Northshire Non-Profit Network

Win Cash For Your Merriment Float

Administrator — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:01:48 +0000

Meeting Minutes: October 5, 2012

Administrator — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:44:17 +0000

Joy called the meeting to order at 8 am (sharp!) and introduced the featured speaker.

Christine Graham, Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations and President of CPG Fundraising took questions based upon her June presentation.

The discussion included…

Q. With so many nonprofits vying for supporters, how can I make my appeals letter/campaign stand out?

A. Try to tell a story about someone who’s been impacted by your organization. Many letters focus on numbers but what truly work is substituting some of those numbers with a meaningful photo and a compelling story.

Schedule personal visits as part of the appeal process. People want to see someone from the organization who isn’t being paid for their time. They need to see a volunteer or a Board member. Someone passionate! Streamline the schedule by focusing on those who have the most money to give your organization. Write letters to the smaller donors, but allocate one-on-one time with those with larger giving potential. Hold these meetings at a venue where they can see your program firsthand; they’ll gain a better understanding of what you do.

Don’t be shy! Ask questions that move the conversation along and gauge your success by the openness of their responses. Timing is everything. People either ask for a donation too early in the process or far too late.

Once the donation has been secured, someone from your organization (again preferably a Board member or volunteer) should call to say “thank you.” This phone call should occur within a week after the money has been received so that the donor knows he/she is appreciated and the board member/volunteer can find out the reason the donor gave while he/she is still experiencing the “feel good” high.

Q. How do you feel about a 100% giving policy for Board Members?

A. Donors give money. Volunteers give time. Board members need to give both so yes, 100% giving is an excellent policy. However, there are guidelines. First, it’s not the amount of the donation that matters so long as the gift is meaningful. What’s meaningful for one Board Member might not work for another. Likewise, don’t set levels either. The level you set might be too expensive for some, while others might have given more. Let the members themselves determine what they can give, but make it clear that giving is expected since it sets the tone for all appeals campaigns.

Joy adjourned the meeting at 9:15 am.

The next meeting takes place November 2nd at Burr and Burton’s Hunter Room. Guest speaker will be Doug Sauer from New York Council of Nonprofits.

Free Furniture

Administrator — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:58:08 +0000

The Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce has 2 desks and one computer table free to any nonprofit who wants them. Must pick up. May pick up as early as next week but must be before the end of October. First come, first serve!

Contact Linda McLenithan at 802-362-6313 or

lmclenithan@manchesterchamber.net

Friday, October 5 Meeting

Administrator — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:36:43 +0000

The next meeting of the Northshire Nonprofit Network (NNN) is this Friday morning, October 5.

Time: 8 – 9 a.m.
Location: Burr and Burton Academy’s Scranton Room. The Scranton Room is located at the far end of the cafeteria on the first floor of the Rowland Center.
Directions: Take Rte. 7A to Manchester Village and turn on to Seminary Avenue. Go past ballfield on left and take a right into the entrance that is just past the observatory (on your left). The Rowland Center is just past the big Seminary building on the right. Park in the lot.

Our presenter will be Christine Graham, President of CPG Fundraising and consultant to nonprofit organizations. Christine joined us a few months ago and gave a presentation on capital campaigns. We invited her back for a more general fundraising discussion this month that we’ve been referring to as “grab bag.” Please send over some questions or topics to get us rolling and join us to pick Christine’s brain on Friday.

CPG website: http://www.cpgfundraising.com/

Still looking for folks looking to help out with organizing monthly meetings. We have both Vice Chair positions to fill (overall and communications). Help keep NNN going!

Chair – The responsibilities of the chair include researching and contacting speakers, putting together the monthly agenda, meeting sites for the coming year and other business to come before the Northshire Nonprofit Network, as well as maintaining the NNN contact list, sending out the agendas to the membership prior to the meetings, nominating, Etc.

Vice chair – Responsibilities include working with the chair on the items listed above, develop an understanding of the NNN organization and structure, and other duties as agreed with the chair and the NNN membership. The vice-chair steps in during a chair’s absence. The vice-chair understands that they are next in line to serve as the chair of NNN and they take this position fully agreeing to take on the role of the chair after the annual election in December.

Communications chair – Responsibilities include working with the chair on publicity for the next meeting, publicizing each monthly meeting to the local and regional media, publicity about special events or activities of NNN, taking and making available the meeting minutes, maintaining and updating the website, informing NNN members about new technologies that would benefit their nonprofits, Etc.

Communications vice chair – Responsibilities include working with the communications chair on publicity, updating and maintaining the NNN website, taking and making available the minutes in the absence of the communications chair, other activities as agreed with the communications chair and NNN members. The vice-chair understands that they are next in line to serve as communications chair and also steps in during the communication chair’s absence.

Meeting Minutes: Friday, September 7th

Administrator — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:17:32 +0000

Joy called the meeting to order at 8 am and introduced the featured speaker.

Thomas Smith, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at The Vermont Community Foundation, gave a very informative talk on Planned Giving for Non-Profits. Please see the PDF below for details:

NNN-Planned Giving

As always, NNN encourages talking to your own financial planners for any advice and planning strategies you may be considering.

Our next meeting will be on Friday, October 5 at 8 AM. Location TBD. We will send meeting announcement/reminder about a week prior.

We are looking for candidates for Vice Chair and Vice Chair of Communications for 2013. See descriptions below:

Respectably submitted,

Linda McLenithan

Next Meeting Friday, September 7th

Administrator — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:44:15 +0000

The next meeting of the Northshire Nonprofit Network (NNN) is this Friday, September 7^th at 8 AM at the Mark Skinner Library in Manchester Village.

Our presentation will be on Planned Giving with speaker Tom Smith, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation.

Additionally, in accordance with the Northshire Nonprofit Network Guidelines outlined at https://nnnvt.wordpress.com/about/, please let this serve as a call for candidates for the positions of Vice Chair and Communications Vice Chair for the year 2013. Current Vice Chair Susan Marmer and current Communications Vice Chair Linda McLenithan will be stepping into the “Chair” positions to be vacated by Joy Slusarek and Amy Patricia Meade.

Recap of NNN positions as described on our website:

· Chair – The responsibilities of the chair include researching and contacting speakers, putting together the monthly agenda, meeting sites for the coming year and other business to come before the Northshire Nonprofit Network, as well as maintaining the NNN contact list, sending out the agendas to the membership prior to the meetings, nominating, Etc.

·  Vice chair – Responsibilities include working with the chair on the items listed above, develop an understanding of the NNN organization and structure, and other duties as agreed with the chair and the NNN membership. The vice-chair steps in during a chair’s absence. The vice-chair understands that they are next in line to serve as the chair of NNN and they take this position fully agreeing to take on the role of the chair after the annual election in December.

· Communications chair – Responsibilities include working with the chair on publicity for the next meeting, publicizing each monthly meeting to the local and regional media, publicity about special events or activities of NNN, taking and making available the meeting minutes, maintaining and updating the website, informing NNN members about new technologies that would benefit their nonprofits, Etc.

CCommunications vice chair – Responsibilities include working with the communications chair on publicity, updating and maintaining the NNN website, taking and making available the minutes in the absence of the communications chair, other activities as agreed with the communications chair and NNN members. The vice-chair understands that they are next in line to serve as communications chair and also steps in during the communication chair’s absence.

Biography – Thomas W. Smith, CFPÒ

Tom Smith is a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at The Vermont Community Foundation and a private consultant in planned giving (www.plannedgivingstartup.com). He has over 35 years of planned giving experience, including twelve years at The Vermont Community Foundation, in Middlebury, VT, eight years at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, and eleven years at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, VT. Tom has been active in local and national levels of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning. He has been a presenter for various groups including AFP, NACUBO, NCPG and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Some of Tom’s presentations have appeared in print in CASE Currents, The Journal of Gift Planning, and Planned Giving Today. Prior to his career in development, Tom was a language professor on the college level. He also has experience in the real estate industry. Tom has an A.B. degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, and an M.A. degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. In 1986, he received his Certified Financial Planner designation from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. Tom will be speaking at the September 7th meeting of the Northshire Nonprofit Network.

August Meeting

Administrator — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:41:17 +0000

NNN Meeting

August 3, 2012

8 AM

Manchester Town Offices, Route 7A, Manchester, VT

We will be meeting with officials from the Town of Manchester this Friday. It will be a “get to know each other” session so participation is encouraged! As we’ve discussed in recent meetings, the various NPOs in the region offer so much to the community in the way of services, jobs, use of utilities, etc. Encouraging communication and understanding between us and the town can only enrich what we all have to offer.

Attendees from the Town will be: John O’Keefe, Town Manager; Lee Krohn, Town Planner and Zoning Administrator; Pauline Moore, Economic Development Officer

Looking forward to a lively discussion. Bring your questions, observations, and ideas!

If you have any questions or topics you’d like to send in advance, please send via email to: nnnvt@yahoo.com

Meeting Minutes July 6

Administrator — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:04:38 +0000

Special Offer to NNN Members: The Northshire Performing Arts is offering a special reduced ticket price of $25 for NNN members to their upcoming concert featuring pianist Gabriela Martinez. The concert is on Tuesday, July 24 at 8 PM at the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Tickets are available by calling 802-867-4146 or by emailing npa2005@me.com. For more info, please visit their website at http://www.northshireperformingarts.org

MINUTES from Northshire Nonprofit Network Meeting, July 6, 2012 at the Mark Skinner Library

Introductions of all attendees

Joy introduced the guest speaker, Jen Peterson, Vice-Present for Community Grantmaking, The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF).

Topic: Services to Non-Profits Provided by VCF

With $150 million in assets the VCF has $15 million to be awarded in grants. VCF awards grants in three categories:
1. Small and Inspiring: One year grant- goals are to connect to land and community

2. Innovative and Collaborative: Problem-solving across “sections” having non-profits teaming up and “talking” to each other to help achieve goals.

3. Big Impact: Focus is on Food and Farm for the next 5 years. This grant needs to impact statewide, not just one or two communities.

Key in all of this is the ability to write a grant which VCF is willing to help with (they will not write your proposal for you). They will offer suggestions to help increase your chances especially if you have been turned down. The more communities, nonprofits, projects, people impacted you involve in your grant proposal; the better your chances are of being chosen.

When Ms. Peterson was finished speaking the floor was opened for a Q & A session.

Meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Joy Slusarek at 9:05 am.

Contact information for speaker Jen Peterson: email: jpeterson@vermontcf.org, 802-388-3355 ext. 288

For more information on VCF visit their website: www.vermontcf.org

Next Meeting: Friday, August 3 at 8 AM at the Manchester Town Office. We will be meeting with officials from the Town of Manchester with intent to get to know each other! Open dialogue, communicate, share strengths and opportunities. A notice will be sent in advance of the meeting with some talking points – we would love any ideas YOU may have regarding discussion topics or things to mention. Please hit reply with ideas you may have!

Meeting, July 6 at Mark Skinner Library

Administrator — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:05:55 +0000

The next NNN meeting will take place Friday, July 6 at the Mark Skinner Library,

NONPROFIT SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

This month’s speaker will be Jen Peterson, Vice President for Grantmaking at the Vermont Community Foundation. The topic will be VCF’s nonprofit support services, including new programming initiatives. Please check out http://www.vermontcf.org/services-for-nonprofits/ for a look at some of the information in advance of Friday’s meeting.

Jen also would appreciate any commentary or insight on the closing of United Way in Bennington County as she prepares for a needs assessment on what that loss means and what the value is in United Way of Vermont trying to reinstate a United Way presence in the area.

More on Jen Peterson: In her role, she directs the programmatic initiatives of the Foundation including grantmaking which involves a number of grant rounds that support a breadth of issues address by organizations across the state as well as supporting the Foundation’s fundholders in their charitable giving as well. Prior to coming to the VCF, Jen worked for 13 years at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) as their Annual Fund Director. In her career at PPNNE, she gained significant leadership and management experience running their foundation and governments grants efforts and overseeing the development department.

Vote for Mark Skinner Library!

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:37:52 +0000

Below is a note from the Mark Skinner Library (home to several NNN meetings including our upcoming meeting on July 6th at 8AM!) regarding Fairpoint Communications “Heroes in Our Community.” The Library is in the running for a $2,000 grant and needs votes to help win this contest. Deadline for voting is Sunday, June 24. If you can take a minute to cast your vote, they sure would appreciate it. GOOD LUCK MSL!

Help Your Public Library Win!

Mark Skinner Library is one of six semi-finalists in the

Fairpoint Communications

“Heroes in Our Community” Vote-Off

and the only one from our area!

Voting wraps up on June 24.

Go vote! Get your coworkers, relatives, friends, the babysitter, your mailman… to vote, too!

Please help raise $2,000 for Mark Skinner!

Why does MSL deserve your vote? Because public libraries are one of the few institutions in town that serve all ages and socio-economic groups. We’re here for everyone!

You get one vote per email address. Yes, Fairpoint will ask for your email address. Once you receive the first email from them, you can always unsubscribe. Take one for the team and go vote!

Thanks for supporting Mark Skinner Library: Manchester’s Public Library!

Click on:

http://www.facebook.com/MyFairPoint#!/MyFairPoint/app_102068836552678

FairPoint’s ‘Heroes in Our Community’ Lets Vermonters Vote for Favorite Nonprofit

FairPoint to donate $2,000 to charity with most Facebook votes

_ FairPoint Communications, Inc. has kicked off “Heroes in Our Community” as a way to recognize the great work of Vermont’s nonprofits.

Heroes in Our Community was launched on WVMT’s Charlie + Ernie + Lisa in the Morning! show and Smith will be updating listeners weekly on vote tallies. All Vermont-based 501(c)3 organizations with an operating budget of less than $1 million (that means Mark Skinner Library!)are eligible to receive votes.

On May 14, the field will be narrowed to the top six vote-getting charities. The final winner will be announced on June 25 on WVMT and will receive a $2,000 grant from FairPoint.

Votes can be submitted on FairPoint’s Facebook page.