PULSE! CONTENT

1. Alliance/NCNA Joint Conference - Registration Deadline June 30
2. Cultural Competency for Nonprofits: The Resource Pages
3. Leading in the 21st Century - Request for Survey Participants
4. Three New Executive Transitions Monographs Available
5. Cause Effective's Special Events Toolbox
6. Rating the Raters: An Assessment of Organizations and Publications That Rate/Rank Charitable Nonprofit Organizations
7. Communications Toolkit - A Guide to Navigating Communications for the Nonprofit World
8. Calling a Change in the Outsourcing Market
9. The Scope and Activities of 501(c)(3) Supporting Organizations
10. TECH TEMPO: NPower Technology Guides for Nonprofit Leaders
11. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Capaciteria.org

1. Alliance/NCNA Joint Conference - Registration Deadline June 30

The Alliance/NCNA Joint Conference, "The Communities We Serve: Building Capacity for Impact," July 14-17, 2005 in Chicago is nearly sold out! We expect more than 600 participants at this major event for nonprofit capacity builders. If you would like to attend, note that registration and payment must be received by Thursday, June 30 for pre-registration rates. For full conference details and registration information, visit www.allianceonline.org/annual_conference.

2. Cultural Competency for Nonprofits: The Resource Pages

Alliance for Nonprofit Management has launched a new web-based resource for nonprofit leaders: "Cultural Competency for Nonprofits: The Resource Pages." The Resource Pages offer a wealth of research findings and practices, experiences and frameworks, tips and tools on how to understand, assess and support nonprofits in a multicultural society. Included are resources specific to philanthropy, leadership and technical assistance, as well as specific issue areas such as advocacy, racial justice, and youth development. The Resource Pages are available online at www.allianceonline.org/about/cc_resources.page.

3. Leading in the 21st Century - Request for Survey Participants

Nonprofit leaders are invited to take part in a groundbreaking study, "Leading in the 21st Century," to understand the ways nonprofits approach organizational improvement and effectiveness and help organizational development practitioners make more effective contributions to the success of organizations. Findings will provide a valuable source of data on the demands for capacity building and how nonprofits compare to their for-profit counterparts in organizational development. The survey is a collaborative project of the OD Network and several other organizations. The online survey takes 15 minutes to complete, and is available at www.quantisurve.com/cgi-bin/odnp.asp. Deadline: July 15, 2005.

4. Three New Executive Transitions Monographs Available

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund have released three new monographs as part of their Executive Transitions Monograph Series. Interim Executives: The Power in the Middle, by Tim Wolfred explores the benefits and issues nonprofits should consider when weighing the use of an interim executive director in a leadership transition. Founder Transitions: Creating Good Endings and New Beginnings, by Tom Adams examines the unique challenges presented by transitions involving founders or long-term executives. Up Next: Generation Change and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, by Frances Kunreuther compares how Baby Boom and Gen X leaders view leadership, transitions and their work. For copies of the monographs, visit www.aecf.org/initiatives/leadership/reading.htm.

5. Cause Effective's Special Events Toolbox

The Special Events Toolbox, Cause Effective's how-to guide to special events campaigns for nonprofit organizations, provides a clear plan on how to create and implement a successful special events campaign. Whether you are an event novice or a seasoned veteran, The Toolbox is designed to help you think through and maximize the opportunities that special events can provide, while helping you avoid common pitfalls. The Toolbox covers topics from setting objectives and fundraising to execution and evaluation. For details and pricing information, visit www.causeeffective.org.

6. Rating the Raters: An Assessment of Organizations and Publications That Rate/Rank Charitable Nonprofit Organizations

The National Human Services Assembly and the National Council of Nonprofit Associations have released Rating the Raters: An Assessment of Organizations and Publications That Rate/Rank Charitable Nonprofit Organizations. The study reviews the growing number of charity "watchdog" organizations establishing a variety of accountability standards and ratings designed to evaluate the activities of nonprofits. The report aims to provide nonprofits with an understanding of how standard-setting organizations establish their ratings and measures and to help nonprofits find programs that provide the most useful and relevant information to meet their needs. To download a PDF copy of the study, visit www.ncna.org/_uploads/documents/live//Rating the Raters_5-9-05.pdf.

7. Communications Toolkit - A Guide to Navigating Communications for the Nonprofit World

Cause Communications, with support from The Annenberg Foundation, The California Endowment, The James Irvine Foundation and The Marguerite Casey Foundation, released Communications Toolkit - A guide to navigating communications for the nonprofit world. The guide offers tips, tools and resources to develop communications strategies from how to develop and budget a communications plan to tools to help raise awareness and funds. Topics include research and analysis, branding, marketing, staffing, grant writing, media relations, advocacy, event planning, and electronic media. The book also includes resources for nonprofits on a small budget, samples, templates, and forms. For a copy of the book, visit www.causecommunications.org/CC/CC_news06_1.html.

8. Calling a Change in the Outsourcing Market

A study by Deloitte Consulting LLP, Calling a Change in the Outsourcing Market, provides a look at how many large organizations (primarily for-profit) that have engaged in technology and business process outsourcing are bringing operations back in-house and are exploring alternatives to reduce vendor dependency. According to the study, organizations engaged in outsourcing to simplify operations have found that outsourcing activities often introduce unexpected complexity, additional hidden costs, and require more management attention and skills than anticipated. For more information or a copy of the report, visit www.deloitte.com/dtt/research/0,1015,cid=80376,00.html.

9. The Scope and Activities of 501(c)(3) Supporting Organizations

The Urban Institute report by Thomas Pollack and Jonathan Durnford looks at the relationship between supporting organizations and the organizations that support them. The report, The Scope and Activities of 501(c)(3) Supporting Organizations, provides an analysis of supporting organizations' Form 990 and finds that nearly 93% of supporting organizations reviewed provide significant financial services and benefits to their supported organizations. The authors conclude that, "complex business and legal reasons similar to those found in the for-profit world appear to lie behind the activities of most of these organizations." For a copy of the report, visit www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411175.

10. TECH TEMPO: NPower Technology Guides for Nonprofit Leaders

NPower's series of publications, Technology Guides for Nonprofit Leaders explores the opportunities and possibilities for nonprofits using technology as a service delivery tool in arts and culture, health and human services, education services, and community development sectors. Published with support from the SBC Foundation, the guides identify innovative uses of technology in direct service delivery and explore the associated tools, solutions and resources that are available to nonprofits. Each guide features examples of organizations that have successfully integrated technology to increase their reach and impact. To download any of the four guides, visit www.npower.org/npowerservices/nationalprojects/sbctechguides.htm.

11. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Capaciteria.org

A new online resource provides a comprehensive, searchable database directory of capacity building resources for nonprofits. Capaciteria, a project of Jonathan Peizer of Open Society Institute, promotes peer review of resources and an opportunity for visitors to suggest resources and engage in online dialogue. The website offers resources on information technology, financial management, fundraising, human resources, and more. Visit www.capaciteria.org.