In response to many requests from the nonprofit community we serve, NorthSky has created a new page (under Professional Development) on its website to post regional employment opportunities. Send your posting (no more than 200 words) with contact information, appropriate links to your website, and closing date to Pam Evans at pevans@northskynonprofitnetwork.org. Please note: we will respond as quickly as possible but it may take up to a week to post your opportunity.

Benchmarks Northwest, produced by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, recently updated its Economy and Employment reports with 2010 data. Benchmarks Northwest is a citizen and policy makers' guide to assess and monitor quality of life issues in our regional community. The counties included are: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford. The guide includes benchmarks for Culture and Recreation, Economy & Employment, Education, Government, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources & Environment and Population Demographics.

 

You will find Benchmarks Northwest at www.nwm.org/benchmarks.asp

Visit Good360, an interesting website that solicits merchandise donations from generous corporations, and then redistributes the merchandise at reduced prices to nonprofits serving people in need. Merchandise includes clothing, diapers, mattresses, furniture, office/school supplies, or personal hygiene products. The inventory changes every day, so visit www.Good360.org to see what is available.

Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Manistee and Wexford counties will have the opportunity to apply for project mini-grants up to $4,000 offered through the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs re-grant program and administered through NorthSky Nonprofit Network. Funding is available for projects underway January 1 - September 30. The application deadline is October 3, 2011.  

 

Guidelines and application forms are available here:

2012 MCACA Minigrant Guidelines (pdf format)

2012 MCACA Minigrant Application (MS Word format)

2012 MCACA Minigrant Application (pdf format)  

 

Free information sessions will be held on the following dates. Registration is not required.
 
Monday, August 29, 11 am to 1 pm (brown bag lunch)

West Shore Medical Center, Education Center, Manistee  

 

Monday, August 29,   3- 5 pm
Cadillac Wexford Public Library

 

Please note that participating arts organizations applying for mini-grants must be registered with the Cultural Data Project. A CDP workshop will be offered in Traverse City on Tuesday, September 13, from 10 to 11:30 am, followed by an open work session from 11:30am to 1:30pm to enter data on your own laptop and/or obtain minigrant application assistance. Registration is required: [LINK]. 

 

Contact: Mary Bevans Gillett, minigrant coordinator, 231-883-8388 or mgillett@chartermi.net for further information.

In support of the Michigan Cultural Data Project (Michigan CDP), an online tool designed to help arts and cultural organizations make their voices heard about the value they bring to Michigan communities, an Associate from the Cultural Data Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts and ArtServe Michigan staff will lead a training sessions in August and September throughout Michigan.

 

The free, 90 minute training session provides all the necessary information for arts and cultural organizations to participate in the program. The New User Training is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 10-11:30am, at the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, 202 E. Grandview Parkway. Time will be available following the training to enter data into your own laptops. MCACA mini-grant application assistance will be available immediately following the CDP training.

 

Registration is required [LINK]   

 

In Royal Oak and Jackson only, a second session, Reports Orientation, will be offered in the afternoon to learn more about the 77 trend and comparison reports that are available to your organization once you submit a Data Profile. This training offers tips for integrating use of these reports into your financial management, planning, and evaluation.

 

For additional workshop locations or information on free online training go to www.miculturaldata.org. For more information, contact the Michigan CDP Help Desk at 1-877-MICDP-01 (1-877-642-3701) or help@miculturaldata.org.