Local legislators advise Berkshire nonprofits to band together to weather virus storm By Jenn Smith, The Berkshire Eagle Members of the Berkshire legislative delegation are encouraging nonprofit organizations to work together as money for their operations dries up during the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, the Nonprofit Center of...
HOW THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN HELP By Liana Toscanini Many people may be wondering how they can help those suffering from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits are mobilizing and a variety of opportunities to volunteer and donate are being set up. There are things you...
FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING: What You Should Know to Get Started By Laurie M. Werner Federal grants can offer significant funding for important projects and programs and often lend credibility and prestige to an organization. However, navigating the federal grant process requires planning ahead and a significant investment...
Making Time to Say "Thank You" By Jessica Traynor We all know why writing thank you notes is good practice. Why don't we? Is it because we have so many donors it's hard to keep up? Wouldn't that be great! When I was a fundraiser, thanking the donor was...
During holiday season, remember to give to nonprofits By Liana Toscanini and Jim Klocke Charitable giving from individuals is the lifeblood of the nonprofit sector and critical to maintaining the social fabric of the commonwealth. But during this year's holiday season, there's even more of a reason...
You’re a leader. Now you need some followers. By Mark Avnet I was watching rehearsal by the CEO of an ad agency in preparation for his all-company meeting. In spite of advice from his coach, he continued making his case exactly the same way each run-thru, his...
WOMEN IN TRANSITION: THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE NONPROFIT ARENA By Stephanie Lawrence With the transition to parenthood I learned that as much thought and effort we put into crafting a roadmap for ourselves, unexpected events happen that take us off course, and we...
GO- NO GO: DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING By Penny Brierley-Bowers Data-driven decision making is catchy and cliché. Leaders and consultants often espouse the virtues of making data-driven decisions as a way to support and excuse their strategic decisions. But what is it really, and is it as foolproof...
ENCOURAGING GIVING BACK IN THE BERKSHIRES The Giving Back guide is a free publication designed to facilitate connections between nonprofits and individuals wishing to donate or volunteer. It’s got a handy directory of 1,000 Berkshire nonprofits by category, meaning that a resident interested in getting involved...
GETTING READY FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING By Sarah Glatt Developing a strategic plan can be the most rewarding but sometimes also the most overwhelming project an organization embarks upon. For this reason, it is critical to fully understand the process in order to ensure effective use of valuable...