November 2013 @ the G&FC...

We've scheduled new twists on two  of our traditional classes:

• Mon. Nov. 18, 1-3 pm. I'll streamline this hands-on tutorial for fundraisers presenting three effective  ways to search Foundation Directory Online Professional in order to add a  demonstration of some capabilities of the Philanthropy In/Sight database as well and still leave time for participants to work on their own. As of this posting there are still 13 places left in this class, so please contact us as soon as possible if you'd like to attend.
• Weds. Nov. 20, 4-5:30 pm -- Central for Filmmakers.  Individual and/or creative teams of local filmmakers are invited to meet in Central Library's new Creative Experience digital maker space to learn more about books, hardware, software and websites and other information now available to help move their  careers to the next level. Sue Greenberg of VLAA will recommend books about the legal and business aspects of filmmaking, I'll talk about potential funding sources and subject specialist Sean Parada will present some of the technical information about filmmaking available at Central. Then Andrea Johnson, Creative Experience specialist, will demonstrate --and help participants explore using -- IMovie, Adobe Creative Suite 6,  the collaborative nature of the space itself, and the range of normally proprietary tutorials available free in the Creative Experience
  
  through Lynda.com. Filmmakers may also bring their own laptops to display their screens on the rooms large screen monitors.  Sign-up by phoning 314-539-0357 or e-mailing cexp@slpl.org  .... Coming next month -- Central for Visual Artists.

"Collaboration" -- Share the Info Wealth

Thanks to David L. Holmes of the Foundation Center and Danielle Wallis of the Gateway Center for Giving for elaborating on 3 significantly helpful internet resources at last week's "Understanding Collaboration" class webinar here at Central:

1. Nonprofit Collaboration Directory -- searchable, in-depth information about how dozens of successful collaborations work
2. Foundation Center online classes and webinars scheduled free/low-cost online learning opportunities on variety of topics
3.  St. Louis Collaborations Directory -- updated quarterly, download from the Center (or get a printout at the Grants & Foundation Center.)

Take a look. And if you'd like suggestions of more books or articles about collaboration, contact me.

Also, Brown School of Social Work will have a morning lecture "From Collaboration to Merger: Evaluating Opportunities for Inter-Organizational Cooperation," Nov. 22, primarily for social work students and professionals -- 3 CEUs -- but open to the interested public for $50.  Contact profdev@brownschool.wustl.edu to see if this would be helpful to your or your organization..

Nonprofit Sustainability: the lighter side--Sort of

One of the free e-newsletters we like to let people know about is Blue Avocado Magazine: practical, provocative and fun food-for-thought for Nonprofits (www.blueavocado.org), edited by Jan Masaoka. It's got solid articles written with a light humor that fit well into especially busy months of nonprofit fundraising. Example -- October's Point of Vu (by Vu Le) column about "The Sustainability Question? Why Is it So Annoying?" offers ideas for everyone who's dealt with the issue on a grant application: read it and laugh/weep.

Colllaboration -- National & Local: Exclusive Webinar at Central Library

Mon., Oct. 21, from 1-2:30 pm., David L. Holmes, Acting Director of the Foundation Center Cleveland will lead a live webinar for G&FC participants in the 2nd floor training room at Central Library on "Understanding Collaboration."

The class will cover the vital importance of as well as the whys, hows, framework, range of options for, and specific steps of forming strategic collaborations. He will show participants how to access national funder-provided tools for putting your organization on the path to successful collaborative partnerships and Danielle Wallis, information & program manager of the Gateway Center for Giving will discuss the St. Louis Regional Collaboration Directory. Participating is free but pre-registration recommended.

October STL NPO Learning Event Highlights

 Check out these worthy professional development  opportunities during this busy month:

• Oct.  8 - CSPRC lunch meeting Public Plumbing Meets Public Affairs (MSD's Project Clear) $40 nonmembers, Sheraton Clayton Plaza, www.csprc.org 
• Oct. 9 - AFP webinar,  What's Wrong with Your Fundraising and How You Can Fix It? with Linda Lysakowski and Ellen Bristol, $20 nonmembers,  www.afpstl.org/events/
• Oct. 10 --free seminar - Neighborhood Change in St. Louis Region Since 1970: What Explains Neighborhood Success? 7-8:30 pm Missouri History Museum, UMSL's Community Partnership Project
• Oct. 10 - NSC webinar Get Started with EMail Fundraising, $40, www.nonprofitservices.org
• Oct. 11- deadline for nonprofits to participate in the 2013 Dollars & Sense Capital Campaign Report, www.centerforgiving.org
• Oct. 15 - 3-morning series: Performance Management in Today's Regulatory Environment, $145, nonprofitservices.org
• Oct. 16 - AFP morning seminar for grantwriters, You Be the Trustee, Norwood Hills Country Club, $75, www.afpstl.org
• Oct. 16 - morning Arts Leadership & Management workshop on Organizational Change, $30 nonprofit services.org
• Oct. 16 - Meet the Donor: Updates to Funder Strategy, Gateway Center for Giving/ AFP, $30, Missouri History Museum, 3-5 pm, www.centerforgiving.org
• Oct. 18 - morning lecture Social Workers Make Great Fundraisers:Applying Your Knowledge/Skills to Secure Financial Resources for your Cause, $50, Brown School Professional Development Program,  brownschool.wustl.edu/profdev
• Oct. 24 -NPML class Do's & Don't of Employee Termination in Nonprofits, UMSL 3-5 pm $45, 314-516-5655, www.umsl.edu/npml

YNPN Blog-Out-Loud Event 10-16-13

Know any of this year's 7-minute speakers??-- David Alexander, Abby Howard, Jason Huff, Chris LeBeau, Kelcie Tacchi, Danielle Wallis & Paul Sorenson?  These leaders have been chosen to share their ideas for the future of St. Louis nonprofits  on Weds. Oct. 16- from 5-7 pm at the Nine Network of Public Media Center for Public Engagement in Grand Center. Cost is $10 for non-members,  drinks and nibbles available after the presentation, register at www.ynpnstl.org/events. Be sure to attend to meet, greet, and discuss the possibilities of new ideas.