A bi-weekly update from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.                                        
HEADLINES

 

Expand your thinking through Idea Labs
New to this year's conference, Idea Labs will put a spin on the classic skills building workshops and engage experts and peers in new ways of thinking and fresh approaches to meeting missions. Led by experts in the field, the Idea Labs will be held in a roundtable format to provide an interactive forum for investigating, discussing, applying, and debating important issues and opportunities that impact participant organizations and the sector.

 

Here are just a couple of the 10 Idea Labs conference attendees can choose to participate in. See the full list of the exciting and thought provoking topics here.

 

Financial Sustainability: Myth or Reality?

During this Idea Lab Andrew Wolk, founder and CEO of Root Cause, and participants will explore funders' demand for grantees to demonstrate financial sustainability without them. Participants will learn about and discuss the challenges and opportunities of different approaches, such as social impact bonds, social enterprises, pay for success programs, and various business models, and together will consider a unified set of recommendations to turn myth into reality.

 

Collaborating for Social Change

In response to traditional methods of solving social problems that are not working, communities, groups, and organizations are increasingly finding ways to come together and develop new means of overcoming shared challenges and achieving common goals. In this Idea Lab, participants will join representatives from Collective Impact, Collaborate Boston, and TSNE's Inclusion Initiative for a discussion of innovative models and approaches to developing cross-sector collaborations, networks, and partnerships for greater social impact.

 

Other Idea Lab topics include Making the Case for Change: Tools for Change Leadership, Building Together: Sharing Space & Staffing for Impact, and Building a Healthy, Effective Board (and What to do if You Don't Have one). View all of the descriptions and learn more about this year's conference on October 29 in Framingham here.

 

 

New resource to find civil legal help in MA

The Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder (MLRF) is a new, free web-based tool that connects low income residents in Massachusetts with legal help. This tool is helpful for individuals with legal needs as well as staff in nonprofits who are seeking legal assistance for their clients. 


 

In addition to legal services programs, this website includes hundreds of links to resources such as legal information and self-help materials. With more programs being added on a regular basis, the MLRF is a useful tool for finding legal resources and referrals for your clients. Read more about MLRF here.

 

Report: Average Nonprofit Spends 3.2% of Budget on Technology

The average nonprofit spends 3.2% of their annual budget on technology, according to an article posted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This finding was published by the Nonprofit Technology Network in their eighth annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investment Report. Other findings from this report included that nonprofits budgeted an average of $114,443 for technology and have about 4.5 technology staff members. Read more about this report here.

 

Last Call: Recommendations for MNN Lifetime Achievement Award due Friday

Each year, as part of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network's annual conference, we honor a nonprofit leader for their decades of innovation, spirit, and impact.

 

If you know a passionate and committed nonprofit leader in Massachusetts with a track record of major, meaningful, and innovative contributions to the sector and community they serve, we encourage you to recommend them for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Recommendations are due Friday, August 8. You can learn more about the award and past recipients, and submit a recommendation here.

Take advantage of early bird registration rates before 9/12 to save BIG on MNN's annual conference 
(MNN members save more than 35% in addition to early bird savings).
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE

Post-Mortem on State Legislative Session

The Legislature wrapped up its two-year session on Thursday, July 31.  As is customary, there was a flurry of activity in the final days and hours. Bills covering a wide variety of topics from gun laws, domestic violence, a tax-free holiday, substance abuse, political expenditures, public housing authorities, and wastewater were all passed in the closing day. 

Earned Sick Leave on the Ballot

As the legislative process winds down, for now, many have turned their sights to the ballot questions that could have significant impact on the citizens of the Commonwealth.  One such ballot question would provide mandatory earned sick leave for Massachusetts workers.   For more on Earned Paid Sick Time, see the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's analysis here.
NONPROFIT 411: 
The Social Sector Generational Shift
 By Irwin Nesoff, Associate Professor and Chair of Nonprofit Leadership & Policy,    Wheelock College
As the leading edge of the millennial generation, born between 1980 and 2000, make their presence felt in the work place, the leading edge of the boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, heads into retirement. This demographic shift creates both challenges and opportunities for social sector organizations. While boomers are the leaders of a large number of social sector organizations, vast changes in politics, funding and technology is changing the way the sector functions.

Read more about the social sector generation shift and changes your organization can make... 

Operations Project Manager, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate

Chief Financial Officer, Facing History and Ourselves

Director of Policy and Communications, Boston After School and Beyond

Development Director, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell

Executive Vice President, PowerOptions

Program and Events Specialist, Big Sister of Greater Boston

Vice President of Development, Catholic Charities of Boston

Director of Finance and Administration, Center for Effective Philanthropy

Executive Director, Nonprofit VOTE

Director of Development, Boston Debate League

Director of Development, St. Boniface Haiti Foundation

Senior Accountant, Community Catalyst

Director of Communications, FSG

Executive Director, Andover Community Trust, Inc.

 

Grant & Award Opportunities

Check out the MNN Grants & Awards page for more grants and awards!
Alzheimer's Disease Initiative, Due August 6

Clipper Ship Foundation, Due August 8

NBCU Foundation, August 8

Parent Information and Training Centers, Due August 11

Literacy Partnership, Due August 13

ArtWeek, Due August 15

Brookline Community Foundation, Due August 15

Foundation for MetroWest Competitive Grant Program, Due August 15

Foundation for Women's Wellness, Due August 15

Thinking About Corrections - Content Development, Due August 15

HOPE VI Main Street Grant, Due August 18

Ryan White Part A HIV Emergency Relief Grant Program, Due August 19

Improving Immunization/Enhancing Disease Prevention, Due August 21

Service Delivery Impact Initiative, Due August 21

Justice for Families Program, Due August 22

Greg Biffle Foundation, Due August 29

Ronald McDonald House Charities Grants, August 29

Mentoring Technical Assistance Project, Due August 30

Cabot Family Charitable Trust, Due Sept 1

Rogers Family Foundation, Due Sept 1

Webster Family Fund, Due Sept 1

Yawkey Foundation: Education, Due Sept 1

James G. Connolly Tribute Fund, Due Sept 2

New England States Touring Grant, Due Sept 2

  

Trainings & Events 
*Discounts for MNN members

How to Build Your Nonprofit LinkedIn Company Page, Webinar, August 5

How to Use Twitter for Your Nonprofit, August 5 

Giving USA 2014, Webinar, August 13

Gubernatorial Forum 2014, Boston, August 13

Corporate Giving: Win Support from Big Companies, Webinar, August 14

Choosing By Doing - Selecting a Fundraising Platform, Boston, August 15

Nonprofit Roundtable: Market Trends & Real Estate, Boston, Aug.19

Pro Bono Tech Consultations for Nonprofits,  Cambridge, August 20

Recruitment and Marketing on a Shoestring Budget, Boston, August 21

Ten Social Media Best Practices for NGOs, Webinar, August 21

Surviving & Thriving During the Nonprofit Data Revolution, Boston, Aug. 29

Boston Major Gifts Fundraising Summit, Boston, Sept 18

SAVE THE DATE: MNN & Comcast Internet & Tech Access for Youth, Webinar, Sept. 18

*Breakfast with Keynote Speaker: Dr. Robert Rose, Holyoke, Sept 24

Program Evaluations, Boston, October 16 

Fall 2014 Mediation Training, East Cambridge, October 30 - November 7

Volunteer Management, Boston, November 20


Resources  

Grantmakers in Health (GIH), an educational organization, is seeking nominations for its board of directors. Nominations are due September 5.

 

Learn more about #GivingTuesday and how your organization can participate.

 

An article in The Nonprofit Times cover's Project Hope's strategy to maximize efficiency when using Google Grants. 

 

Check out MNN's online Professional Directory for companies throughout MA. 


New & Returning Affiliates

*Discounts for MNN members


ESC OF NEW ENGLAND

A nonprofit management consulting organization that provides capacity building and technical assistance exclusively to the nonprofit sector.

 

SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS

Helps organizations build the capacity for strong, flexible, effective working relationships - among leaders, teams, and across the entire workforce.

*40% off fee for professional services

 

TRINET

Bundled HR products that cover the core services of payroll, benefits, risk & compliance, an HR team and a cloud platform so you can focus on what your company does best.
MNN's work is made possible by The Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation & State Street Foundation.
If you'd like to share a story or have a job, grant or other information that is important to Massachusetts nonprofits, contact [email protected] .