Posted in NewsNotes Archive
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Issue 69 |
NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by NEW. It covers resources available at NEW in Ann Arbor and Detroit as well as items of interest to the nonprofit community in southeastern Michigan. NEWSNOTES is proud to celebrate its sixth year of publication, with delivery to over 1,300 subscribers every month! We welcome your This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !
NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its Community Partners: The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the DTE Energy Foundation, The James A. & Faith Knight Foundation, Borders, The Lloyd and Mabel Johnson Foundation, Online Technologies Corporation, Pfizer Global Research and Development, The Power Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
IN THIS ISSUE
| NEWSNOTES Resource of the Month |
Principles for an Effective Nonprofit Website:
Download this free guide from
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LEAD STORY
Nonprofit Websites: Think Big by Thinking Small
By Neel Hajra*
You’ve got a decent nonprofit website, congratulations! Now it’s time to think about how to transform your site from an online brochure into a dynamic tool that truly helps you achieve your mission. A common mistake by nonprofits is to assume that creating a better website involves a lot of time, money, and energy. Avoid this trap by “thinking small” – take incremental steps that improve your website over time. Here are just a few suggestions for how to take advantage of amazing new technologies without investing a lot of money or time:
Online Donations
- What: Allow supporters to donate online, with direct deposit into your bank account.
- Why: $$$!
- How: Google Checkout (totally free for nonprofits through 2009), Network for Good (free basic setup, 4.5% transaction fees), or PayPal (free setup, 2%-3% in transaction fees).
- Ease of Setup: Medium (requires you to place some pre-fabricated HTML on your website).
- Tips: All of these services are easy to set up. To maximize your chances, place a “donate now” graphic and link on every page of your website. Google Checkout and PayPal also allow for sales of goods through your website.
Blog
- What: An ongoing commentary and source of information about your organization and your mission.
- Why: Blogs give you a VOICE among people who care, draw more traffic to your website and cause, establish your expertise on subject matter, and enable your entire staff to contribute to your outreach efforts.
- How: Blogger (free), Word Press (free), LiveJournal (free).
- Ease of Setup: Easy for basic setup, Medium if you want to integrate it closely into your existing website.
- Tips: A key to a successful blog is constant updates (get your staff and board involved!), active linking to and from other blogs and websites (make your presence known with other nonprofits and bloggers), and commentary from visitors (designate volunteers and others to ‘chat’ on your blog).
Public Forums
- What: An online meeting place and chat room for your stakeholders (volunteers, partners, general public).
- Why: Public forums provide an easy and affordable means of engaging your stakeholders.
- How: Yahoo Groups (free), Google Groups (free).
- Ease of Setup: Easy for basic setup, Medium if you want to integrate it closely into your existing website.
- Tips: Like blogs, public forums require a critical mass of participants: enlist stakeholders to participate and staff to introduce new topics. Public forums also require some policing to make sure “spammers” don’t leave junk on your website.
Private Forums / Intranet
- What: A restricted-access part of your website that allows staff, board members, and/or volunteers to share information, store files, communicate, or conduct online meetings.
- Why: Easier for your busy board or staff to communicate, a very easy way to store and distribute documents (even when you’re on the road!)
- How: Yahoo Groups (free), Google Groups (free), Google Docs (free).
- Ease of Setup: Easy for basic setup, Medium if you want to integrate it closely into your existing website.
- Tips: Google Docs is an interesting new tool that provides online office productivity software with very powerful collaborative features. Local nonprofits like Friends of CASA have utilized this service to create an inexpensive, powerful intranet for their board members.
More Traffic
- What: Simple ways to bring more people to your website.
- Why: More traffic produces a great snowball effect: better visibility, more stakeholders coming to you, more links to your website, and higher rankings on search engines.
- How: Register your website’s address on top search engines such as Google (website AND your sitemap ), Yahoo, and Live Search (all free). Use Google’s Adwords to place advertisements on relevant Google search results (free if you apply for and receive a Google Grant).
- Ease of Setup: Easy for submitting your website address, Medium for setting up Adwords.
- Tips: Boost your website traffic even further by placing your web address on ALL of your marketing and communications material, and encourage partner agencies to link to your website.
Content Management System
- What: A system that makes editing your website as easy as editing a word processing document.
- Why: Makes it simple to keep your site up to date, eliminates two common bottlenecks: slow and expensive website developers/volunteers, allows selected staff to maintain their own sections of the website.
- How: Most large web hosts such as Godaddy.com and Yahoo Web Hosting offer these systems as part of their service packages (for as little as $5/month), Google Page Creator (free), or Joomla (free).
- Ease of Setup: Hard – you need to transfer your entire site over to the new system, but once it’s set up, you’ll never look back!
- Tips: It takes some effort to set up a content management system for your website, but it might be the best thing you’ve ever done for your website’s long-term effectiveness.
Conclusion
Day by day, the World Wide Web is becoming a more important means for people in our communities (and throughout the world!) to connect with your mission. While it’s vital for your organization to take advantage of this opportunity, it’s not critical to do it all at once. By “thinking small” you’ll end up with a site that powers your mission!
*Neel is Chief Operating Officer at NEW and also oversees npServ™, NEW's shared technology support service for nonprofits. Catch him on the Nonprofit Buzz Thursday, March 27, 9 a.m. for a discussion of the role of websites in the nonprofit sector.
FEATURED ITEMS
Nonprofit Buzz:The Role of Websites in the Nonprofit Sector
Thursday, March 27, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Join Diana Kern, Vice President of Programs at NEW , when she hosts this lively internet-based radio program. Her guests this month are Neel Hajra, Chief Operating Officer at NEW and Amanda Edmonds, Executive Director of Growing Hope in Ypsilanti. Learn how to advance your mission via the Web. Tune in on Metrochick Radio .
Nonprofit SuperConference 2008: Teaming Up for Community Success
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 13 & 14, 2008
Lansing Center, Lansing
The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) sponsors the must-attend event of the year. Besides offering a diverse array of more than 50 workshops, the conference features four plenary sessions, an exhibit hall, evening networking event, wireless access, bookstore, and more. Keynote speakers include representatives from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Points of Light Foundation, and the authors of the book Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits.
Don't miss this opportunity to network with peers from around the state. Discounted early bird registration is available on or before April 18.
Find specifics on the schedule, workshops, accommodations and more on MNA's website. If your questions aren't answered there, contact conference coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (517-492-2412) for more information.
Upcoming Trainings
View NEW's online Training Calendar for an extensive listing of nonprofit-related education opportunities throughout the state. Some highlights:
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Budget Development (Youth Development Commission)
Tuesday, March 25, 9 a.m. - noon, The Family Place, Detroit
Learn how to prepare an operational budget. -
Results through Assessment (BoardConnect)
Wednesday, March 26, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., NEW Center, Ann Arbor
This class will cover the benefits and strategies of board assessment, and different approaches for assessing the current and desired effectiveness of your board. -
The Effective Board Team (BoardWalk)
Friday, April 4, 9 a.m. - noon, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield
Build the capacity of current and prospective nonprofit board members. This is just one of a series of workshops. -
Accountability, Best Practices & Your Board (BoardConnect)
Wednesday, April 16, 9 a.m. - noon, Hannan House, 4750 Woodward, Detroit
Rapidly changing expectations surrounding nonprofit accountability and fiduciary responsibilities make this a workshop worth taking. -
Starting Off Right: Board Member Orientation (BoardConnect)
Tuesday, April 22, 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Community House, Birmingham
Concepts, methods, and case studies are used to address the major responsibilities and duties of board service. A great class for individuals starting out or renewing their board service. -
Building Your Board (BoardConnect)
Wednesday April 30, 9 a.m. - noon, NEW Detroit, Fisher Building, Detroit
Covers strategies for recruitment planning, identifying and cultivating candidates, and electing new members to your board. -
Grant Writing Workshop (High Impact Grants)
June 16-18, Michigan State University, East Lansing
A 3-day deep dive into the art and science of grantwriting.
Google for Nonprofits
Many volunteers at Google have put in hours of hard work on the recently-launched "Google for Nonprofits" Web page. Read Chris Busselle's post to the Google Blog on March 18 to learn how the tools offered can make your organization more efficient. Feedback is encouraged via their "Tell us your story" section or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Volunteer Nominations Sought
The United Way for Southeastern Michigan invites nominations for their Volunteer Recognition Program. This year it's a video contest; your online nomination form will be supplemented by a two-minute video uploaded to YouTube!
Be sure your nominee fits into United Way's Agenda for Change, meaning his or her actions address educational preparedness, financial stability, or basic needs. Choose one of six specific award categories.
Nominations are due on or before April 11. The community will have the opportunity to view the three semi-finalists in each of the six categories during National Volunteer Week April 27 - May 3 and vote on the individuals and groups they feel best exemplify the values of each award. Get those camcorders out and have fun!
Electronic Communication OK!
The State of Michigan has amended the Nonprofit Corporation Act to allow use of electronic communications. Governor Granholm recently signed into law Public Act 9 of 2008 (SB 123) which accepts the use of electronic communication for several nonprofit activities involving boards of directors and members. Specifically, the bill permits groups to use forms of electronic communication to provide notice of meetings to their boards of directors or members, and for these individuals to participate in a meeting and vote via electronic communication. Among other activities, a nonprofit may now provide notice of meetings via fax or email, hold a board meeting via webinar, and revise the organization's bylaws to permit voting via fax or email.
View Public Act 9 online. The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) actively supported the passage of SB 123. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions (toll-free in Michigan: 888-242-7075).
Troy Nonprofit Management Conference
Thursday, April 24, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Walsh College, 3838 Livernois, Troy
The Nonprofit Network of the Troy Chamber of Commerce invites nonprofit volunteers, board members and staff to its third annual nonprofit conference. Experts in their fields will provide affordable training in all areas of nonprofit management. Choose among six different workshop offerings in each of four different sessions.
The seminar schedule includes a registration form that can be faxed or emailed. The Chamber is happy to take registrations by phone or email, too. To register contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (248-641-8151). To see the schedule and find more information and a registration form visit the Non-Profit Mgt Conference page on the Troy Chamber website.
Affordable Housing Conference
Monday, April 28 - Wednesday, April 30
Lansing Center, Lansing
The 10th annual Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing is the place to be if you are involved in housing, homeless services, or other community development issues. Besides learning and networking opportunities, there will be a reprise of Advocacy Day on the Capitol lawn to promote the need for more funding. Also, a performance by Jeff Daniels will cap the events on Wednesday.
Download a brochure and register on the Housing conference website. Early bird registration discounts are available until April 7.
Michigan Association for Evaluation Conference
Monday, March 31
Lansing
The Michigan Association for Evaluation (MAE) exists to promote evaluation in the State. They convene the evaluation community (including evaluators, funders, and program users) to focus on how evaluation should be conducted and used. This 13th annual conference is entitled Evaluation: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Guiding, and Improving Policies and Programs. Visit their website for details.
Reminders
- Office space is available for 501(c)(3) organizations at the NEW Center in Ann Arbor. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (734-998-0160 x209) for more information.
REGULAR FEATURES
TechSoup, the technology place for nonprofits, characterizes their weekly email newsletter By the Cup as "technology served the way nonprofits need it." Subscribe to view articles, events, message-board discussions, donated software alerts, and more. An added bonus is the free soup recipe — Bangkok Butternut Squash this week!
Bulletin Board
- Is your organization using Giftworks software for fund development? Nell Saunders-Scott at the University of Michigan Gerald Ford School of Public Policy would appreciate your feedback on the functionality of the program. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (734-615-9645)
- An entry in The Directory of Nonprofit Organizations in Southeast Michigan will draw attention to your mission. See "Submit new organization" in the header if your nonprofit is not yet listed. .
