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Our 2008 fiscal year was a period of tremendous growth at Nonprofits Assistance Fund - we
made 94 loans and provided $8.9 million in financing to nonprofits, trained 1962
nonprofit leaders at 92 events, expanded our staff, and upgraded our web
presence.
We're building on these efforts in 2009 to continue to enhance our work in
the nonprofit community. To better highlight how we partner with nonprofits in Minnesota, we
recently expanded the Who
We Help section of our website. It now features an overview of the financial landscape for different
parts of the nonprofit sector - Human
Services, Health
Care, Education,
and Arts
& Humanities. Each includes resources and examples of how we can help
organizations in these fields.
This year one of our goals is to develop new financial management tools and
resources. What would help you build a healthier financial future at your
organization? Share your ideas by contacting
us or joining
the discussion on facebook.
Financial Needs Assessment
Many nonprofits are working to make sense of the financial landscape and
address the uncertain economic environment. A Financial Needs Assessment from Nonprofits
Assistance Fund can help you better understand your financial situation. This no
cost assessment includes guidance tailored to your unique needs to help you move
forward.
A Financial Needs Assessment can help you:
- Clarify your organization's financial situation
- Take advantage of a new opportunity to expand your capacity or programs
- Implement healthier financial practices
- Respond to critical financial issues, such as changes in revenue or costs,
that impact your budget
A member of the Nonprofits Assistance Fund staff will sit down with 2-4
representatives of your organization for about 90 minutes to listen to your
story, answer your questions, and share insights. At the end of the meeting, you
will have concrete recommendations you can implement right away to help achieve
your goals.
At Nonprofits Assistance Fund, we want to help you connect your money to your mission and turn your passions into achievable goals. Contact us for a Financial Needs Assessment and get started right away.
Upcoming Workshops
Calculating True Program Cost
June 3, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Do you know what your programs cost? Are you sure that your programs are
fully funded? This workshop focuses on allocating direct and indirect expenses
and calculating the true cost of your programs. This holistic approach to
program budgeting will help your program staff be good managers, your
development staff write effective grants and is essential for compliance on your
990. This workshop is geared towards those needing an introduction and overview
of allocations and program budgets.
Register
today and begin implementing healthier financial practices at your
organization.
Other upcoming workshops include:
- Financial Leadership for Executive Directors - July 15
- Presenting Financial Reports to the Board - August 5
And don’t forget to participate in our monthly lunch series
for nonprofit leaders, the Financial
Management Network. Join us on May 26 to share thoughts and ideas with your
peers on this month’s topic, Managing Restricted Grant Funds. Just bring your
lunch, your business cards, and your ideas.
Learn
more about our workshops and other upcoming events.
Financial Issues for Emerging Leaders
June 10, 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Kate Barr presents Financial Issues for Emerging Leaders as part of MCN's Nonprofit Leadership Summit: The Future of Leadership. Whether or not you have a
financial management position or responsibilities, emerging leaders can
influence the organization's financial health and future. Every leader has a
responsibility to participate in sound planning, prudently manage budgets and
resources, and ask important, tough questions. In this session we will review
twelve "golden rules" of financial management - including proven practices,
nonprofit myths, and innovative ideas - that will help you converse with
financial managers and board members, build your understanding, and gain
confidence as a financial leader.
More than a Loan - Jordan New Life Hub
The Jordan New Life Hub is an innovative nonprofit collaboration between the
Jordan New Life Community Church and the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of America. The Hub's goal is to support and empower individuals
and families in the Jordan neighborhood of North Minneapolis. It builds on
Jordan New Life's existing program, the One Stop Family Support Center, and taps
into the fundraising and volunteer capacity of the Synod's member churches.
The Hub has a clear plan to achieve its goals. The Synod has begun a campaign to raise funds and the Hub is working on complementary
efforts. However, fundraising takes time, and the Hub wanted to begin renovating
their space and expanding services as soon as possible. They contacted
Nonprofits Assistance Fund for a loan to help with initial costs until the Hub's
new programs and fundraising efforts get off the ground. Nonprofits Assistance
Fund also offered guidance on their business model and cash flow projections,
helping the Hub make informed decisions about their finances and infrastructure.
The Hub is a community anchor and social services center in one of
Minneapolis' most under served communities. The staff are Navigators who guide
people through the maze of social service programs, removing obstacles to
access, and help them develop practical life skills. With its expanded services,
it will better meet the needs of the neighborhood and could serve as a national
model for delivering social service to an urban community.
It is truly an exciting collaboration where each partner brings something
unique to the table - expertise and a model of service, fundraising and
volunteer capacity, and access to capital and an understanding of financial
management. Working together, the Jordan New Life Hub is well-positioned to help
families transform their lives.
About Us
• We're on Alltop Nonprofits
• Social Entrepreneur's Cup Celebrates Social Innovation
We're on Alltop Nonprofits
Balancing
the Mission Checkbook is now featured on Alltop Nonprofits. Congratulations Kate on your excellent blog
and this recognition. We'd like to thank our readers for their support and
participation, as well as everyone behind the scenes who make it work. We would
not be a part of this exiting project without you.
For those of you who are not familiar with Alltop, it is a news aggregate site,
or a place that gathers and posts top stories on a particular topic. If you
don't want to create your own RSS feed, you can visit Alltop and see the most
recent posts from a range of news sources and bloggers. You can also find new
blogs and sources of information to expand your online resources. For more
information on the story behind Alltop, to see their full list of categories, or
to browse the latest top stories, visit http://alltop.com/.
We're pleased and honored to be featured on Alltop. A special thanks to Guy Kawasaki and Nononina, Nedra Kline Weinrich, and everyone
else at Alltop for including us in your site.
Social Entrepreneurs Cup Celebrates Nonprofit Innovation
Social Venture Partners Minnesota and The Minnesota Cup have teamed up to award the Social
Entrepreneurs Cup. Its purpose is to encourage, celebrate, and support
Minnesota's social entrepreneurs and the nonprofits they lead. Nonprofits
Assistance Fund Executive Director Kate Barr brings her expertise to the judging
table to help determine the competition winner. Criteria include the social
venture concept's value to our community, its level of innovation, and its
potential for short and long-term impact.
The winner will be announced during the Engaged Philanthropy Conference on June 5th. First place will
receive a $15,000 general operating grant and 40 hours of consulting services
from Social Venture Partners.
The Engaged Philanthropy Conference brings together philanthropists,
entrepreneurs, foundation and nonprofit staff members, and others who are
interested in social change in Minnesota. Attend to meet like-minded
individuals, support social entrepreneurs, and learn more about how to make a
difference in the community.
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