Geoffrey Canada, the leader of the Harlem Children’s Zone and keynote for the CNM Nonprofit Conference entitled Bridge to Excellence, was featured this weekend in the Wall Street Journal. Click here to read the article. Canada discusses how the agency is dealing with the recession and the loss of millions of dollars in support. View a video report on the topic below, which also features President Obama:

This editorial was published in Sunday’s Tennessean:

We all can answer call to enhance, serve community

By Lewis Lavine and Charla Long

Tennessee Voices

President Barack Obama challenged us to local and national service this past week through two new initiatives, Renew America Together and the White House Office of Social Innovation.

While government has an important role to play in helping rekindle our economy and address the problems of a distressed nation, President Obama made it clear in his inaugural address that individuals have a responsibility to help their communities.

Nashvillians have a long history of tapping into the transformational power of grass-roots initiatives. This Tuesday, Nashville’s Center for Nonprofit Management and Lipscomb University’s Institute for Law, Justice and Society will bring together leaders from nonprofits, government social service departments, faith-based groups and businesses for a conference, “Collaborate for a Cause.”

Our country and state face some of the greatest difficulties in history. Nashville must address these challenges with courage while embracing the unique opportunities of our cross-cultural city. By finding creative solutions that capitalize on the unique competencies of each organization, we can connect those in need with those in our community that compassionately serve.

Through collaboration, regardless of political or religious affiliation, we can respond to President Obama’s call to service.

On Tuesday, we will spend a full day learning how collaborations can make a difference in Nashville and creating ways to improve our service through them.

All community organizers are invited to participate in this unique experience that will foster stronger partnerships. Perhaps the nation will seek to replicate the collaborative spirit the citizens of Nashville have historically modeled.

This Tuesday, Lipscomb University’s Institute for Law, Justice & Society, The SALT Program and Nashville’s Center for Nonprofit Management will bring together leaders from nonprofits, government social service departments, faith-based groups and businesses for – Collaborate for a Cause – the first in a series of conferences designed to unite and equip service organizations.The week’s conference, featuring working sessions and panel discussions, will help organizations continue to find ways to work together to meet increased community needs. Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m.at Lipscomb University’s Ezell Center.

“As a new year begins and a new president is inaugurated, our city faces new challenges and opportunities. Middle Tennesseans have a long history of tapping into the transformational power of grassroots initiatives. Collaborate for a Cause is an opportunity for our region’s great organizations to continue to find creative solutions that capitalize on their unique competencies,” said Dr. Charla Long, executive director of the Institute for Law, Justice & Society.

Continue reading ‘Lipscomb, CNM Host Event to Advance Obama’s Call for Social Innovation’

Ford Motor Company Fund sponsors second annual free “Ford Community Day” at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum Saturday, January 24th

The event continues Ford Motor Company Fund’s significant investment in Nashville. The automaker  has contributed more than $6 million to Nashville charitable organizations in the last 6 years.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 21, 2009 – Ford Motor Company Fund is covering the cost of admission for all guests at the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum on Saturday, Jan. 24, as part of its “Ford Community Day.” This event, as well as many other efforts in the community throughout the year, continues Ford Motor Company’s ongoing commitment to Nashville.

Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund), the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, and the Nashville Area Ford Dealers have a long history of support in the Nashville community. In the last six years alone, Ford has contributed more than $6 million to Nashville charitable organizations. Ford has contributed more money in more communities in their 105 year history than any other automaker.

“We are partnering with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum again to give Nashville residents and visitors a free day of music and entertainment,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford is investing in key cities like Nashville by targeting philanthropy and community-related projects to help meet the economic challenges we’re facing in 2009.”

Continue reading ‘Participate in “Ford Community Day” This Saturday’

“Making A Case For Earned Income Development/Assessing Organizational Readiness”

This is an extended version of “Making A Case For Earned Income Development” by Dan Surface. The abbreviated version appeared in the Winter, 2009 edition of CNM Front & Center.

Your nonprofit organization may very well be a candidate for earned income development. However, before you can determine the nature of that earned income and how to develop and manage it, you need to find out if your organization – including staff, board, and volunteers – is ready for it.

It is not always an easy task to introduce earned income development (EID) into the unique culture of a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit world is driven by mission, not profit. Your staff, board, volunteers and donors have all invested emotional ownership in the vision and mission of your organization. So, it should come as no surprise that you may encounter resistance when you begin to introduce an alternative funding stream that depends upon generating revenue from the sale of a product or service. Profit may be a dirty word and difficult to reconcile with an attitude of mission and service to community.

Continue reading ‘Guest Blogger Makes the Case for Earned Income Development’

In this historic time, President Obama is calling on Americans to give back to their community. Hands On Nashville and Starbucks have announced a partnership to facilitate volunteerism. Here is the story from today’s Tennessean:

Hands On Nashville is hoping to enlist new volunteers this week through a promotion partnership with Starbucks.

The coffeehouse chain will give customers a free tall coffee and a button that says “I’m In” if they pledge to do five hours of community service during 2009. People will be directed to local affiliates of the Hands On Network, which is Hands On Nashville in Middle Tennessee.

The promotion runs Wednesday through Sunday.

To learn more, check out Hands On Nashville’s Web site, www.hon.org, or call 615-298-1108. The national organization’s Web site is www.handsonnetwork.org.

News this afternoon from the Nashville Business Journal:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee has relocated to a new permanent office space in the Midtown Millworks Building, 1704 Charlotte Ave.

The relocation is the result of a successful capital campaign, the organization says in a release.

Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. The organization serves more than 225,000 youth ages 5 through 18 in 5,000 communities nationwidethrough a network of 470 agencies across all 50 states.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee served over 2,200 local children in 2008.

From the Nashville City Paper:

The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency’s Board of Commissioners this morning unanimously passed a proposal to donate land on Eighth Avenue South to the Campus for Human Development to help that social services organization build a new 38-unit shelter on the site.

The donated property, currently an unused parking lot, is adjacent to the homeless outreach organization’s home. The organization has been a tenant of the land owned by MDHA for more than 10 years.

The property transfer is needed so that the nonprofit can get the necessary funding for the construction of the new building. Part of that project bill will be paid for by recent federal grant money awarded to the group for its ongoing charity efforts.

Some observers have argued that the Campus for Human Development and other safety net providers in SoBro will inhibit further redevelopment of the area. But with property now on its books and financing likely to soon fall in place, the organization appears to have cemented its place at the edges of SoBro and The Gulch.

The election takes place on January 22, however, early voting is going on now. For more information, click here.

The Nashville Symphony is offering their first ever webcast today at 1:30 pm. The event will feature music director Giancarlo Guerrero and an opportunity to learn more about their upcoming season:

Learn more about the upcoming season by tuning in to our first ever live video webcast at nashvillesymphony.org. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero will answer questions about the 2009/10 season from the stage of Laura Turner Concert Hall. We welcome you to submit questions before and during the event by emailing askgiancarlo@nashvillesymphony.org or using this form. WPLN on-air host Will Griffin will moderate. If you are unable to tune in live, the webcast will be available for on-demand viewing in the near future.

With each new season, we strive to provide the very best in classical, pops, jazz and children’s programming. This upcoming season is no exception. We are absolutely thrilled about the concerts we have in store for you! Join us at Schermerhorn Symphony Center for the 2009/10 season.