Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference 2010 – Call for Presenters

Beginning May 18-19, 2010 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, hundreds of participants from across the state will join together to attend Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference 2010. This annual conference features educational workshops, an exhibit hall and bookstore interspersed with several opportunities for networking. We expect approximately 500 participants, including nonprofit executives, program staff, fund development professionals, board members, researchers, consultants, advocates, national service members and leaders from the government, corporate and faith communities, bringing synergy and a broad community context to our discussions.

This year, the theme is “Bringing Focus to the Future,” to invoke a feeling of forward-thinking and optimism during a time of great challenges in the sector. The goal is to not just discuss the future of the nonprofit sector, but for participants to leave the conference with real ideas of their own personal, and their organization’s, contribution to the future of the sector. 

We are seeking presenters and experts with creative ideas who can interact with conference participants around the following topic areas:
• Fund Development
• Marketing, Messaging, Communication
• Nonprofit Governance & Management
• Professional Development & Leadership

Workshop proposals submitted should take the theme into account and should include thoughts on how the workshop content relates to it. One important aspect to include will be tools, specifically technological tools, and how they can help organizations accomplish their mission.

Download the RFP here. Proposals will be accepted until January 6, 2010.

Watch what past participants, presenters and exhibitors had to say about the Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference!

Submitted by Kari Marciniak, Training and Events Manager for Michigan Nonprofit Association.

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Giving Wisely This Holiday Season

This time of year, mailboxes and inboxes are filled with requests for charitable donations all saying the same thing – that financial support is needed now more than ever. But in these tough economic times, how can Michigan families ensure that their dollars will do the most good?

To assist donors in making these critical decisions, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW) and the Michigan Attorney General have developed a guide for Giving Wisely This Holiday Season.

The guide includes tips for choosing a charity, warning signs to watch for fraudulent groups, and tips for safely making a donation including online giving.

Read the Giving Wisely This Holiday Season guide, then let us know what you think. Is it helpful? How do you plan to give this holiday season? For our nonprofit leaders – how will you work with donors to help make the giving process a rewarding experience?

Submitted by Lisa Sommer, public relations manager for Michigan Nonprofit Association.

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Does Volunteering Impact Your Happiness?

Considering the economic climate and need for service in Michigan and around the country, I can’t help but share Nancy Gibb’s question, from her recent TIME Magazine article, “Is it a coincidence that eight of the 10 happiest states in the country also rank in the top 10 for volunteering?” This Saturday, November 21, is Family Volunteer Day. As we near the calendar-appointed day for thankfulness and the cheerful months of holiday giving, perhaps now is also a good time to evaluate how we are serving and volunteering our time throughout the year.

HandsOn Network, generated by Points of Light Institute and The Walt Disney Company present Family Volunteer Day as an annual day of service, held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This day is designed to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve. Volunteering as a family provides quality time for busy families, strengthens communication and bonds and positively impacts local communities across the nation.

Read the full article from TIME Magazine, and let us know how you and your family are volunteering and whether or not it impacts your happiness.

Family Volunteer Day Opportunities:
If you are looking for ways to serve this weekend or any time of the year, consider contacting your local Volunteer Center. Many centers are hosting Family Volunteer Day events or activities. For example:
• HandsOn Battle Creek is partnering with local nonprofits such as Salvation Army and SAFE Place to address real community needs that extend beyond culture, race and economic boundaries.
• The Volunteer Center of Dickinson and Iron Counties and the UP Volunteer Network will be partnering with Delta County Jaycees to pack Thanksgiving Day food boxes and crafts at The Salvation Army to distribute across the country.
• The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan will host 12 nonprofit organizations with hands-on activities, like making bookmarks and decorating gift bags for hospice patients. They will partner with the Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Great Start Parent Coalition, and the YMCA of Niles/Buchanan.
• The United Way & Volunteer Connections of Montcalm is working with the Ionia Kids Club to coordinate a Friends & Family Brunch and Service project. They will make handmade beaded Christmas ornaments to donate to RAVE, a local domestic and sexual violence shelter.

Submitted by Ashley Gulker, program specialist for the Volunteer Centers of Michigan and Michigan Campus Compact.

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How diverse and inclusive are Michigan’s nonprofits?

How diverse and inclusive are Michigan’s nonprofits? Unfortunately, not much data has been collected over the years to help us know the answer for our state. Who makes up the majority of nonprofit boards and staff?

Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University have developed a new survey designed to assess the trends of Michigan’s nonprofit sector around policies and practices related to diversity and inclusiveness. Responses will help inform and direct the activities of MNA and partner organizations, including to inform a series of focus groups to be co-convened by MNA and the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF). The focus groups will develop an action plan for helping nonprofits become more diverse and inclusive.

If you haven’t done so already, we encourage nonprofit leaders to take 10 minutes and follow this link to take the survey. Click here to complete the survey.

The survey closes by Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

How do you think Michigan’s nonprofit sector will compare to the nation? Why is this a concern? Read the Chronicle of Philanthropy article, “Foundations Lack Board Diversity, Says Report.” Will our state appear the same?

Submitted by Kyle Caldwell, president and CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association.

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Nonprofits Partner for 2010 Census

A couple months ago, Michigan Nonprofit Association announced their 2010 Census initiative and brought me on board to help lead it. In a blog on September 2, I shared why it’s important for nonprofits be involved in the 2010 Census. (Read the 2010 Census blog here)

Nonprofits Count! is a campaign to mobilize nonprofits to get involved in making sure that every person is counted, with a special emphasis on hard-to-count communities. Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Michigan Nonprofit Complete Count Committee have organized Nonprofits Count! in Michigan as the statewide campaign committed to increasing 2010 Census participation in hard-to-count communities. And with the support of some foundations in Michigan, the campaign was able to distribute 2010 Census grants to more than a dozen nonprofits across the state to support their efforts to increase participation in hard-to-count communities.

The grants will support public education efforts to reach members of undercounted communities about the importance of a complete census count. The message is clear: we need a complete count in order to receive funding to keep essential services and provide access to funds, programs and services for Michigan residents. The results of the 2010 Census will affect the dispersion of federal funds, political representation, public infrastructure and private investment. For every 100 people not counted, a community risks losing an estimated $1.2 million over the next decade for federally funded programs alone.

To see the list of grantees, click here. To learn more about their individual efforts, click here.

Does your organization has a 2010 Census initiative? How will you help ensure a complete count in your community? What questions or concerns are you hearing from your community members?

To learn more about the Nonprofits Count! in Michigan campaign visit www.mnaonline.org/census.asp. A Nonprofit Resources Toolkit is available as a PDF download for your organization to use as educational material and includes:

* What’s at Stake?
* Why Nonprofits: Key to a Complete Count
* Census 101: The Basics
* Seven Things Any Nonprofit Needs to Know about the 2010 Census
* Census by the Numbers
* Meeting with Census Specialists
* Census Glossary of Terms

Submitted by guest blogger Sam Singh, census consultant for Michigan Nonprofit Association.

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Utilizing Evaluation to Demonstrate Impact

As a former educator; I am long familiar with the pressure to and necessity of measures of performance and program outcomes. I’ve written many objectives, identified measurements, and collected and reported data designed to measure the success of educational programs. Now, as a VISTA Leader, I’m involved in evaluation from a different perspective.

I’m learning that nonprofits are under increasing pressures to evaluate their programs. As a VISTA I was involved in writing grant reports to document results. As a VISTA leader I’m involved in compiling data from the reports submitted by a variety of Volunteer Centers of Michigan.

I’m impressed by the numbers of registered volunteers and partner agencies being reported in the current grant reports. However, these same reports are demonstrating and documenting the difficulty associated with the collection of qualitative information. All nonprofits deal with the issue of collecting demographic information from volunteers. As I work with VISTAs serving at the volunteer centers; the issue of how or when to collect demographic information is common to all. As demographic information is built into the volunteer registration process there is a common dilemma. When the information is made voluntary; potential volunteers are often skipping the questions about age, sex, and other demographic information. However, when the information is made mandatory; the concern is that many potential volunteers will exit the online registration system rather then supply the information and that volunteer’s services are then lost. Volunteer Centers have the additional problem in that often the center is somewhat outside the loop. Volunteer Centers may not be directly connected to the services provided. As volunteers register with centers, information regarding actual service hours becomes problematic. How does the center know whether or not the volunteer actually served hours with a local nonprofit? How does a center develop and measure outcomes when volunteers are working through other human service providers who have different management systems and approach evaluation from potentially very different perspectives?

As a VISTA Leader; I don’t have answers to these questions. In the process of researching the issue; I’ve found many helpful resources. One resource, Measuring the Difference Volunteers Make: A Guide to Outcome Evaluation for Volunteer Program Managers, offers valuable suggestions and tools such as:
• Importance of conducting Outcomes Evaluation
• Volunteer Centers as potential resource and consultant nonprofits as they establish evaluation programs.

Evaluation is necessary to demonstrate impact. Clear, measureable documentation of program outcomes is a necessary part of obtaining funding whether through grants or donations. Developing effective plans and instruments will continue to be an issue for Volunteer Centers and all nonprofits. How is your organization evaluating impact—qualitative or outcomes-based?

Submitted by Sandra Miller, AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader for the Volunteer Centers of Michigan. Prior to joining VCM, Sandra served as a VISTA member in Wisconsin for Habitat for Humanity. Sandra is a retired school teacher and counselor and has a Bachelors in Education and Masters in School Counseling, both from Central Michigan University.

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Why Detroit?

Where will you be this week? Many nonprofits will be attending the Council of Michigan Foundations and Independent Sector Annual Conferences in Detroit.

Why Detroit? Some say because it’s ground zero for the economic stress of the nation with the Auto Manufacturers in crisis, the nation’s highest unemployment rate and a state government that is largely considered dysfunctional.

There is a more compelling reason in my view. Michigan and Detroit have an innovative and robust nonprofit sector. As the only growing sector in the state’s economy, and the place where much of our future recovery we birthed, the nonprofit sector in Michigan can show how to lead. Health care and biosciences, education and job re-training, the arts and cultural organizations, local human services – all are areas that will help Michigan out of this long and deep recession. We can show our strength to the national and international leaders who will attend this important conference. At the same time we have much to learn from other nonprofits and thought leaders. Michigan Nonprofit Association worked to help ensure that nonprofits from across the state and especially in the Metro Detroit area could participate in this event thanks to scholarship funds provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation.

So, why come to Michigan and Detroit? Because this is ground zero for how the nonprofit sector will lead our state to a transformed economy and community. Hope to see you there.

Submitted by Kyle Caldwell, MNA’s President and CEO.

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Tuesday is Election Day!

While this is not what many consider to be a “major” election year, important local elections are taking place across the state Tuesday, November 3, and there is also a special election for a state senate seat. Use the links below to find out which elections are taking place in your county on Tuesday, then get out to the polls and vote!

• Elections by county
• Candidate listing by county
• Candidate listing for Special Election of 19th State Senate District

Confirm that you are registered to vote and find your polling location.

All polls are open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Submitted by Tiffany Aurora, MNA’s Public Policy Manager.

And since it’s Halloween, we just had to share. HAPPY HALLOWEEN from Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan Campus Compact and the Volunteer Centers of Michigan.

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Telling Your Story

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” -Robert McAfee Brown

With the holidays just around the corner, media are searching their communities for the best nonprofit story to tell. Are you ready to tell a compelling story if they call your office tomorrow?

Here are some quick story telling tips and reminders of resources MNA has for nonprofits in Michigan:
1. Identify the people with compelling stories
2. Have photos easily accessible for print or web publishing (Blog: Nonprofits and Photosharing)
3. Look for video opportunities (Blog: Storytelling in a Visual Medium)
4. Join MNA’s Media Query Email List – (Sorry, for MNA members only) Receive email alerts when members of the media contact MNA with a specific story request
5. Don’t wait for reporters to contact you! Identify reporters with interest in your organization or issue and reach out to them.
6. Participate in the Tell Your Stories workshop November 11 with Community Media Workshop

Submitted by Lisa Sommer, MNA’s Public Relations Manager.

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Volunteerism Goes Hollywood

This week Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) has mobilized the entertainment community and is putting the spotlight on volunteerism and community service. iParticipate is a multi-year campaign that puts the volunteerism movement as the guest star for many of your favorite programs. Starting today through October 24 (which is conveniently Make a Difference Day!), ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and several cable channels will mobilize viewers to volunteer through more than 90 shows. Some will blend the story lines to have motivational themes and others will include PSAs from cast members.

Some are questioning how well the initiative will work. If the iParticipate initiative does its job, that means nonprofits in Michigan could see an influx of volunteers. The question for a nonprofit to ask is “Are we ready and prepared to engage these new volunteers long-term?” How will you track and engage new volunteers, and then retain them as long-term ambassadors of your organization?

What are your thoughts on the iParticipate campaign? Will it be successful? Since this is a multi-year commitment, what more do you hope to see from the campaign?

Learn more about iParticipate

Read USA Today article: TV: It’s prime time for volunteerism

Click here to see TV programs encouraging volunteerism

Learn more about Make a Difference Day

Read Andy Goodman’s latest Free Range Thinking article, KaBOOM! Is Ready for Prime Time

Submitted by Lisa Sommer, MNA’s Public Relations Manager.

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