Thursday, March 26, 2015

March Madness for Camp Finance



March Madness Sure is Sweet...
Especially When it Saves You Money! 

Though the tournament has dealt many of us here a few busted brackets, we're still excited about the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and the road to the Final Four...

At NYCON, March Madness also starts us thinking about our own Big Event -- Camp Finance! This year we'll be seeing you at Mohonk Mountain House on October 8th & 9th.

To capture the excitement of both events, we're offering you our March Madness Camp Finance Discount from now through the end of the tournament. Until April 6th you can save $30 on Full Conference Camp Finance rates. While we are finalizing themes, workshops and speakers for 2015 we want to make sure you - the people who are "mad" about Camp Finance - can save money.

From now until April 6th receive a $30 discount on Full Conference registration for Camp Finance. Just click here and enter discount code 15FINALFOUR.

This all inclusive Full Conference rate covers the workshops, meals and your overnight stay at the lovely Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY on October 8th & 9th
The historic and majestic Mohonk Mountain House, site of Camp Finance.
This is just a little Thank You to all of you who are as fond of Camp Finance as we are.  We love seeing you on the mountain and are looking forward to a great conference again this year.
Sincerely,
The Camp Finance Team


This email was sent to amarietta@nycon.org by vvenezia@nycon.org  

New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON)
 | 272 Broadway | Albany | NY | 12204

Click here to report this email as spam.


This message has been scanned for malware by Websense.  www.websense.com

Reminder! Technical Assistance Proposals due April 1

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here 


2015 NYSCA State and Local Partnerships 
Technical Assistance Program

REMINDER!
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Due April 1

Just a quick reminder, applications are due April 1, 2015 by 5:00 PM. If you have questions or thoughts, feel free to contact us! 
-- 
The NYSCA division of State and Local Partnerships is pleased to once again announce the availability of funding for technical assistance to its constituent organizations. Funds will be provided through a competitive peer panel process administered by CNY Arts.

Funds are available for professional services targeted to specific organizational challenges and opportunities, with the potential to significantly advance the mission of SLP constituent organizations. All organizations currently supported by SLP are eligible to apply. However, priority will be given to organizations that administer Decentralization funds, organizations located outside the New York City metropolitan area, and to organizations that have not received technical assistance support in the last two years. Funds are not available for attendance at professional conferences and seminars.

A request for technical assistance might include any of the following, although your proposal is not limited to these examples: 
  • System Development: consultant fees for developing or upgrading websites; on-line forms; social media presence; financial management systems; fundraising management systems; audience database or ticketing systems; etc. 
  • Strategic Initiatives: consultant fees related to community cultural planning, or specific initiatives in audience development; fundraising; marketing; public relations; board development; etc.
Equipment and capital purchases are not eligible. Consultancy fees for persons already on your staff are not eligible. Travel and fees for attending conferences and workshops are not eligible.

GRANT AMOUNTS

Generally, grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000 per organization. Given that funds are limited, grants may be awarded for less than the amount requested.

  
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please submit requests as a single .pdf attachment transmitted togrants@cnyarts.org with the subject line "2015 Technical Assistance Request".

Applications should include:
  •  A letter signed by the CEO or an officer of the board indicating the area(s) in which the group is seeking assistance
  • A brief narrative outlining the specific technical assistance service requested and its expected impact on the organization
  • A timeline for completion of the project, please include any short- and long-term goals and estimated dates for completion
  • A project budget that includes all income, expenses, and the amount requested 
  • Resume(s) of any proposed consultant(s)
 Requests must be received by April 1, 2015 by 5:00 PM


PAYMENT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS

Recipients will be notified and payments disbursed in mid/late June 2015. A copy of the consultant's report or other evidence of completed service must be submitted at the conclusion of the technical assistance engagement.

In developing your proposal, feel free to telephone or e-mail CNY Arts Grants Coordinator, Elizabeth Lane at (315) 435-2158 or elane@cnyarts.org.


REVIEW CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS

Funds are limited, and applications will be judged competitively on the basis of: 
  • Importance of the requested technical assistance to the organization, its mission, and/or service area
  • Appropriateness and qualification of the proposed technical assistance provider
  • Readiness of the applicant organization to benefit from the requested service
  • Commitment of other organizational funds and/or resources to the project


This email was sent to amarietta@nycon.org by grants@cnyarts.org  

CNY Arts Inc
 | CNY Arts Inc | John H. Mulroy Civic Center | 421 Montgomery St, 11th Fl | Syracuse | NY |13202

Click here to report this email as spam.


This message has been scanned for malware by Websense.  www.websense.com

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Relationships 101: Working With Consultants

Idealware: Helping Nonprofits Make Smart Software Decisions
March 2015
Nonprofits often get by with versatile staff members and a lot of help from reliable volunteers. But sometimes you need a level of expertise or experience only a consultant can offer. Whether you're looking to implement a new system, replace an existing one, or customize software for your organization's particular needs, a consultant can help you think through your options, facilitate implementation, and work with your team to make sure everyone is up and running with your new technology solution.

However, if you've never worked with a consultant before, it can be challenging to know how to communicate with them and how to understand internal and external roles. How can you navigate this relationship to ensure that your organization gets what it needs, the project runs smoothly from start to finish, you stay on budget, and everyone feels good about the process.

Like all good relationships, it takes work. Our friends at TechSoup asked us to write an article guiding organizations through the process of establishing and maintaining those relationships. Read "How to Find, Hire, and Collaborate with Technology Consultants" for free here.
Other Resources
Last year we worked with ongoing partner SYNERGY: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues to research and write a white paper about how synagogues can use data-driven decision-making to transform their congregations. We’re pleased to announce that this free report is available today. While the report itself is specific to synagogues, we believe there’s overlap with the nonprofit sector as a whole, and lessons to be drawn for how all organizations can and do use data. Download “Data Maturity for Synagogues: Incorporating Data into the Decision-Making Culture" for free. 
We’ve got articles in the works on data migration, board portals, Content Management Systems for libraries, and more. We're also finishing up research for a number of reports, including a Consumers Guide to Case Management Systems and case studies about large nonprofits' performance management and what small organizations can learn from their examples. 
Upcoming Training
Our research doesn't just inform our articles and reports--it informs our training, as well. Find the full list here, or join one of those listed below. 
Jumpstart Your Social Media Strategy
Three 90-minute webinars, Wednesdays March 18 to April 11:00pm - 2:30pm Eastern. $95.00. Are you making the most of your social media presence? It’s not enough to be on one or two platforms. You need a strategy that can help you convert “likes” into a stronger voice, more donations, and activism that makes an impact.
Read more or register >>>
Visualizing Your Data Through Dashboards
Thursday March 19, 2015, 1:00 - 2:30pm EST. $40.00. 
Your senior staff and board of directors can benefit from the ability to view high level metrics for your organization, but it’s not obvious how to easily pull it all together. We'll outline what has worked for other organizations to define the metrics that should be tracked, strategies for compiling data from different systems, and possibilities for putting it all together into a visual dashboard.
Read more or register >>>
Six Reasons Why Infographics Matter
Tuesday April 7, 2015, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Eastern. FREE. 
Why infographics? If you’ve never created one, they can seem daunting and expensive. However, when you find the right data and have the right story to tell, your Infographic can reach a wide audience and make a big difference in your community and beyond. Join us for a free webinar as we look at the six reasons why people love infographics—and why you might consider adding them to your communications mix.
Read more or register >>>
Back to topback to top
If you know someone else at your organization or another that might benefit from our resources, let them know how to find us.
Have questions or concerns about Idealware? We love hearing from you—drop us a line at info@idealware.org, or email one of our staff.

Thanks for all you do to support nonprofits and Idealware. We’ll see you next month…

You received this email because you signed up for Idealware updates. If you are no longer interested in hearing from us, click here to unsubscribe.
Idealware | 1 Pleasant St., Suite 4E | Portland ME | 04101

SUBSCRIBE

If you have received this email second-hand, you can subscribe on the Idealware website. Subscribe Now »

DONATE TO IDEALWARE

Have Idealware reports and articles saved you time? Money? Allowed you to make better decisions? If so, please donate what they are worth to you and help keep these resources coming. Donate Now »

CONNECT WITH US

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get more software resources, links, and news about Idealware.
Idealware Facebook page Idealware Twitter feed Idealware RSS feed
empowered by Salsa

Click here to report this email as spam.


This message has been scanned for malware by Websense.  www.websense.com