September 2012

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 2

We are proud to work with you to

achieve ACE’s mission and vision

together:

Mission: Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits

Vision: A strong, vibrant, united and

effective nonprofit sector that is well

positioned to meet the diverse needs of

all Arkansans.

Our Core Values: Best Practices |

Inclusive | Unity in Diversity | Connecting

& Equipping | Statewide Vision |

Regional Approach

IN THIS EDITION

3

4-6

7-9

10

11

12-13

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Greetings from ACE

Upcoming

Trainings and Events

Member

Corner

Federal and State

Policy Updates

Grants Corner

Resources & Other

Links

Contact Us

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence:

Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas

Click here to read ACE’s 2011-2012 Annual Report

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 3

GREETINGS FROM ACE Dear ACE Members and Friends,

Thought Leadership – have you heard this term lately? As if one needed

leadership to think! It is a concept I have been thinking about for some time

in relation to building a strong, sustainable and innovative nonprofit network

in Arkansas. Though some are disparaging of the concept in that they

believe it is out of date jargon, I think there is a need for nonprofits in Arkan-

sas to discuss ideas, trends and concepts impacting our sector, and raise the visibility of the

strength, expertise and impact of nonprofits in Arkansas.

What is “thought leadership?” Most of the time this term is referencing a person who is a thought

leader, but for ACE, I am thinking of it as a network of thought leaders who are a driving force of

innovative ideas to strengthen the nonprofit sector. I am thinking of you, the nonprofit leaders in

our network. What are your ideas?

The other component of this concept is visibility. By elevating these ideas in our discussions, print

and media communications and programs, we can see a synergistic increase in our collective

success in serving our communities. ACE does serve this role in providing training and technical

assistance in issues of concern or need in nonprofits. However, we have been hearing you want

more one-on-one consulting and mentoring between experienced nonprofits and young or

struggling organizations. What do you think is needed to support nonprofits?

Finally, the most important part of thought leadership is the thought it produces. Are we using

the most up-to-date information, training, data and concepts that strengthen and support

nonprofits? Does each of us have mechanisms in our organizations and in our personal

leadership to encourage innovation in our thinking and to apply these concepts in our daily

management of nonprofits? What do you do?

ACE, through the work of the late Jim Harris and our founding board, has produced the Dia-

mond Standards for best practice in nonprofit management. We have produced many high

quality training and networking opportunities. We have been effective in laying the foundation

to ramp up our thought leadership and further grow our capacity to do more together. And we

are growing, membership is up and so is participation in network activities.

Time passes, things change and ACE is always looking for ways it needs to innovate and change

with the needs of Arkansans. We’re looking for you. Calling all Arkansas thought leaders in our

nonprofit sector! Take the lead and post on our Facebook page what you’ve been thinking

about, reading and implementing in your own organizations:

Sincerely,

Stephanie Meincke, MSW

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS &

PROGRAMS

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MISSION WINNING THE RACE: HOW RESEARCH, PLANNING & TRAINING WILL EARN YOU THE GOLD!

Raising money to support your program's mission is often like running a race. Most often, it's the most well-

trained, skilled and disciplined competitor who wins the gold. This session will help you assess your agency's

readiness to raise money, plan for success in raising funds from diverse sources and give you practical informa-

tion on topics such as developing your board to fundraise, grant writing, major gifts and special events. When

you leave this workshop, you will know what your next three steps are in getting ready for YOUR race!

Thursday, October 4 I 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

El Dorado – El Dorado Chamber of Commerce I Directions

ACE Member $35 I Nonmember $60

Trainer: Stephanie Meincke, Executive Director, Arkansas Coalition for Excellence

Register Here

BUSINESS PLANNING FOR NONPROFITS– ACE MEMBER ONLY EVENT

Sustainability continues to be a top priority for nonprofit leaders and boards. To ensure a nonprofit continues to

be able to fulfill its mission, leaders must go beyond the objectives found in a strategic plan to build a solid

foundation for sustainability. To address these needs, Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) is excited to

bring you nonprofit experts Heather Gowdy and Lester Olmstead-Rose, authors of the new book The Nonprofit

Business Plan: The Leader’s Guide to Creating a Successful Business Model, in an exclusive webinar hosted by

our national network, the National Council of Nonprofits. Heather and Lester will share: how to assess the

strength of your business model; how to develop strategies that build a sustainable business model; and how

to use business planning to test and select the best strategies. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how your

nonprofit can build a solid plan for sustainability. Thanks to the generosity of eCratchit Bookkeeping, this exclu-

sive webinar is available, free of charge, to all members of ACE.

Thursday, October 18 I 2:30 p.m. (central time)

Webinar (accessible from your desk)

FREE – This webinar is for ACE Members Only (To become a Member, Click Here)

Presenters: Heather Gowdy and Lester Olmstead-Rose

Register Here

WINNING THE RACE: HOW RESEARCH, PLANNING & TRAINING WILL EARN YOU THE GOLD!

Raising money to support your program's mission is often like running a race. Most often, it's the most well-

trained, skilled and disciplined competitor who wins the gold. This session will help you assess your agency's

readiness to raise money, plan for success in raising funds from diverse sources and give you practical informa-

tion on topics such as developing your board to fundraise, grant writing, major gifts and special events. When

you leave this workshop, you will know what your next three steps are in getting ready for YOUR race!

Thursday November 1 I 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Pine Bluff - Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center I Directions

ACE Member $35 I Nonmember $60

Trainer: Stephanie Meincke, Executive Director, Arkansas Coalition for Excellence

Register Here

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS &

PROGRAMS

5

MONEY

PREPARING FOR YOUR AUDIT

Audits are not fun, plain and simple. But with the right preparation you can relieve stress for both you

and your accountant. In this workshop, you will hear from a professional accountant on what it takes to

make your audit as painless as possible and some helpful tips from a nonprofit executive director who

has mastered the audit process.

Thursday, November 8 I 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hot Springs – Community Counseling Services | Directions

$35 ACE Member I Nonmember $60

Trainers: Jacob Wells, JPMS Cox, Beth Knipscheer, Audit Manager, JPMS Cox, and

Jamie Collins, Mission Outreach of Northeast Arkansas

Register Here

MANAGEMENT

EFFECTIVE TEAM CULTURE

Successful teams are created through the effective, focused interaction of

team members who understand their roles and appreciate the contributions of

others. This program will help identify your unique approach to innovation and

teamwork and allow you to better understand your role within the team process.

You will discuss: Qualities that define cultures; examples of organizational cul-

tures; how to create a culture; changing culture; and your role in the team

culture.

Tuesday, October 23 I 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Springdale– Circle of Life Hospice | Directions

ACE Member $35 I Nonmember $60

Trainer: Michael Brown, Training Manager, Mitchell Communications Group: Center for Training,

Business, and Leadership Excellence, Click here to view Michael’s bio.

Register Here

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY LEAD, MANAGE & ENGAGE YOUR TEAM

The issues of effective leadership and employee engagement have become increasingly important for

nonprofit organizations. Many nonprofits hire executive staff that may be great leaders, but not great

managers – or vice versa. It is crucial that today’s nonprofit leaders find a balance of how to effec-

tively “lead” and “manage” their team, while keeping employees engaged and motivated to carry

out the nonprofit’s mission. In this workshop, you will learn human resource basics that every manager

should know in order to keep their employees happy; how to establish leadership values as part of

your culture; and how to engage your employees in their work and the overall mission of your organi-

zation.

Friday, November 9 I 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Little Rock – Arkansas Hospital Association I Directions

ACE Member $35 I Nonmember $60

Trainer: Lorrie Payne, Associate Director, Arkansas Bar Association

Register Here

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

GOVERNANCE ACCELERATING BOARD EFFECTIVENESS

Do you know what it takes to move your board from being “responsible” to “exceptional”? How do you

move them from “passive stewardship” to “active leadership”? In this workshop you will discuss seven be-

haviors of an exceptional board and learn how to help your board members give more of their time, talent,

and treasure. The presenter will also cover the most effective process for the identification, recruitment,

and training of board members. This session is based on best practices for board governance through the

Arkansas Diamond Standards™.

Thursday, September 27 I 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Jonesboro - Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce I Directions

ACE Member $35 I Nonmember $60

Trainer: Tom Nisbett, The Nisbett Group

Register Here

ADVOCACY

ACE Welcomes David Thompson, Senior Vice

President of Public Policy National Council of Nonprofits

ADVOCACY AS GOOD GOVERNANCE: THE ROLE OF BOARD MEMBERS IN

POLICY & LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Boards typically establish committees for finance, audits, and

development as best practices for board governance. Nonprofits across the

country are adding policy committees out of a recognition that

advocacy is a critical tool for fulfilling their missions in their communities. This

workshop will focus on 1) how to integrate advocacy into the culture of the

boardroom and the organization; 2) the whys and hows of

establishing a public policy committee of the board; and 3) the many (easy)

ways that board members can promote the nonprofit’s advocacy work

throughout the community, region, and state. Note: This is a free event, but

you must register.

Wednesday, October 17 I 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Little Rock - Virginia Bailey Conference Center, Arkansas Community Foundation | Directions

FREE for ACE Members and Nonmembers

Presenter: David Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy, National Council of Nonprofits

Register Here

OTHER EVENTS

Association of Fundraising Professionals– Arkansas Chapter

Annual Ethics Program (CFRE Requirement)

Wednesday, October 3 |11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

AFP & ACE members $15 | Nonmembers $25

Little Rock- AEDD Multi-Purpose Center

For more information click here.

6

MEMBERSHIP

New & Renewing

Members

Junior League of Fort

Smith, Fort Smith NEW |

Arkansas Construction

Foundation, Little Rock

NEW | The Fine Art

Center of Hot Springs,

Hot Springs NEW |

Central Arkansas Library

System, Little Rock |

Krysalis Consulting, Lowell

NEW |Ardyth Neill,

Maumelle | The Centers

for Youth and Families,

Little Rock | Financing

Ozarks Rural Growth &

Economy (FORGE),

Huntsville | EOA of

Washington County,

Springdale

Want to join our

coalition of 326

members dedicated to

strengthening the non-

profit sector ? Contact

Rebecca at 501.375.1225

or

rzimmermann

@acenonprofit.org

7

Member of the Month – Alex Foundation

Family’s Book Donations Helps Healing Process, Keeps Son’s Memory Alive

The Alex Foundation was established in 2010 after the passing of Alex Courtney. His family

wanted to keep his memory alive through service to others. With this in mind, the family’s

first call to action was to create a scholarship endowment to help deserving low income

students have access to academic scholarships.

Equally important to the family was to share Alex’s giving spirit in different ways.

Alex’s mother, Angela Courtney had purchased books to share with schools and wanted

to share with others the remaining books that were maintained in storage.

“When I looked in one of our storages and saw mountains of books I thought about one

of Alex’s and my previous “teachable” moments. We collected over 3,000 books for

students who had been displaced to Arkansas as a result of Hurricane Katrina and

distributed those books to elementary schools in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski

County Arkansas school districts where students attended as a result Hurricane Katarina,”

Angela said.

This time around, Angela wanted to extend her reach to the Arkansas Delta where the

family resides and include schools as well as other service organizations. She put the

process in motion simply by asking the school and nonprofit organizations if they would

accept book donations. “The elementary school where Alex, my siblings and I attended

was contacted initially about receiving book donations in observe of International

Literacy Day. A nonprofit organization in the neighboring city of McGehee that serves

special needs students was also contacted. Three shelters were contacted thereafter

about receiving books,” she said.

Click here to read more.

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 7

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 8

ACE MEMBER BENEFITS

Do you know all of the cost-savings your membership includes?

Good 360– In-Kind Donations

Good360 accepts new corporate product donations that can be used by our network of nonprofits.

Good360 also accept monetary donations from individuals to help cover the cost of shipping and

distribution of product donations to the nonprofits that need them most. There are three ways

Good360 distribute product donations:

1. Warehoused donations: Good360 developed an efficient process for bringing large quantities of product into our network of

warehouses and breaking it into accessible quantities for charities of all sizes. Charities can view our online catalog of

inventory 24-7-365.

2. Local retail donations: This model allows retailers to donate directly from individual stores to partner charities in their

communities. This retail partnership allows smaller charities to get products straight from local businesses on a regular,

ongoing basis (which almost always means significant savings in transportation costs), and establishes critical connections

betGood360en retailers and charities in the places where the company’s employees live and work. Read more about

partnering with a retail store.

3. One-time local donations: Our extensive network of pre-qualified charities allows us to quickly find homes for donations

right in our donors’ local communities. Companies of all sizes can efficiently place one-time donations, rather than destroy

them or dispose of them in landfills. Local charities are notified of donation opportunities as they become available, and

orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Good360 have been the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy since 1983.

• Good360 are consistently ranked as one of the top 10 most efficient charities by Forbes magazine.

• Good360 operate at less than 1.8% of the value of products donated.

• Good360 serve thousands of pre-qualified charities, helping hundreds of thousand of individuals and families in need

around the world.

• Good360 have distributed more than $7 billion in product donations since inception.

• Good360 handle product distribution globally, including logistics and warehousing, for hundreds of Fortune 500

corporations.

• Good360 design and manage innovative employee giving programs for several Fortune 100 companies.

• Good360 are EPA SmartWayTM certified for environmental efficiency.

Click here to learn more about your membership

cost savings benefits.

ACE Members register here for Good 360.

ACE Member Benefit Update – Nonprofit World will no longer be an ACE member benefit. As ACE

works to negotiate other publication opportunities, please reference the following online

resources that provide articles on topics varying from risk management to board development.

The Nonprofit Quarterly- http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/

The Chronicle of Philanthropy- http://philanthropy.com/section/Home/172

Nonprofit World- http://www.snpo.org/publications/nonprofitworld.php

The Nonprofit Times- http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/

Philanthropy Journal- http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/about

National Council of Nonprofits- http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/knowledge-center/resources-

topic

BoardSource- http://www.boardsource.org/

Nonprofit Risk Management Center- http://www.nonprofitrisk.org/

Idealware- http://www.idealware.org/

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 9

ACE is pleased to announce the appointment of 12 new board members

Dr. Amy H. Amy, Conway Jamie Collins, Paragould

Jody Dilday, Fayetteville Andra Dillard, Little Rock

Dr. Marian Evans Lee, Pine Bluff Sarah Gentry, Little Rock

Kelly Hunt Lyon, Conway Erika Krennerich Chudy, Jonesboro

Marianne Layne, Hot Springs Gina Moran, Little Rock

Cynthia VanWinkle, Little Rock Jacob Wells, Little Rock

For a list of our full board of directors, including bios click here.

NonPRofit Roundtable

Arkansas Chapter

November 2012

The Arkansas Chapter of PRSA wants to help our state’s nonprofit and charitable organizations further their

missions. On Nov. 16, the chapter’s monthly meeting will be dedicated to brainstorming public relations

and marketing strategy for two organizations. The winning nonprofits will engage with PR professionals from

across the state in an hour of free PR/marketing consultation. Our members are from all sectors, including

corporate, nonprofit, education, healthcare, agency and more.

The competition is open to any 501(c)(3) organization based in Arkansas. Small and large organizations

looking to further their PR and marketing efforts are encouraged to apply. Organizations are asked to sub-

mit the form below by Friday, Oct. 12.

Forms should be emailed to:

Heide Harrell, APR - hharrell@stoneward.com

Or mailed to: Stone Ward ATTN: Heide Harrell, APR

225 E. Markham Little Rock, AR 72201

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY

10

Six-Month Spending Passes, Other Issues Delayed Until After Elections

The Senate passed a House-approved temporary federal spending package that will

fund the federal government from October 1, 2012, through March 27, 2013, with slight

increases of about 0.6 percent for most programs and agencies. President Obama is

expected to sign the legislation, which is one of the few bi-partisan agreements by

Congress this year. After its vote early Saturday, the Senate joined the House in ad-

journing until after the November 6 elections when Congress is expected to take up

many issues left undone, such as addressing the expiring Bush-era individual tax cuts

and the estate tax; revising the automatic spending cuts, known as “sequestration,”

that take effect in January; extending expired and expiring tax provisions, including

theIRA rollover and enhanced incentive for charitable giving of food and land; and

passing several lingering substantive matters, such as the Farm Bill (that authorizes food

stamps) and Postal Service Reform.

Sequestration Reports Warns of Indiscriminate Cuts

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a 394-page re-

port detailing how $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts over 10 years will affect indi-

vidual federal programs beginning on January 2, 2013. Congress originally mandated

these across-the-board cuts, known as “sequestration,” in the Budget Control Act of

2011. The cuts will apply equally to defense and non-defense domestic programs, so

each will lose about $55 billion in Fiscal Year 2013.The White House’s budget office

warns: “Sequestration is a blunt and indiscriminate instrument. It is not the responsible

way for our nation to achieve deficit reduction.” Prior to adjourning for the elections,

theHouse passed a measure that if enacted would put in place a mechanism to shift

automatic defense cuts onto nondefense programs.

Nonprofit Arts Groups Have Significant Impact on Local

Economies

Nonprofit arts and culture institutions comprise a $135

billion industry nationwide, supporting 4.1 million jobs

and generating $87 billion in household income,

according to a study from Americans for the Arts.

In the Washington, DC area alone, nonprofit arts groups

stimulated $1.51 billion in economic activity and

created 29,003 jobs, resulting in $120 million paid in local

taxes and $21 million in state revenue during the period

of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The study looked at the

total spending of nonprofit arts organizations in 182

regions across the United States.

GRANTS CORNER

9

Look for more available grants on GrantStation.com.

Get a free subscription with your ACE membership.

Support for Creative Community Partnerships

ArtPlace

ArtPlace is a collaboration of major foundations, federal agencies, and financial

institutions dedicated to accelerating creative placemaking across the United States.

ArtPlace believes that art, culture, and creativity expressed powerfully through place

can create vibrant communities, thus increasing the desire and the economic

opportunity for people to thrive in place. Grants and loans are provided to

collaborations involving arts organizations, artists, and designers working with local and

national partners to produce a transformative impact on community vibrancy. Priority

is given to projects that enjoy strong local buy-in and will occur at places already

showing signs of momentum, integrate with a community’s economic development

and community revitalization strategy, and have the potential to attract additional

private and public support to the community. ArtPlace gives some emphasis to

applications from selected localities; however, applications are encouraged from

urban and rural regions all across the U.S. Letters of inquiry will be accepted from

September 17 through November 1, 2012. Visit the ArtPlace website to download the

application guidelines.

AIDS-Related Collaborative Efforts Funded

National Institutes of Health

The Global Partnerships for Social Science AIDS Research program supports

collaborative efforts between institutions in the United States, or other developed

countries, and research institutions in developing countries affected by the HIV/AIDS

epidemic. Letters of intent are due November 7, 2012. The application deadline is

December 7, 2012.

Animal Conservation Supported

Fish and Wildlife Service

The Fish and Wildlife Service offers a variety of funds for conservation of animals,

including elephants, amphibians, great apes, tigers, rhinoceroses, marine turtles, and

other critically endangered animals. Deadlines vary by fund. Applications for

conservation of elephants, great apes, rhinoceroses, and tigers are due November 1,

2012.

Fueling Good

Citgo

In 2011 through the Fueling Good program, CITGO awarded 36 charities with a year's

worth of gas totaling over 1,175,020 miles for the charities.

How it works:- Starting September 4, nonprofits will be able to register

at www.fuelinggood.com/registration to participate in the fall program. From October

17 – November 28, local communities will begin voting for charities of their choice. (The

full rules/details are available at www.fuelinggood.com/rules.)

CITGO will be awarding gas to 12 nonprofits in December

Who is eligible? 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the 27 states where CITGO operates.

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 11

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS

TIP OF THE MONTH

Best Friends Forever? Don’t Be a Naïve or Disappointed

Partner By Erin Gloeckner

At some point in our childhood, many of us share a ‘best friends’ gift with another person. For

me, it was a set of necklaces that fit together like puzzle pieces. One necklace belonged to

me, and the other belonged to my best friend. They were cheap and shiny, and I imagined us

wearing them well into old age. Ironically, just a few months passed and my ‘best friend’ lost

her necklace. It was probably the first time in my life that I felt like a chump. I had made an

agreement with that girl to be best friends forever, and she dumped me for a new friend with

prettier necklaces. Entering any kind of partnership is risky; it’s simply impossible to predict how

things will turn out. Here are some partnering tips that should help you hang on to your non-

profit’s shiny reputation and assets.

Conflict happens: Many partnerships begin with mutual admiration and a sense of being

“in sync.” But when two independent organizations join forces for a common cause, their

leaders may not see eye to eye… all of the time. As you begin the vetting process and pro-

ceed with a courtship, take the time to discuss how conflicts or conflicting points of view will

be addressed. Are you committed to airing your concerns directly with your partner?

Come out and say it! Ever had that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know

someone is taking advantage of you? It’s a pretty bad feeling. The best way to address that

feeling is to stand up and speak up. If a partner tries to manipulate you, candidly tell them

that you are not happy with the arrangement. Don’t stay silent to keep from offending your

partner. A good partner will consider your needs and invite open communication.

Choose wisely: Rather than rushing into a relationship believing that your partner is perfect,

take the time required to conduct some due diligence. Learn all you can about the organi-

zation you will be calling “partner.” Remember that your nonprofit’s shiny reputation could

be impacted positively… or negatively, as a result of the partnership. Check references! Ask

for contact information from organizations that can attest to your potential partner’s work

style, culture and partnership philosophy.

Put it in writing: The most common partnership-related mistake that nonprofit leaders make

is to enter into a partnership without first putting expectations and requirements in writing.

Always define the terms of your partnership in writing to reduce the risk of misunderstanding

and increase the odds of success.

Managing the risks that arise from partnerships begins with reflecting on how conflicts will be

handled before they arise, and continues with having the courage to raise difficult issues

with your partners, conducting due diligence before you say “I do,” and putting partnership

expectations in writing. Following these tips will enable your nonprofit to reduce the risk that

your shiny reputation and valuable assets will be tarnished or lost in your next partnership.

Erin Gloeckner recently joined the Center as Project Manager after completing a summer-

long internship. As Project Manager she coordinates and supports consulting projects for a di-

verse array of clients and is working on a brand-new book on managing partnership and fund-

raising risks. She welcomes your feedback on this article or questions about risk issues

12

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

TIP OF THE MONTH

JOBS CENTER

Communications &Graphic Design Intern– Arkansas Coalition for Excellence

Management Consultant– alt. Consulting

Development & Services Coordinator– Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Region

Community Development Officer, Phillips County– Southern Bancorp Community Partners

Grantwriter, Capital Development– Southern Bancorp Community Partners

Senior Community Development Officer- Southern Bancorp Community Partners

Create a JOBTARGET account on our site to post your organization’s open positions.

ACE members post for free!

13

Using Crowdsourcing to Help Your Nonprofit

Crowdsourcing can help you harness the crowd to increase awareness, cultivate new volunteers, gather

information and even get work done—all for a minimal investment. How can you put it to work for

you? Since the earliest days of the internet, people have used it to solicit and organize groups of people to

participate in projects in small ways. Called crowdsourcing, this process can be done by a number of

ways, and for a number of goals.

In the last few years, the rise of social media and new technologies made it easier to reach and engage a

broader audience. But how can your organization harness the power of the crowd to help achieve your

mission? We asked nonprofit experts and professionals for crowdsourcing best practices and techniques

that have worked for them.

Crowdsourcing and crowd funding projects are within reach of any organization, but there are a few

things to keep in mind that will help ensure your success.

Plan ahead. Start by choosing the right model for your goals. Figure out what you’re trying to achieve

and find the best way to do it. Make sure you choose the right crowd, too--setting up a crowdsourcing

campaign is the easy part, but getting the word out to the right people is not. Create a fully developed

outreach plan, and use a combination of social media and emails to current supporters. These people, in

turn, will have access to networks of people with similar interests, and help you pass your project along. If

you’re using a crowd-funding site, like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, make sure you choose the one that most

closely matches your goal—each has a different approach.

Keep it simple. Make it very clear what you want the crowd to do, and break down your strategic

goals into smaller tasks people can help with. Keep your message as easy as possible to communicate to

help it get passed along. In order to help you meet your goal, set reasonable expectations.

Click here to read more.

Thank you for reading this month’s edition of our

newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.

Stephanie Meincke, MSW

Executive Director

smeincke@acenonprofit.org

Emily Ingram,

Associate Director

eingram@acenonprofit.org

Rebecca Zimmermann,

Membership & Communications

Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA

rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org

Located within the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices

200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 375-1223

www.acenonprofit.org

Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas