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Featured Book
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The Social Entrepreneur's Handbook : How to Start, Build, and Run a Business that Improves the World
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Featured Event
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Join us forCensus Data and Tools for Grant Writers and Business Owners to learn how you can use free census data and online tools to get demographic and economic data for grant writing and business plans.
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Featured Resource
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The Independent Sector's Nonprofit Capital resources page explores innovative philanthropic and capital strategies for funding social good and the innovative organizational structures that enable nonprofits to better access new forms of capital.
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Each month the Inforum newsletter will feature a local funder, nonprofit, or service provider who will highlight their organization's services and how they support the social sector.
This month we are excited to have Laura Otten, director of the Nonprofit Center at La Salle University, to talk about their services. Please describe your organization
At 35 years old, The Nonprofit Center is the first "management service organization" for nonprofits in Pennsylvania. Through a variety of services, including education, consulting, on-site customized training, leadership development, and executive transitions, The Nonprofit Center works to strengthen the governance and operations of organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond, so that they become more sustainable and better able to serve their constituents.
How do you support the nonprofit community?
Best practices are at the core of all our services and programs. As a nonprofit ourselves, we're committed to making our services accessible, through various discounts and "value-added" incentives. We serve as a thought leader and convener of the sector, sharing information and insights through blogging and social media posts, our website and our programming.
What is your role?
The Nonprofit Center functions as a team, supporting each other as well as our clients across multiple service areas and skill sets. In order to function effectively on behalf of our clients, I have to set the standard for best practices, to which staff and our consultants and instructors adhere and promulgate.
What does your organization do best?
We are evangelists of best practices in all aspects of nonprofit governance, management and operations. We provide in-depth learning experiences in almost all nonprofit skills, using only professional instructors, presenting certificate programs with CEUs and other credentials, carefully matched expert and specialized consultants. As a nonprofit ourselves, we work to provide access to our services through various discount programs, including a multi-tiered Membership Program. We are committed to strong leadership and demonstrate this through various executive transitions programs such as placement of interim executives, peer learning circles and board advancement programs. We are so deeply committed to development of board leadership that we offer an on-site board advancement program to every organization that joins The Nonprofit Center at the MemberPlus level. We also train corporate community members who wish to engage in meaningful, productive board membership.
Are there any future programs or plans you would like to highlight?
We listen to our clients and we study the sector to inform all our programs. We will be focusing on social enterprise as an important option for nonprofit income production, will look to expand our interim executives program to include chief financial officers and chief executive officers, in addition to interim executive directors and will be developing additional opportunities for the sector to come together to brainstorm on key issues. We will also be expanding our reach into the Lehigh Valley, where nonprofits are yearning for capacity building services.
What's the biggest mistake you see nonprofits make? Among the biggest mistakes we see in the sector are: failure to pay attention to the market, which results in creating more nonprofits that are needlessly competing with each other for limited resources; chasing dollars rather than mission; lack of attention to building sustainability, focusing only on the day-to-day, which includes failure to diversify funding streams.
What's the best advice for nonprofits? My best advice: avoid the mistakes above by: paying attention to market forces, just as for-profit businesses do; remaining true to your mission and don't sacrifice it in pursuit of funding; look forward, remembering that nonprofit doesn't mean no profit; when building your board, exchange the sacred cows of time, treasure and talent for the three Es: energy, expertise, and evangelism.
Registration is now open for 2016-2017 educational programs.
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Regional Foundation Center Events
Maximizing Online Donations Webinar
Tuesday, October 4 | 9:30am - 11:30am
Parkway Central | 4th Floor | Room 407
Join us for a practical, tactical workshop focused on sharing the tips, tools, and steps your nonprofit can take to make the most of your digital presence. Please be advised that this is a prerecorded webinar being made available for free for this occasion only. More...
Wednesday, October 12 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Parkway Central | 2nd Floor | BRIC
Can you convey an impactful and meaningful impression of your business in 60 seconds? If you cannot relay succinctly what your business does, you may be missing out on opportunities.
Organizational Strategic Planning
Thursday, October 13 | 9:30am-11:30am
Parkway Central | 4th Floor | Skyline
Learn the value, process, and common mistakes involved in strategic planning. Receive, test, and share facilitation tools and practice your new skills. This program will provide information and resources essential for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. More...
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Census Data for Grant Writers and Business Owners
Tuesday, October 18 |9:30am - 11:30am
Parkway Central | 4th Floor | Room 407
Learn how you can use free census data and online tools to get demographic and economic data for grant writing and business plans. More...
Nonprofit Resources 101
Tuesday, October 25|6:30pm - 8:00pm
Northeast Regional Library | 2228 Cottman Ave.
Do you work for a nonprofit organization, or are you thinking of starting one? This hands-on class will introduce you to the Regional Foundation Center's databases and resources. Questions? Please call 215-685-0522. More...
Advance registration is required for all programs as space is limited; contact the Regional Foundation Center unless online registration is provided. There is no registration for Nonprofit Resources 101 as the first 12 will be admitted. |
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From the Business Resource & Innovation Center
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Small Business Resource Festival
Saturday, October 15 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Parkway Central | 1st Floor | Grand Lobby
Browse eighteen tables representing resources from government agencies, nonprofits, and business-to-business service providers. Learn how these organizations can help your small business thrive and make valuable connections in the process.
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Around the Region
Compass Volunteer Application Now Available
Deadline: Wednesday, October 5
Compass is seeking business professionals to volunteer on strategy consulting teams. Use your professional skills to make a valuable contribution to a local nonprofit. More...
Friday, October 7 | 8:00am
Parkway Central Library | Cost $35
In A Truck Full of Money, Kidder explores the inspiring story of Kayak.com founder Paul English and the ways new money is changing philanthropy and reshaping the world. More...
YOUTHadelphia Recruitment Open House
Thursday, October 20 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm
The Philadelphia Foundation| 1234 Market St.
YOUTHadelphia, The Philadelphia Foundation's youth philanthropy group, invites Philadelphia high school-aged teens to meet other caring, dedicated youth who are serious about making Philadelphia better for one another. More...
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Social Innovations in Social Impact Investing and Partnerships
Thursday, October 20 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm
PHMC | 1500 Market St.
Join the Social Innovations Journal for the launch of their first fall edition, Social Innovations in Social Impact Investing and Public/Private Partnerships. Reception to follow.
Meet the Funders Panel Discussion
Friday, October 21 | 8:30am - 10:30am
Wilma Theatre | 265 S. Broad St. | Cost: $35
The 90 minute presentation and Q&A session will be followed by a 30-minute "meet and greet" enabling you to get your organization's name in front of funders. More...
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Webinars
Effective Nonprofit Website Planning
Wednesday, October 12 | 12:30pm
Learn about the key things to think about when planning a nonprofit website design or re-design. More...
Introduction to Proposal Writing Wednesday, October 12 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? Get an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.
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Anatomy of an Annual Appeal: Create Your Compelling Fundraising Offer
Wednesday, October 26 | 1:00 pm
Whether you're an old pro and just want some new tips, or you're writing your appeal letter for the first time, you'll find killer strategies and tried-and-true tactics to get your appeal to the next level. More...
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Make an Appointment with a Librarian!
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Featured Resource
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Independent Sector: Nonprofit Capital
New models and funding vehicles have gained momentum over the last decade posing new challenges and opportunities for nonprofits. This collection of resources addresses the sectors shifting strategies for securing capital and offer best practices and recommendations from the field. The resources presented here were selected by Independent Sector in partnership with Urban Institute Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, an expert in analyzing the current state and future trends of the philanthropy and nonprofit sector.
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