Urban Institute Announces Release of Two New Guides
The Urban Institute has released the last two guides in its six-guide series on Outcome Management for Nonprofit Organizations: Analyzing Outcome Information and Using Outcome Information.
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Donors Forum of Chicago’s Latest Research Report Available
The Donors Forum of Chicago has released Interpreting Form 990-PF: Looking Beyond Foundation Administrative Expenses, highlighting how easily administrative expense data can be misinterpreted when not examined in the context of each organization’s mission and grantmaking style.
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NCRP Releases State of Philanthropy 2004
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has released State of Philanthropy 2004, a collection of analyses on the accomplishments and shortcomings of the grantmaking field, with a focus on the social justice arena.
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U.S. Lags in Philanthropic Giving
A Johns Hopkins study shows that the United States lags behind other countries in terms of private philanthropy, at least when the value of volunteer work is included. The U.S. ranks only seventh in the world in its level of private philanthropy as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the study.
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Most Indiana Nonprofits Can Demonstrate Accountability
While many Indiana nonprofit organizations have the monitoring tools in place to easily demonstrate accountability, a significant minority fall short, according to a 2004 report from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA).
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International Giving by U.S. Foundations Reaches $3 Billion for Fourth Consecutive Year
Annual foundation funding for international programs reached $3 billion for the fourth year in a row in 2003, despite an economic downturn, terrorist attacks, and the launch of an ongoing war on terror, according to International Grantmaking III: An Update on U.S. Foundation Trends. The report was prepared and published by the New York City-based Foundation Center with the support and collaboration of the Council on Foundations in Washington, D.C.
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Report Provides Comprehensive Look at Foundation Support for the Humanities
Giving by private foundations to the humanities more than doubled during the past decade, according to a 2004 study conducted and published by the Foundation Center in collaboration with the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The report, Foundation Funding for the Humanities: An Overview of Current and Historical Trends, finds that funding for fields such as art history, history and archeology, languages and linguistics, area studies, and the humanistic social sciences increased by 149.8 percent from $134.1 million in 1992 to $335 million in 2002.
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Safeco Empowers Neighborhood Revitalization Through Grants
Enriching cultural diversity in Atlanta through the Festival de las Americas, supporting a program to eradicate lead paint in low-income Indianapolis neighborhoods, and contributing to the construction of an interactive fountain in Spokane, Wash., are just three examples of Safeco’s third-quarter community grants announced in November 2004. In the third quarter, Safeco awarded $294,500 to 28 non-profit organizations across the country. The grants continue Safeco’s dedication to strengthening neighborhoods and funding cultural events through unique and innovative community relations programs. For more information on Safeco’s community activities, visit www.safeco.com.
   

Losing Your Executive Director Without Losing Your Way: The Nonprofit’s Guide to Executive Turnover (2004)
Carol Weisman and Richard I. Goldbaum; Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint (www.josseybass.com), 158 pages
The authors help guide the nonprofit board through the perils of replacing an executive director from start to finish, with their “Seven Components of Successful Transition Management.”

Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals (4th Edition) (2003)
Mary Hall and Susan Howlett; Continuing Education Press (www.cep.pdx.edu), 174 pages
The authors of this fourth edition of Getting Funded guide the reader through the proposal development, writing and submission process.

The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part II—Unifying the Organization after a Merger (2004)
La Piana Associates, Inc.; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 230 pages
This workbook, a sequel to The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part I—Considering, Negotiating, and Executing a Merger, helps answer the question of how to make mergers work.

The Nonprofit Board Member’s Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy (2004)
Marcia Avner; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 128 pages
Whether the organization is large or small, locally or nationally focused, struggling or prospering, this book aims to help the board in an effect to lobby and advocate for issues deemed important.

Community Visions, Community Solutions: Grantmaking for Comprehensive Impact (2003)
Joseph A. Connor and Stephanie Kadel-Taras; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 107 pages
The aim of this book is to help funders achieve community goals. The book presents many ways in which funders can spur action and attain results in communities.

The New Effective Voluntary Board of Directors: What It Is and How It Works (2003)
William R. Contrad, Jr.; Swallow Press (http://www.ohiou.edu/oupress/swallowbooks.HTM), 229 pages
This book presents a “how-to” for those working on, for, or with boards of directors in nonprofit organizations. Conrad takes the reader through the steps for a nonprofit board of directors to work effectively.

Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance (2004)
Jason Saul; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 112 pages
Benchmarking—the ongoing process of measuring an organization against leaders—can help stimulate innovation, increase impact, decrease costs, raise money, inspire staff, impress funders, engage the board, and sharpen the organization’s mission. The book provides a strategic, step-by-step approach to benchmarking.
   

2005

April 3-6
42nd Annual AFP International Conference on Fundraising, Baltimore, Md.; Contact: Association of Fundraising Professionals at www.afpnet.org.

May 11
6th Annual Symposium, “Nonprofits and Marketing: Unleashing the Power and Promise of Your Mission to Meet the New Market Reality,” North Park University, Chicago, Ill.; Contact: Kristina Maldre at 877-678-4438 (toll-free) or 773-244-5747; website: www.northpark.edu/axelson

July 14-17
Alliance for Nonprofit Management/National Council of Nonprofit Associations Joint Conference, "The Communities We Serve: Building Capacity for Impact," Chicago, Ill.; Contact: Alliance for Nonprofit Management at www.allianceonline.org or National Council of Nonprofit Associations at www.ncna.org.

August 25-26
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University 18th Annual Symposium, “Women and Philanthropy: Gaining Momentum,” Indianapolis, Ind.; Contact: www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

October 23-25
Independent Sector Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.; Contact: www.independentsector.org.

November 17-19
34th Annual ARNOVA Conference, Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C.; Contact: ARNOVA at 317-684-2120; website: www.arnova.org.

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