Today, Mayor Karl Dean announced a multifaceted plan to cut the poverty rate in half over the next ten years. The report is the result of an initiative that began with a poverty symposium 18 months ago. Local nonprofit leaders were heavily involved in the action committees that published reports on child care, health care, food, housing and neighborhood and workforce development. The Planning Committee consisted of the Center for Nonprofit Management, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, among other nonprofit agencies.  You can read the full comprehensive report here.

This column from Brian Williams of Hands On Nashville and Lewis Lavine of CNM ran in today’s Tennessean:

Last year, Hands On Nashville set an agency record by connecting 34,000 volunteers with community service agencies. In a year when more people were struggling to make ends meet, it would have been understandable to see a decline in volunteerism. Instead, Hands On Nashville saw just the opposite.

This says something profound about our community. In a year when the need was at its peak and people were struggling with the economic meltdown, Nashvillians reached out to help each other.

With the creation of new opportunities for citizens’ involvement, this year is shaping up to build on that record-breaking trend. In January, Nashville was awarded a “Cities of Service Leadership Grant” from the Rockefeller Foundation; the Mayor’s Office announced a program that allows city employees to trade work hours for service in public schools; and the Attorney General’s Office released a new “Guidebook for Tennessee Nonprofits” for board members.

Hands On Nashville and the Center for Nonprofit Management are keeping the volunteerism trend rolling by launching OnBoard, an initiative that connects prospective board members with nonprofits in need of their skills.

OnBoard gives individuals the opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector and key topics and trends within it from the center’s expert trainers. Participants will walk away from the training session understanding the purpose and leadership responsibilities of board members, the financial practices of nonprofits, and their roles in the community as spokesmen and fundraisers. Then, Hands On Nashville will work to place them with agencies in need of their specific skills as board members.

OnBoard keeps alive the spirit of this special year of service, and it meets a community need. Area nonprofits frequently tell us that they are searching for skilled board members of all ages and backgrounds to help guide their organizations in this unique volunteer capacity. OnBoard gets individuals ready for immediate service; it complements and supplements the work of the Young Leaders Council, which prepares young adults for board service through extensive training and internships.

These volunteer programs and initiatives are all coming together because of the Middle Tennessee community’s unique spirit. Hands On Nashville, the Center for Nonprofit Management, and the Mayor’s Office all see what Nashville can become if we harness our energy to increase the community’s vibrancy. Take advantage of the myriad of opportunities to give back, and help us make 2010 the Year of the Volunteer!

The Center for Nonprofit Management and Hands On Nashville have announced OnBoard, a new program that will train and place community leaders who want to serve on nonprofits’ boards of directors.

“We are pleased to work with Hands On Nashville to introduce this important program,” said Lewis Lavine, president of CNM. “OnBoard offers nonprofits the opportunity to fill their board openings with trained individuals ready and willing to serve. For those who are looking for a governance involvement with a local agency, OnBoard makes the connection.”

The OnBoard program gives individuals the opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector and key topics and trends within it from CNM’s expert trainers. Participants will walk away from this session understanding the purpose and leadership responsibilities of board members, the financial practices of nonprofits, and their roles in the community as spokespeople and fundraisers.

Following the educational component, OnBoard participants will complete a survey that identifies the issue areas they seek to address through service—from homelessness to environmental protection. Hands On Nashville will then work to match these individuals with organizations seeking qualified board candidates.

“In the last year, Hands On Nashville placed or referred a record 34,000 volunteers to community service agencies. A handful of these volunteers who have interest in deepening their community investment have asked us to refer them to agencies where they can volunteer at the board level. We are honored to partner with CNM to create a formal program that provides this opportunity,” said Brian Williams, Executive Director of Hands On Nashville.

The first OnBoard session will be held April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CNM. The inaugural class will have up to 20 participants accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a one-time participation fee of $295, which includes the training, assessment, and placement. Click here to register.

In addition, CNM and Hands On Nashville will take the training and assessment directly to a business at a time convenient to its managers and employees. For more information about this option, contact Sarah Townsend at sarah@cnm.org.

Coverage of the OnBoard announcement ran in the Nashville Post and the Nashville Business Journal.

The Center for Nonprofit Management and the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office have released a guidebook for nonprofit board members. From the Nashville City Paper:

“What Every Board Member and Officer Should Know” is a product of coordination among the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Department of State and the Center for Nonprofit Management.

It is designed to serve as a reference tool for board members and officers of Tennessee nonprofits. It is available online at the Attorney General’s website at http://tn.gov/attorneygeneral.

“We believe the principles and practices in this guidebook can help board members and officers fulfill their duties and enrich their experiences,” Attorney General Bob Cooper said.

The three entities collaborated to develop the guide because each has a particular role in the nonprofit business operation. The Attorney General has broad oversight and authority over Tennessee’s nonprofit sector, including public benefit hospitals.

The Tennessee Department of State is responsible for processing documents filed under the Nonprofit Corporation Act and administers and enforces the Tennessee Charitable Solicitations Act and Charitable Gaming Implementation Law.

The Center for Nonprofit Management provides a range of services and guidance to nonprofits, including workshops, training and networking with other nonprofit organizations.

After a wildly successful pilot program of four events last fall, CNM has begun a new initiative to help young nonprofit employees of Generations X and Y get to know each other and develop a voice for their generations in the nonprofit community and beyond. This will be a unique opportunity for participants to shape their careers, network of support, and commitment to the social sector.

Events are open to the public, but purchasing a membership gives participants a 50% discount off the price to attend. Purchasing a $60 membership means you will be registered for all twelve events (one per month) in 2010 at cost of $5 per event. Nonmembers may register to attend individual events for $10 each. This membership is on an individual basis and is exclusive of CNM’s Excellence Network membership for nonprofit agencies. Membership may be purchased by visiting the “Products” page at www.cnm.org.

The first event, “Taking Charge of your Career: The Importance of Professional Development,” will be held on January 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event, along with all other monthly programming, is listed on CNM’s workshop calendar at www.cnm.org.

For questions about the Young Nonprofit Professionals Membership, please call 615.259.0100 or e-mail sarah@cnm.org. 

The event will feature CNM President Lewis Lavine:

Steering a Nonprofit Through Times of Change: What Board Members Need to Know

Featured Speaker

Janet M. Kleinfelter
Deputy Attorney General
Public Interest Division, Office of Attorney General

Please join us on Thursday, February 18, 2010 for this complimentary presentation and interactive discussion developed specifically for board members and executives of nonprofit organizations.

While the impact of the current economic downturn on the business community is well documented, the resulting challenges faced by nonprofit organizations in many ways have been even greater. The combination of reduced funding and increased demand for services has increased the pressure on nonprofits to fulfill their missions.

In our third annual seminar for board members of nonprofit organizations, we will address critical issues facing the nonprofit community, including:

•Fundraising in a tight economy

•Building and expanding awareness of your organization

•Social entrepreneurship and legal traps for nonprofits operating for-profit business enterprises

•Financial issues and fiduciary responsibilities

Our featured speaker, Deputy Attorney General Janet M. Kleinfelter, will discuss current hot topics for nonprofits. Ms. Kleinfelter leads the Tennessee Attorney General’s Public Interest Division, formed in 2009, which oversees the operation of nonprofit entities on behalf of Tennesseans, including charitable oversight and charitable solicitations.

DATE: Thursday, February 18, 2010

TIME: Registration: 7:30 a.m.
Program: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Continental Breakfast and Lunch Served

VENUE: Waller Lansden Conference Center
511 Union Street, 27th Floor
Nashville, TN 37219

Is your nonprofit board functioning smoothly? Or are there some rough edges?

The Center for Nonprofit Management is prepared to help you smooth out those rough edges through a program designed just for you. Our expert consultants are now prepared to spend forty-five minutes with your board- at its meeting-at your location. After a brief preliminary needs assessment, the consultant will address your agency’s needs through one of the following topics:

• The roles of your board and its members;
• How board meetings should flow;
• How a board should be organized to move your agency forward;
• The board’s role in fundraising;
• How to recruit strong and effective board members;
• How to create strategic alliances with other nonprofits.

In a fast-paced world, this is the most effective way to impart new skills to your board and your agency.

The cost for this refresher is an affordable $195.

If you want additional information about this opportunity, please contact Lisa Pote at 259-0100 (lisa@cnm.org).

We look forward to helping you make a difference in the effectiveness of your governance-and in the operation of your nonprofit.

Do you ever want to attend a training workshop, but just can’t take a day-or even a half day-away from work? You know you need to continue the cycle of learning and growing, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Now, CNM can help by bringing training to you!

Beginning October 28th, you’ll be able to participate in new training workshops from the comfort of your own office…or home…or coffeehouse…or wherever you happen to be with your computer and an internet connection. In partnership with Kim Carpenter Drake, author of www.goaldrivenphilanthropy.com, CNM is proud to present the first in a series of Webinars. Kim offers additional details on the first event:

What Donors Want to Know – Making Your Case in Tough Times

For many of us, our case statement and mission statement have not changed for years. We set goals to achieve and determined the ways in which we thought we could serve those goals.

Now, the world of nonprofits has changed around us and most pundits say that the change is permanent. Are you adjusting to the changes? Are you meeting the challenge head-on or hoping to ride out the storm and wait for quieter waters ahead?

This Webinar will address the primary question: How are we meeting the changing needs of our community and how well are we collaborating with the funding community to maintain their support during these changes? If you are finding your direct mail, proposals and personal requests are showing lower results, this conversation will help your organization to update your case and invigorate your message. Click here to register for this exciting Webinar.

In an effort to provide much needed foreign language classes to employees of other not-for-profit agencies in the Nashville area, TFLI is again offering CNM MEMBERS 20% OFF the regular price of $350 per term.CNM members pay only $280 for the 10 week (20 hour) group classes!The Fall 2009 Term of Foreign Language Group Classes Start the week of October 5th and runs through December 19th.

To receive your discount:

1) Go to www.tfli.org and register online- after you select your preferred class, simply choose the “CNM” fee button to check out,

or

2)Call 741.7579 and mention your CNM membership when you enroll over the phone.

Note: Please register early to get the class of your choice.

Click here to read the Tennessean’s coverage of Salute 2009.

The Center for Nonprofit Management  has announced the winners of the 2009 Salute to Excellence awards. Nine winners and $159,000 in awards were announced last night to the 1,000 people attending this nonprofit celebration. Congrats to all of the fantastic nonprofits in the community! Here are the 2009 winners and finalists of Salute to Excellence 2009!

• The Frist Foundation Awards of Achievement recognize excellence in Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations in three categories: Innovation in Action, Making a Difference, and Team Building.

o The winner in the Innovation in Action category is the Youth Opportunity Center. Finalists are Monroe Harding and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN.

o The winner in the Making a Difference category is Nurses for Newborns. Finalists are Health Assist Tennessee and Homework Hotline.

o The winner in the Team Building category is LP PENCIL Box. Finalists are Interfaith Dental Clinic and Our Kids, Inc.

Continue reading ‘Congrats to Our Salute Winners and Finalists!’