidate knows about the agency. How did the candidate learn of this information or gain any impressions (friends, website, agency materials, colleagues, networks, etc.)? While it is important to learn of candidate’s fit to the agency’s mission, it is vital to discuss how the mission is implemented in practice by the agency.

Time Management

By Dick Fishman, ESC Consultant and Former Manager, Tax Policy Analysis, Unocal

The most important items for our existence--air, water and food--are found in the most abundance, but one item that belongs on that list is not available in abundance: time. As we should not squander our resources of air, water and food, so also should we ration our available time in order to make the most efficient and productive use of it. The suggestions listed below may well apply to our work experience and our personal lives.

35 Networking Tips

By Marlene Woodworth, ESC Consultant and Former CEO for Corona Regional Medical Center

1.             Make sure you have your business cards.

2.             Be genuine. Don't pretend to be someone you are not.

3.             Follow through. If you say you will make a call, do it. If you offer to provide information, do it.

4.             Be interested in other people and what they have to say.

5.             Keep a smile on your face--it will help keep you in the right mindset.

Can You Handle This? Why Multi-tasking May Be Too Much

By Earl Blount, ESC Consultant and Former Corp. Director, Community Relations, Rockwell International

A growing body of scientific research shows that multi-tasking can make you less efficient. Trying to do two or three things at once, or in quick succession, can take longer overall than doing them one at a time--and may leave you with reduced brainpower to perform each task. “People who are multi-tasking too much experience various warning signs,” says David Myer of the University of Michigan. “Short-term memory problems can be one. Intense multi-tasking can also induce a stress response, an adrenaline rush that when prolonged can damage cells that form new memory. Other red flags are changes in your ability to concentrate or gaps in your attentiveness.”