March, 2009
This edition of The Nonprofit Partnership e-news is sponsored by Malin, Bergquist & Co.
New Thinking and Talking About Volunteers
"Men don't volunteer as much as women do," or so says conventional wisdom. But Susan Ellis, President of Energize, Inc., counters: "Men volunteer a lot; they're just not called volunteers. They're called coaches and firemen!" With new waves of stimulus package volunteers and retirement-age volunteers coming down the road, it's even more urgent that we change the way we talk -- and think -- about volunteers.
Old language (often said in apologetic tone): "We have only a few staff, so we have to rely on volunteers." New language: "Because we have so many volunteers, we don't need more than a few staff."
Old: "Our volunteers help us [staff] so much!" gushes a nonprofit staffperson. New: "Volunteers help the patients so much!"
Old: "We have a couple of volunteers who help with the newsletter," said the director of a nonprofit legal services organization, adding, "Oh yeah! And some pro bono attorneys." New: "Our organization is lucky to have pro bono attorneys, pro bono writers, and pro bono graphics and layout staff."
Old: "We have 25 staff and 175 volunteers," said a museum director starting a speech. New: "We have 200 staff, of whom 175 are volunteers and 25 are paid."
To quote Susan Ellis again: "Paul Revere made his living as a silversmith. But he's remembered for what he did as a volunteer."
The AARP’s recent research has documented the new wave of volunteer energy that is available to the nonprofit sector. Three out of every four people in the 44 to 79 year old age span volunteer each year, and 41% intend to volunteer more in the years to come. They prefer not to be tied to a regular schedule in many cases. To get the most out of these partnerships, consider reimbursing for mileage and offering access to group health insurance. Also, keep in your sights the newest talent pool to emerge with volunteer aspirations – recently laid-off professionals who are between jobs.
Susan Ellis will be offering a full-day workshop on volunteerism as the centerpiece of National Volunteer Week here in Erie on April 22 at the Ambassador Conference Center. This day of training will be divided into two parts:
• 8:30 to 11:30 am – The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Engagement for CEOs and Senior Managers
• 1:00 to 4:00 pm – The Nuts and Bolts of Volunteer Management – for Volunteer Program Managers.
Please register for the sessions that are most applicable to you by calling Amy Eisenberg at 454-8800 or tnp@thenonprofitpartnership.org.
Also Upcoming from The Nonprofit Partnership
COBRA- After the Stimulus: What You Need to Know.
You and your human resources specialists know about COBRA – the provisions under which former employees keep their health insurance for 18 months post-employment, but the new Federal Stimulus bill now pays 65% of those costs. To find out what you need to know and how to comply with these changes so that former employees can continue coverage affordably, please join Gary Eckert from J.L. Nick Associates for this informative session:
Wednesday, March 25 from 9 to 11 am at
Asbury Woods Nature Center, 4105 Asbury Rd., Erie.
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Social Enterprise in 2009: New Challenges – New Approaches
While this is not the time for risk-taking, every organization has assets in the skill sets of staff and the space and technology resources of the agency that can be put to creative use in the marketplace to maximize revenue. The Nonprofit Partnership and Community Resources for Growth invite you to join us and Gerald Driggs from the Pittsburgh-based Social Innovation Accelerator to explore ways that organizations can tap revenue streams that are within our reach through creative social enterprise.
Tuesday, April 7 from 9 to 11 am
Erie Community Foundation, 459 West 6th St., Erie
RSVP for these sessions with Amy Eisenberg at 454-8800 or tnp@thenonprofitpartnership.org
Dancing in the Digital Domain
The Nonprofit Partnership is offering a variety of opportunities for member nonprofits to join the brave new world of e-marketing to boost your brand and visibility. Having our assistance as you navigate your way in this new world is important, as you will want to integrate your e-commerce platform with your database, develop a list of online prospects, participate actively in the world of social media, and equip your website to stream video.
To get you started and to help you learn about the local resources available to you, please join us and the staff of the E-Marketing Learning Center at ebizITPA for a Digital Mixer which will be held on
Thursday, March 26 from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Ambassador Conference Center, 7792 Peach St., Erie.
Digital Marketing Mixer
Here is your chance to discover what is possible with digital marketing. The eMarketing Learning Center is hosting the Digital Marketing Mixer designed to be a low cost, no pressure way to learn how digital marketing can help any organization prosper. In the morning, regional experts will educate attendees about various approaches to digital marketing then later experts will be seated at breakout roundtables for in depth discussion and to answer your most pressing questions. Our keynote speaker is American Marketing Association’s Dana VanDen Heuvel who will give a seminar on “Digital Marketing During Economic Downturn”. This is the event to attend if you want to stay informed of the latest e-marketing tools and technologies that can be used to support your marketing objectives. Visit
www.emarketinglearningcenter.org/DigitalMixer for more information about this unique opportunity.
To travel more extensively in the digital domain, you may want to consider joining The Nonprofit Partnership’s e-marketing pilot program. Over the summer, our e-marketing apprentice from ebiziITPA will be working with select organizations to accomplish their e-marketing objectives: raising awareness and money, supporting your events through the online channel, and more. Capacity-building requests for assistance in this area are due on May 15. For more information, please see the capacity-building grants page on our website at www.thenonprofitpartnership.org/grants.
While there, check out our newest features and opportunities:
The 2009 Annual Report Contest and the
Signage Subsidy Program.
It’s Not Too Late to Get Involved
The Erie Ambassadors’ Get Involved! Erie night takes place on Tuesday, March 24 from 5-8 pm at the Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center. The goal of the evening is to connect newcomers, natives, and students with volunteer and involvement opportunities with our many nonprofits. Reserve your table today by calling 454-7191 or e-mailing getinvolved@eriepa.com.
Also, Project Blueprint, our diversity partnership with the United Way of Erie County, is set to kick off in April but will be accepting applications through March 20 from emerging leaders in Erie’s neighborhoods who would like to be trained for service on a nonprofit Board of Directors. Applications are available at www.thenonprofitpartnership.org.
Raising Money in Hard Times – The Latest Thoughts
From May through August, The Nonprofit Partnership will be offering a series of workshops on all aspects of fund development in the recession. Please check our website regularly for details on these free workshops.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s February 26 edition, available online at www.philanthropy.com, offers tips on successful fundraising given the challenges we are all facing:
• Don’t treat giving as a financial transaction. Invoice-like reminders to collect on pledges or renew a donation from year-to-year can be a real turn-off. Successful fundraising professionals remind you that giving is an emotional act, so tap the emotions with your stories of success and with news that is really new, not just same-old.
• Spur giving with matching incentives. From core giving from lead supporters or the Board, offer matching incentives that leverage donations from the general public. Knowing their gift will be multiplied creates a real incentive to donate.
• Shore up relations with foundations. Foundations have been hit just like everyone else, and many have reduced their grantmaking budgets. Not so at the Erie Community Foundation which increased their Helping Today giving budget in 2009. But to take advantage of whatever grant opportunities exist, know that the competition will be fierce and the product will need to be perfect. Do your homework. Build or shore up your personal relationship with the grant officer. Follow the guidelines explicitly, and be prepared to keep building the relationship and your case for a grant over multiple years to achieve success.
• Collaborate to raise money. By working with one or more other charities on fundraising events and other efforts, nonprofits can often attract more awareness and contributions that it could on its own.
• Scale back capital campaigns. Look to ride the downturn out by lengthening a capital campaign. But don’t give up. Project strength throughout. Similarly, avoid the emergency ask – it looks like a panic appeal and suggests less than stellar management. Stay the course – steady as she goes!
Office Space Available
Prime office space will be available May 1st, perfect for a small nonprofit, located on busy West 8th Street. Information is as follows:
Approximately 950 sq. feet of prime office space for rent on busy West 8th Street (Frontier Professional Building located at the corner of West 8th & Ohio). Three private offices, waiting room, large conference room, kitchen area, storage. Ample parking. Unit located in rear of the building. Signage available on lit marquee. Rent $850/month, plus gas, electric & snowplowing.
Contact Pat at Therapy Dogs United. 456-3647.
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