Resource Center

Monday, October 06, 2008
Planning for Sustainability

Sustaining health initiatives requires smart planning from the beginning to ensure that they can survive and thrive after the initial funding, champions, and implementers have moved on. This presentation provides a framework for thinking about the range of resources necessary to sustain your work, and introduces tools for developing sustainability plans. Self-assessment tools are discussed as well as examples of effective sustainability strategies to move from initial plans and seed grants into long-term implementation.

Thursday, May 01, 2008
Effective Advocacy at All Levels of Government

Why should your nonprofit try to change public policy? Is it legal for nonprofits to advocate for policy change? How does the process even work? Find out through this comprehensive on-line tool.

Enhancing Program Performance With Logic Models

This course introduces a holistic approach to planning and evaluating education and outreach programs. Module 1 helps program practitioners use and apply logic models. Module 2 applies logic modeling to a national effort to evaluate community nutrition education.

Sunday, February 01, 2009
Essential -- A portrait of the nonprofit sector in New Hampshire

There are nearly 8,000 nonprofits in New Hampshire, employing one in eight NH workers and representing 14.5 percent of the state's Gross Domestic Product. These organizations focus on varied issues, including arts, culture & humanities; education; environment; health; human services; and religion, to name a few. The uniqueness of the nonprofit sector lies in its mission to serve the common good. Because of their flexible structures and understanding of community issues, nonprofits are able to create innovative programs that help protect the qualities we value most in a human and civil society. Nonprofits ensure that all are heard and have the opportunity to serve and be served, regardless of circumstance. Moreover, nonprofits are used by everyone. This comprehensive report on the nonprofit sector portrays a powerful force in the state and one that is essential to our economy and way of life.

Saturday, March 01, 2008
Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose

Project Streamline is a collaborative initiative of the Grants Managers Network, in partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Small Foundations, the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, the Foundation Center, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and the National Council of Nonprofit Associations.

Our sector faces an effectiveness paradox. Funders, striving to be strategic and diligent, adopt what seem like sensible application and reporting requirements. But these practices—multiplied by thousands of grantmakers—place a heavy burden on organizations seeking funding, hampering their ability to be efficient with their time and effective in their missions. Project Streamline, a collaboration of eight prominent organizations representing grantmakers and grantseekers, will engage grantmakers and grantseekers over the next year in a conversation about improving grant information gathering for a stronger, more effective sector.

The study found ten ways that the current system of grant application and reporting creates significant burdens on the time, energy, and ultimate effectiveness of nonprofit practitioners.