PULSE! CONTENT

1. PULSE! Subscribers Receive 10% Dues Discount
2. Faith-Based Capacity Builders - Resources for Nonprofits
3. Daring to Lead 2006 - A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership
4. Foundation Expenses and Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending
5. Funding for Impact: How to Design Strategic Grantmaking Programs
6. The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit
7. Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation
8. Investing in Leadership, Volume 2: Inspiration and Ideas from Philanthropy's Latest Frontier
9. The Nonprofit Congress - Uniting America's Nonprofit Organizations
10. TECH TEMPO: eNonprofit Benchmarks Study

1. PULSE! Subscribers Receive 10% Dues Discount

PULSE! Subscribers are eligible for a 10% discount on Alliance for Nonprofit Management membership dues, offer valid for new Alliance members only. Alliance members receive $250 or more off annual conference registration and a host of other benefits, including a free listing in the Alliance's online Provider Search, numerous discounts such as 25% off The Nonprofit Quarterly, 50% off BoardSource membership, affinity groups and much, much more. To become a member of this vibrant network of nonprofit consultants, grantmakers, researchers, and other capacity builders, visit www.allianceonline.org/join and use discount code PULSE33 to receive a 10% discount. Offer valid through April 14, 2006.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Alliance for Nonprofit Management Annual Conference, "Collaborative Leadership... Teaming Up to Strengthen the Sector," August 2-5, 2006 in Los Angeles. Visit www.allianceonline.org/annual_conference for program details, keynote speakers, and registration rates.

2. Faith-Based Capacity Builders - Resources for Nonprofits

Faith-based nonprofit organizations are increasingly active in providing services to communities, and have played critical roles in responding to Hurricane Katrina. A growing group of nonprofit capacity builders specialize in assisting faith-based nonprofit organizations in areas such as financial management, fundraising, service delivery, strategic planning and more. To find consultants, associations, intermediaries and management support organizations that specialize in serving faith-based organizations, visit the Alliance for Nonprofit Management's Faith-Based Capacity Builders Affinity Group page at www.allianceonline.org/faith_based.page. If you have an interest in faith-based management and governance and would like to join the Faith-Based Capacity Builders Affinity Group, become a member of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management (see item #1 for discount details).

3. Daring to Lead 2006 - A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership

Daring to Lead 2006, a national study conducted by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, surveyed executive directors of nonprofits about their career paths, likely tenure, management teams, and challenges and frustrations. The study found that a third of executives leave their jobs involuntarily (either fired or forced out); executive directors plan to leave their jobs within the next five years but will stay active in the nonprofit sector; and, a key driver of executive burnout is frustration with funders. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.compasspoint.org/daringtolead2006.

4. Foundation Expenses and Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending

Foundation Expenses and Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending, issued by the Urban Institute, the Foundation Center, and GuideStar, documents how a variety of characteristics influence expense levels at the 10,000 largest independent, corporate, and community foundations. Expanding on the interim report released last summer, the report examines the impact of a broader range of operating characteristics on the spending patterns of independent foundations - such as staff size, scope of giving, foundation age, the involvement of family members, whether the foundation is endowed, and whether it awards grants to individuals. The report also analyzes expense patterns to corporate and community foundations, providing a look at the composition of expenses of the three types of foundations. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=311281.

5. Funding for Impact: How to Design Strategic Grantmaking Programs

Funders are increasingly being held to higher standards, both by regulators and the general public. A new TCC Group briefing paper for funders interested in strategies to increase grantmaking effectiveness focuses on the first steps in the process - program design. Specifically, the paper explores six steps in designing a program: identifying the issue; articulating assumptions; scanning the field; taking stock of capacity; validating assumptions; and, implementing, evaluating and planning again. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.tccgrp.com/pdfs/per_brief_impact.pdf.

6. The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit

The Bridgespan Group's new report, The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit, projects a leadership deficit resulting from both constrained supply and increasing demand. Key factors include the growth and increased number of nonprofits, retirement, and leaders moving within or outside the sector. The report views the leadership deficit as the greatest challenge facing nonprofits in the next ten years and unless the sector sets aside resources to develop future leaders as the for-profit sector does, the consequences will debilitate the sector's capacity to meet society's demands. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.bridgespangroup.org/kno_articles_leadershipdeficit.html.

7. Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation

A part of GrantCraft's Evaluation Technique series, Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation, examines how a theory of change can help produce a more effective planning process and better evaluations. This guide explains why grantmakers use theories of change to guide their questioning, unearth assumptions that underlie their work, establish common language, and develop strong action plans. The guide also describes how a theory of change can set the stage for an evaluation by clarifying goals, strategies, and milestones. To download a PDF copy of the guide, visit www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=808.

8. Investing in Leadership, Volume 2: Inspiration and Ideas from Philanthropy's Latest Frontier

Produced by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, with support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, Investing in Leadership, Volume 2: Inspiration and Ideas from Philanthropy's Latest Frontier, explores leadership development and challenges facing the nonprofit sector. While the first volume reviewed current thinking on leadership development and its connection to nonprofit results, the second volume focuses on the current state of practice among grantmakers. The report aims to make a connection between the conceptual framework and theory described in the first volume and what is actually being done. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.geofunders.org.

9. The Nonprofit Congress - Uniting America's Nonprofit Organizations

The Nonprofit Congress, an initiative of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations to unite America's nonprofit organizations by organizing and empowering nonprofits of all sizes, seeks input of US nonprofits in identifying common bonds and priorities for the sector. Over 1,000 nonprofit leaders have signed the initiative's Declaration for America's Nonprofits, are participating in local Town Hall meetings taking place throughout the country, and are providing input online through the Nonprofit Congress website. For more information on the initiative, visit www.nonprofitcongress.org.

10. TECH TEMPO: eNonprofit Benchmarks Study

Published by the M+R Strategic Services and the Advocacy Institute, the eNonprofit Benchmarks Study examines the increasing importance of the Internet to nonprofits and the overall effectiveness and benefits of building an Internet constituency. The study provides a snapshot of key metrics and benchmarks for nonprofit e-mail communications, online fundraising and online advocacy, which nonprofits can use as a tool to measure their own online performance. To download a PDF copy of the report, visit www.e-benchmarksstudy.com/pubs/eNonprofit_Benchmarks_Study.pdf.