Happy New Year!
Thank you for your impactful effort to spread the #GiveLinnCounty message on #GivingTuesday in December. We hope the efforts helped to educate, inform, and support your #GivingTuesday activities. Have suggestions for next year's campaign? Send them to me!

Here's to a great year; may connecting with the Nonprofit Network be in your 2016 goals! See how below.
Carrie Walker, Nonprofit Network Coordinator
[email protected]

Network Spotlight:  Three Ways To Connect With The Nonprofit Network in 2016
1. Join a peer group. About 175 nonprofit professionals attended at least one peer group last year. Take advantage of this networking and learning opportunity. More details here.
2. Speaking of learning, Nonprofit Know-How programs will return this year. Watch this newsletter for upcoming training opportunities and register right away.
3. Visit the nonprofit section of the downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library. While you're there, explore Foundation Center online, a comprehensive grants database. The library partnership facilitates access to invaluable resources for you.

Reminders & Opportunities!
Community Foundation Announces Winter Grant Cycle and Pre-Application Briefings
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation announces its first grant cycle for 2016 for local charitable nonprofits. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Febrary 12, 2016. The grant portal will open on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. For more details about grant programs, please visit here.
    Two grant briefings will be offered to grant writers that will highlight grant opportunities for the year and provide an overview of the application process. The optional briefings will be held on Thursday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, January 15 at noon. The briefings will be held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation at 324 3rd Street SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Community Foundation Board Approves $1.5 Million in Grants
In December 2015, the Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Rapids
Community Foundation approved more than $1.5 million in grants to 162 nonprofit organizations. More information about these awards can be found
here .

Rockwell Collins Volunteer Fair Opportunity
All area nonprofits are welcome to set up a booth and introduce Rockwell Collins employees to exciting ways they can get involved in our community on Tuesday, January 19 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 400 Collins Road, Cedar Rapids. To reserve your booth, email Amber Dietrich at [email protected] by Friday, January 8. Additional details will be provided upon booth registration.

Quarton Family Volunteer Day January 16
Looking for a great way to start your new year and get your family involved in volunteering? Join United Way's Quarton Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, January 16, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As a family, you will join others to deliver meals to homebound individuals through the Horizons Meals on Wheels program. Sign up here.

Basic Emergency Volunteer Center Training January 25
LAP-AID (Linn Area Partners Active In Disaster) will hold a Basic Emergency Volunteer Center Training on Monday, January 25, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at River of Life Ministries, 3801 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids. In this session:
  • Learn how establishing an Emergency Volunteer Center can help your community in times of disaster.
  • Prepare to staff an Emergency Volunteer Center which registers and places spontaneous volunteers during and after a disaster.
  • Experience and practice an interactive emergency volunteer center exercise.
There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. More information and registration link here.

Need a Marketing Plan?
Mount Mercy University graduate students seek to help a nonprofit organization develop a marketing plan for free. If you are interested in this possible partnership, please contact Nancy Garberson at 319-363-6005 or [email protected] by January 6. 

Volunteer Iowa Da y at the Capitol 
Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for Iowa nonprofit organizations to communicate the power of volunteers and the public policy priorities of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service to legislators and policy makers. Volunteer Iowa Day is on February 3, 2016, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines. 

Visit the Nonprofit Network page at  www.gcrcf.org for our online calendar.

Ready...set...learn
Upcoming Peer Groups
Please contact  Carrie Walker if you are interested in finding out more about  peer groups. These monthly or bi-monthly lunch meetings provide a great opportunity to discuss current issues, discover new ideas, and create peer connections. 
Email invitations with agend a, topics, and RSVP requests for free lunch are sent about a week before a peer  group meeting.
  • Thursday, January 21, 12-1:30 p.m. CFO Learning Opportunity (open to all); RSVP here.
  • Tuesday, January 26, 12-1 p.m. Marketing
  • Tuesday, February 2, 12-1 p.m. Executive Directors
  • Tuesday, February 16, 12-1 p.m. Development
Volunteer Management Training Series includes Six Sessions from January 27 to April 6
The online volunteer management series will enhance best practices training. The webinar series is live, interactive and the online classes are presented by leading experts across the state. Geared towards individuals that are fairly new to managing or coordinating volunteers for nonprofits, schools, government sector, faith-based organizations, or service organizations.
Cost is $125 for all six sessions.
Find out more here. Register here.

Webinar: Editorial Calendar How-Tos for Nonprofits
Wednesday, January 13, 2016, 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m.CST
Presented by Nonprofit Marketing Guide, Kivi Leroux Miller
Is it time to get your communications calendar organized? Do you feel like 2016 could be THE year that you finally bring some order to your nonprofit's communications chaos? Then this webinar is for you! Learn basics of editorial calendars and examine online tools to make them successful.
Cost: Free, register here.

Webinar: How to Build a Planned Giving Program
Thursday, January 14, 2016, 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. CST
Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Learn:
-How to determine which planned-giving techniques to offer initially.
-How to identify supporters who might be interested in making a bequest or other planned gift.
-How to promote planned giving to your donors.
Cost: Early Bird $75 before January 6. After January 6, $96
More information and registration here.

CFO Learning Opportunity: CLA Roundtable "Focusing on the Right Risks"
Thursday, January 21, 2016 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, 324 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids.
Presented by CliftonLarsonAllen
The presentation will provide insights and points to consider as you look to build or enhance your approach to risk in a nonprofit organization.
You will:
-Identify factors driving the need for enterprise risk management.
-Discuss a process for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks.
-Recognize key items to consider for enhancing risk management.
Session designed for executive directors, CEOs, CFOs, board members, controllers, financial managers, treasurers, and other decision makers.
Cost: free; lunch is provided.
RSVP here so we can order your lunch.
January 2016
Network Spotlight
Reminders & Opportunities
Upcoming Trainings
Articles
Website Links
Interesting Articles


Please share  your finds for interesting articles with us!
Library Resources
The Cedar Rapids Public Library has numerous resources for nonprofits. including free meeting room space. Click here for accommodation details. 

LinkedIn
Connect with the Nonprofit Network on LinkedIn. 

Please note: when we receive job openings in local nonprofits, we post them on the Nonprofit Network Linked In page.
Nonprofit Network of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
324 3rd Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319.366.2862  Fax: 319.366.2912
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