By Louisa Hackett, Senior Managing Director - Community Resource Exchange is joining hundreds of other nonprofits across the country to promote National Voter Registration Day on September 25th. We support nonprofit civic engagement activities because we believe participating in our democracy furthers our mission of fighting poverty and advancing social justice. Read more >>
News & Views
A blog for those interested in what affects, motivates and drives the New York City Nonprofit Sector — written by CRE’s crackerjack consulting team. We hope you use this space to share your thoughts, ask questions and engage in conversations about our city, social justice and the nonprofit sector.
Every Vote Counts: Stepping Up Your Nonprofit's Role in Civic Engagement
HR Without HR, Part 4: Employing Fair, Consistent, and Rigorous Practices
By Pavitra Menon, Senior Consultant - Organizations must develop systems that promote fairness and consistency in all decisions related to people because without them productivity and morale will plummet. In addition, ensuring fair and consistent practices will most likely keep organizations from unintentionally breaking the law.
What gets in the way of being fair?
Read more >>
Using Nonprofit Interns and Volunteers Effectively
By Ximena Rua-Merkin, Senior Consultant - I recently had an opportunity to work with a youth-led organization that is managed by a bright group of college students, including four part-time employees in their early twenties. In working with this group of “twenty-somethings,” I was reminded of the incredible talent, passion, energy, and resourcefulness college students bring to the table. Unfortunately, nonprofit organizations often times miss the opportunity to engage young people in meaningful volunteer opportunities or leadership roles for fear of their abilities or lack of ideas on how to work with them. Read more >>
Understanding the Importance of Public Service
By Bilal Akhtab - As part of the 2010-2011 class of Public Allies in New York City, I am a living example of the positive impact AmeriCorps programs have in our communities. The mission of Public Allies is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits, and civic participation. Its primary operation is the Ally Program, which partners young adults who have a passion to make a difference with local community-based organizations for a 10-month period. Read more >>
Free Services for CBOs During Hard Times
By Linda Levine, Member of Gray Matters - Has there ever been a time of greater need for NYC’s underserved urban communities? If you direct or work in a CBO, you know the struggle to provide a multiplicity of crucial services at a time when funds are scarce! Many communities suffer from lack of decent housing, medical and legal services, educational opportunities, as well as the impact of environmental injustice, limited access to the arts and the many other benefits enjoyed by citizens in more prosperous communities. Typically understaffed for the services they seek to provide, CBO's are keenly aware of how much more they might do with some professional assistance. Read more >>
I.T. without I.T.
By Ero Gray - Finding money to pay for technology, and especially to pay IT staff, is a perpetual problem for many nonprofits, especially those whose budgets are on the small side. The plain fact is that it's relatively easy to come by a grant or donation to provide a few computers, but it's often difficult to fundraise for the personnel costs involved in getting an IT pro to set up computers or software, and forget about maintaining them for your program staff, once they're in use, and once you start having problems with them. Read more >>
Why do a Needs Assessment?
In plain language, a needs assessment will help you determine whether your proposed work is truly necessary. It is important to know this before you begin: fundraising is a challenge under any circumstances, but it will be impossible if your organization does not address a real need that other groups do not. A needs assessment is an opportunity to ask yourself (as others will ask you later): Why now and why you? Read more >>
Your Board’s Generative Work
by Valyrie Laedlein - How much time do those of us on executive teams spend preparing reports, summaries, “Board Books,” and Power Point presentations for our Board of Directors meetings? Read more >>
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