Friday Freebie

I personally am not a "tweeter", but for those of you out there who are, TweetDeck is a desktop tool that allows you to manage and follow all of your tweets in one spot. The Adobe Air-based software provides multiple customizable columns that auto-update as new tweets arrive.

TweetDeck also allows you to organize and update your Facebook and MySpace accounts - all from your desktop.

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebies

Slideshare is an online tool that allows you to upload and share Power Point presentations and other documents. You can share publicly or privately, making it a great resource for learning (so thanks to all who have publicly shared their informative presentations).

Another great feature of Slideshare is the ability to add audio - allowing you to create your own webinars. And membership is free.

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebie

So many reasons to check out GIMP, a PC Magazine Hall of Fame inductee, it's hard to know where to start. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has provided Photoshop-like tools at no charge for over a decade. GIMP allows you to professionally edit and re-touch photos and images for personal and professional use. Have a photo that you'd like to use on your website or in you Case for Support, but it's not "quite right"? Try making it perfect with GIMP.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Friday Freebie

The HR Council for the Voluntary & Non-profit Sector website offers a comprehensive (and free) resource to help non-profit employees, managers and board members better understand and manage issues relating to human resources. The HR Toolkit is available online at:

http://www.hrvs-rhsbc.ca/hr-toolkit/home.cfm

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebie

That was quite a hiatus I took - my apologies. It's been a busy month, with travel to Ontario, Maine and New Hampshire. By rights, I should owe you about four Freebies, so I'll do my best to make good on that.

1. If you're in the market for volunteers, or you're looking to promote your upcoming event, visit The Nova Scotia Volunteer Forum: http://www.nsvolunteerforum.ca/ (it's free!)


2. Funding Opportunities for Youth-serving Organizations. Check out today's post, under "On Giving" at http://www.bloomfornonprofits.com/


3. Funding opportunity - True Sport Community Fund: Funding to help children and youth participate in sports. Visit http://www.truesportfoundation.ca/ for details


4. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but if you find yourself with hours of research to do and you're not sure where and how to start, check out your local library, either online or in person. You might be surprised at what you find there.

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebies

Yesterday I attended an AFP session on time management. The primary focus of the presentation was centred around managing email, and the amount of time we all spend on this task on a daily basis.

The inspiration for today's Freebie came from a colleague of mine, Anne Melanson (Bloom Non Profit Consulting Group). At the end of the session, Anne told us all about a free online resource that we could use when trying to schedule meetings that involve several people, such as committees and boards. Doodle (www.doodle.com) is an online poll service provider. It is absolutely free and rquires no registration. You simply set up your poll, email the link to your committee members, and have them weigh in on their availability or vote for their choice...the possibilities are endless.

Check it out, and Happy Friday.

Federal Funding for Seniors

The government of Canada has recently launched a call for proposals for funding requests in support of seniors. Funds are available to help non-profit organizations renovate facilities or replace equipment they use to deliver seniors’ programs and activities.

For more information, please visit:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=/index&nid=481349

Deadline for applications is November 6, 2009.

Friday Freebies

I'm either three days late for last week's post, or four days early for this week's - it depends on your point of view. Either way, here's a fun (and free) resource for those who have a secret desire to host their own talk show...or simply to create and host live video segments.

With UStream TV, www.ustream.tv, anyone with a webcam can create their own video show and broadcast it live over the Web. But it's not just a wecam tool - users can create live videos using a camera or video recorder.

So when you're planning your next big donor recognition event or other news-worthy announcement, and the folks from CNN seem uninterested in providing news coverage, take the bull by the horns and broadcast it yourself!

Exciting Career Opportunity

Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) is one of Canada’s most dynamic and progressive multi-service youth focused agencies located in one of the Nation’s most livable urban regions, Ottawa-Gatineau.

YSB’s Board of Directors has approved the establishment of a fundraising Foundation, in order to generate more revenue and strengthen the agency’s programming. The Board has targeted the launch of the foundation for January 2010, and is seeking a qualified and motivated fundraising professional to lead this exciting initiative as the Foundation’s inaugural Executive Director.

To review the position description and apply online, please visit:
http://www.ysb.on.ca/

Friday Freebies

I searched far and wide to find a true "free" version of, what I think, is an amazing technology tool...text-to-speech and text-to-mp3 software.

I realize that text-to-speech software has probably been around for a few years and is invaluable to people living with vision loss, but I never realized the availability and value of text-to-mp3 software. Nextup.com offers both free (basic) and paid-for (premium) versions of TextAloud software. With speech-to-mp3 software, you can convert any electronic text document to audio files that can be played on your iPod, mp3 player, and even on your television. I wish I had known this existed when I was studying to write my CFRE exam!

Most of us spend way too much time sitting in front of a computer these days. Convert electronic editions of the newspaper, or those reports you need to review, to mp3 files. Hook up your iPod, lace up your sneakers, and take it outside - enjoy the outdoors while the weather's still great.

Happy Friday!

A little care and feeding

No one wants or needs me to describe how the economy has beaten the stuffing out of some charities’ revenue streams. Not being a novel topic of conversation any more, its just not that interesting.

But what is interesting is watching how grassroots fundraising is once again on the rise, thanks to technology and the “new connectedness.” In vast numbers, regular, ordinary everyday folk like you and I can make (modest) donations instantly, and reach out to our networks of friends to follow our lead.

Charities are scrambling to find a way to access these legions of friends and potential supporters in the wired world. The question is not, “can we?” but rather “how can we?”

There are lots of ways to attract financial support, and boost public awareness of a charity’s work, through social networking. The key? It all boils down to care and feeding (which is probably not what you want to hear if you are looking for a quick fix).

Regardless of whether you are looking for a quick fix or long term solutions, build some common sense principles into your stakeholder communications and you will inevitably yield increased financial returns in fundraising. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Including people in a genuine two-way conversation about your organization’s worthwhile work is the most effective way to engage their long term (and financial) involvement;
• Donors want to hear from you more frequently than when its time to ask for another gift;
• Donors really never get tired of hearing you say “thank you” for their support (and advocacy);
• People want to know, specifically, how they can help. Large monetary contributions may not be what they have in mind;
• People expect to be able to tell you how, and through what channels, and with what information, you should communicate with them;
• You need to make that act of helping (giving, volunteering, advocating) a swift and simple process that provides them with instant gratification.
  

Keep those principles in mind as you move ahead in stakeholder engagement and you can’t lose.

Friday Freebies

Unless you're one of those people who always has a pen and paper on hand, chances are there have been many occasions when you've wanted/needed to capture a piece of information and found yourself scribbling on a napkin, only to lose it or (forget) and use it.

Here's a great no-cost tool you can use almost anywhere, anytime. Evernote is the free equivalent of Microsoft's One Note. Check it out www.evernote.com

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebies

Create your own social network...for free!

Ning, www.ning.com, provides a no-fee technology platform that allows individuals and groups to create their own social networks.

Used by the American SPCA, Ning is an economical, customizable and easy-to-use solution for organizations wishing to implement a social networking platform for donors, members and staff.

Happy Friday!

Careful...Your Age is Showing!

I recently attended an AFP educational session presented by Anne Melanson, CFRE, and Lori Barker, Director of Development for Phoenix Youth. The topic of discussion was Making your Financial Case for Support. One of the most valuable tips I walked away with was the need to carefully think through your written collateral materials before committing them to paper.

When developing thier current Case for Support, Phoenix Youth carefully considered how to present the necessary information in a way that would not see the publication become "dated" in a month or two. They did not include names of Board members and staff - rather, they decided the best way to present this information was as an add-in. Very smart, very cost-effective.

Because they took the time to plan the Case, Phoenix will have a document that has a shelf-life of 2+ years, rather than 2 months. Staff and Board members move on to other opportunities - it's a fact of life. Although it's important to celebrate your organization's team, it's wise to think through how to do this in a way that can easily be updated when changes occur.

And what about your website? The same principles hold true. The wonderful thing about your online "storefront" is that it can usually be updated with little cost - and doesn't result in 5,000 outdated brochures being tossed in the trash.

Are you showing your age? Are your print materials current? How about your website - does it contain outdated information? With online giving on the rise, a fresh and current website gives donors the confidence that your organization is on top of things.

Where Does the Day Go?

Recently, I was privvy to a discussion where an organization was debating the merits of continuing on with a particular fundraising event. When weighing the pros and cons, the amout of time required to effectively pull off this event was brought forth as a strong negative. 2,000 staff hours was the amount they had roughly calculated.

The problem with rough calculations and guesstimates is that you never really know what your true investment and returns are. At 37.5 hours/week (people do need time to eat), 2,000 hours translates into 1 staff person working full-time, all day, every day (no vacation, no sick days, no statutory holidays) for 53.3 weeks. And that's okay - if your event returns proportionate financial and public awareness benefits.

As is the case with most of us, I tend to have several projects on the go at once. I track my time using an application called Time Tracker. It's not pretty, but it's functional. Wikipedia (another great FREE resource) has posted a comparison of time tracking software . Some are free, others are fee.

The most difficult thing about using time tracking software is remembering to start and stop it. However, it's a great way to track and analyze where you are expending your most valuable resource - your time.

Friday Freebies

Shame on me - I didn't post a freebie last Friday, so this week I owe you two.

The first one I'm passing along is a Canadian website designed to serve employees and employers of the non-profit/charitable sector. At www.workinnonprofits.ca employers can post recruitment ads for up to 180 days, free of charge.

And second on the list is a US-based website that provides webinars, teleconferences and other resources to the non-profit sector - free of charge. Check out www.networkforgood.org

Happy Friday!

Friday Freebies

Earlier this week I attended a webinar hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and presented by Allan Pressel of CharityFinders.

Allan passed along a great tip to webinar participants - so I'd like to thank him for contributing to this week's Friday Freebies.

Websitegrader.com is a free website SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tool that grades the effectiveness of your website in a number of areas - and makes suggestions as to how you can improve your site. This free tool also allows you to rate your website in comparison to others (competitors, peers, etc).

Check it out - it's a great free resource (thank you Allan).

The Talent Pool - Do you need a life-preserver?

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Stephen Pamenter of Robertson Surrette. Stephen provides recruitment consulting services to the non-profit sector. I asked him to tell me more about the role that a recruitment firm plays, and here’s what he had to say:

Q. Stephen, in 50 words or less, explain to me the role a recruitment firm plays when contracted.

You are outsourcing a complex and essential process to an expert – someone whose professional existence is built on finding/attracting high quality talent to your organization in a competitive market; someone who can seamlessly manage the recruitment process - from collaborating with you on your requirements, to helping you handle the important offer negotiation.

Q. And what are the advantages, specifically to non-profits, in enlisting a recruitment firm?

Very few not-for-profits have access to in-house or dedicated HR resources. As a result, a staffing requirement is often a reactive and burdensome task, taking time and effort away from key day-to-day responsibilities central to the NFP’s operation. Also, efficiency is essential and most NFPs cannot afford to waste time and resources waiting for the right candidate to fall into their lap. Unless you have a strong and current connection to the available talent pool, most organizations are forced to use only advertisements - and this is often not enough to get the job done. Ads can be expensive and only reach active job seekers, not passive candidates who aren’t looking that particular week. A recruiter is a sounding board with whom candidates feel comfortable discussing opportunities because they don’t have to reveal to an interconnected community that they are job seeking. These are candidates who wouldn’t dream of blindly sending an application into an organization until they are confident the opportunity is of interest.

Another advantage is “active recruiting” within the industry. Recruiters can reach out to candidates of interest at other organizations through either networking or researching the market and approaching them. Most not-for-profits would rather not undertake this kind of activity on their own even if they had the time to research targets. In our industry, it is much more appropriate to allow a recruiter to utilize their network and contacts to get the word out. Your recruiter should be an ambassador for your organization and should be adept at presenting your opportunity to prospective candidates the right way, with a focus on what makes your organization unique and the position attractive to them. This is particularly critical if monetary compensation is less than other sectors and when an unbiased opinion of your organization can help.

Finally, when using a recruitment firm, you know you’re getting a candidate intended to make an impact and who has been validated through a transparent and impartial process. If, for whatever reason, the person you hire doesn’t work out, most recruiting firms offer a guarantee to replace that candidate within a specified time period. That protects you from the dreaded and expensive costs of a hiring mistake that we hear so much about.

Q. Given your experience working with the non-profit sector, what would you say are some of the key challenges facing non-profits in relation to staff recruitment and retention?

Not surprisingly, a challenge for the non-profit sector is successfully attracting top candidates when the salary is lower than similar for-profit positions. The key for not-for-profits to overcome this challenge is to focus on your employment brand and leverage your unique strengths. Cash compensation is just one of the many reasons an employee will work for you, so it’s up to the organization’s leadership to clearly define, communicate, and stand by what makes your NFP a great place to work within. I love to talk about this topic with clients but to be brief, we see today’s workforce demanding more independence, a healthy work/life balance, opportunities to learn, and advancement opportunities. We need to be committed to those things and trust that they can attract people away from the big bucks. Also, let’s not underestimate the draw that most ideal candidates have: the desire to make a difference.

Another interesting challenge is that NFP organizations, especially social or community based ones, ideally would find candidates who have compelling and irrefutable reasons to work for them. It’s a good feeling when a candidate is a match because they have a personal connection to the mission or relevant volunteer experience. When you make them an employee, engagement is more likely to be high and so is retention. Unfortunately, due to a tight labour pool and strong competition for talent, this may not always be the case and the fit may not be as easy to spot or as easily extracted from a candidate. Undertaking a comprehensive search process that pushes beyond whether a candidate can simply do your job and delves deeper into why they would want to, is a great way to feel more comfortable that your investment is a smart one and more likely to be long-term.


If you are interested in speaking with Stephen about recruitment solutions for your organization, you can contact him at: stephen.pamenter@robertsonsurrette.com

Acquisition and Retention...The Great Divide

It's a widely accepted fact that it costs more to get than it does to keep. Whether you're talking about employees, customers, goods & services, or donors & volunteers - acquisition requires considerably more time and resources than retention.

So why, after so many years and so many articles educating us about the cost of acquisition, are we still struggling with embracing retention techniques that work?

Allow me to share a personal ancedote that is probably all too familiar to many:

I received a telephone call "on behalf of" a particular organiztion, asking for my support of programs and services for victims of crime. The fella on the phone was good - when I hesitated, he quickly added that many of the victims were women, and I was sold. Prior to this phone call, I had supported (again, through telephone solicitation) an organization providing support and services to burn unit patients. In both cases, the support was provided through the purchasing of tickets to a charitable event.

Being a researcher and voraciously curious by nature, I checked out both of these organizations and found that they outsource their calling/fundraising programs to the same company. Not such a rarity. But neither is the fact that I received no further communications from either organization to which I provided my financial support, aside from receiving the event tickets.

So what was my motivation for supporting these organizations? Was it the appeal of attending yet one more hockey game, or was it the opportunity to help support programs and services which resonated with me as being of great value? For me, it was the latter.

So what could/should these organizations have done once they "got"me to help ensure they would "keep"me? Well, at the very least they could have put the same amount of effort into retention as they did into acquisition. A phone call or letter to let me know the outcome of their fundraising drive - How much did they raise? How was/will the money be spent? How about a personal story from someone helped by the organization? A simple "thank you" would have gone a long way.

But none of these things happened. Instead, the next communication I received was another telephone solicitation call. That's not good customer service, by anyone's measure.

The moral of this story? Take great care with those things you value. More than 80% of charitable donations are made by individuals like you & me. Once your organization has "sold us" on your cause, show us you treasure our support. We'll provide you with a great return on your investment.

Friday Freebies

Cheap is good, free is better. With that theme in mind, welcome to Friday Freebies. Today's post is brought to you by PC Magazine.

Every year, PC Magazine publishes its "Best Free Software of the Year" report. Committed to passing along the free software information at no cost, the magazine also publishes this report on their website:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338803,00.asp

With over 170 software downloads available, there's bound to be something there to help make your electronic life easier.

What's being said about your organization in the wired world?

The wired world is also a viral world where blog posts, video clips, information and opinions can spread like wildfire. Many progressive organizations in the charitable sector are starting to engage social networking and electronic communication to connect donors and friends with their message and mission. But what happens when an event or opinion casts your organization in a bad light…and then travels with the speed of light around the Internet?
Network for Good’s Katya Andresen offers sage advice on minimizing your organization’s reputational risk on her Getting to the Point blog, using Google and Twitter alerts, YouTube monitoring. She also offers tips on how to respond when the worst happens.
And whether you are concerned or not about your organization’s vulnerability in the wired age, isn’t it just worthwhile to know what’s being said about it?

Nominations Open for National Volunteer Award

Speaking of volunteers, I'd like to take a moment to thank the 2009 AFP NS conference organizing committee. Last week's conference was excellent - a result of many hours of volunteer planning and hard work. Job well done!

The government of Canada has announced a call for nominations for the 2009 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award. Details can be found at: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=/index&nid=444729

The award will be presented to two outstanding volunteers - one for Youth Participation (age 18 to 30), and one for Lifelong Commitment (age 31 and over) - in December, to coincide with International Volunteer Day.

Bletiquette

An esteemed colleague of mine once made the observation that the cosmetics industry is peppered with made-up words and phrases (what exactly IS Vitalastin?). It occurs to me that the same observation can be about about the technology industry and its many offshoots.

Bletiquette, n: Blog etiquette.

I thought I had brilliantly coined a new phrase - until typing it into Google and realizing that several people, perhaps more brilliant than I, had already used this "word".

So are there etiquette rules for blogging and, if so, what are they? According to one website, blogging about blogging is strictly a no-no (oops - looks like I've already broken that one). There seems to be no universally-accepted "code of conduct", however, there are several common-sense guidelines available:

Deborah Ng's Blogging Etiquette Rules:
http://www.bloggingtips.com/2007/11/25/blog-etiquette-the-rules-are-quite-simple/

Kevin, aka DigiKev's advice:
http://www.digikev.co.uk/blog/home/13_february_2008.aspx

If you are considering entering the Blogosphere on an organizational level, you may want to consider drafting your own organizational Blogging Code of Conduct, especially if you are considering multi-author postings on your blog.

My own piece of blogging etiquette advice? As with face-to-face conversation, focus on the interests of the person/people you are addressing. That's just plain good manners.

Children and Families - Social Development Partnerships Program 2009 Call for Proposals

The Government of Canada, through the Children and Families component of the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP), invites not-for-profit organizations to apply for funding through Calls for Proposals.

The SDPP is currently inviting proposals for contribution funding that support Canadian families, children/youth and other vulnerable populations.

Funding is available for (up to a maximum of $200,000 per year) for projects that support the needs of Canadian families, children and youth, through three funding priorities: supporting children/ youth and families; caregiving over the life course; and strengthening not-for-profit organizations.

Deadline for proposals is May 8, 2009.

Details are available at: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/sdpp/call/social_wellbeing/2009/step1.shtml

Virtual Volunteering

Ten years ago, articles about the untapped potential of virtual volunteer opportunities were being published on Charity Village's website, in Canadian FundRaiser magazine, and throughout other websites and publications frequented by those of us involved in the charitable sector. The realm of vitual volunteer opportunities being touted included:

• conducting on-line research
• providing professional consulting
• designing brochures, newsletters, logos, etc.
• translating documents
• maintaining a database
• electronically "visiting" people in hospitals or homes
• providing on-line mentoring or instruction
• supporting group members via chat rooms or newsgroups

In 2002, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (now Imagine Canada) published a study, Virtual Volunteering: Current Status and Future Prospects. At that time, the study revealed, only 16% of volunteers reported volunteering in a virtual capacity. Of those, only 11% of virtual volunteers were involved in fundraising, and social networking was not even on the radar screen - at least not as its own separate "task".

Today, we are surrounded by virtual volunteers - most of whom have no "formal" relationship with, or assignment from, a particular charitable organization. They are the Facebookers, the bloggers, the Twitterers, and the thousands of everyday people advocating and raising money and awareness online on behalf of their communities and the entire planet.

For charities, there exists a great opportunity to tap into the vast resources available through virtual volunteering. And for many potential volunteers, the virtual world has opened a door to volunteer opportunities that may not have been accessible to them before - due to physical limitations, geographical separation, scheduling conflicts, or a host of other impediments to on-site volunteering.

More on engaging, supporting, and recognizing virtual volunteers later this week. In the meantime, check out the February 2009 Twestival, which raised more than $250,000 for charity:

http://twestival.com/

To Blog, or not to Blog...that is the Question

Ten days. One-third of a month, almost one-thirtieth of a year. That's how long it has been since my last blog posting. Which begs the question - to blog or not?

Our blogging dilemma is not unique. As a subscriber to many blogs, I have realized that what often begins with the best of intentions, fizzles out when real-world responsibilities and tasks take over.

Blogging, like exercise, is a commitment (don't even ask how long it's been since I've done THAT). And like exercise, there are techniques you can use to help you stay on track:

1. Blog with a team. If yours is an organizational/business blog, create a team of authors and a blogging schedule. Authors should understand the overall "theme" of the blog, and post content that reflects it.
2. It used to be, that at 7:00 every evening I dragged myself down to the basement and got on the elliptical machine. Schedule a time for blogging, and stick to it.
3. Exercise programs are generally comprised of similar components - cardio, strength training, stretching - but include a variety of exercises to keep it interesting. Create a blog topic schedule that covers your main themes and remember - variety is the spice of life.
4. If (as is often my challenge with exercise) you are really feeling uninspired, just start writing something small. One word, one sentence, one paragraph. A walk to the end of the driveway can inspire a walk around the block.

So yes - do blog. Blog with enthusiasm! But realize that, like exercise, your blog will only be helpful if it is part of your daily routine.

Struggling with finding the time to blog? Check out tomorrow's topic - virtual volunteering.

Engaging Volunteers in a Meaningful Way

Six years ago, Scott Neeson took a five-week backpacking vacation through Asia. Today, Mr. Neeson's Cambodian Children's Fund operation is in its sixth year - and he has traded in his successful Hollywood career, 36-foot yacht and luxury lifestyle for a single room in the children's centre he operates and funds. Rather than a Porsche, he now drives a scooter, and running hot water is a thing of the past.

How does this story relate to meaningful engagement of volunteers? While on his backpacking vacation in 2003, Mr. Neeson stopped in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. He was struck by the number of street children rummaging through the city's dumps - scavenging for plastic, bits of metal - anything that could be sold for pennies or traded for food. Feeling compelled to help, Neeson sponsored a family - providing a street child clothes, food, a space in a private school and extended rent on an apartment. He was later stunned to discover his efforts were for naught. The family sold the clothes, left the apartment, and withdrew the child from school - all to collect the money.

Because Mr. Neeson had already experienced a first-hand, personal connection to the plight of these children, he did an extraordinary thing. Within one year, he had resigned his executive postion at Sony Pictures, sold his five-bedroom Hollywood home, his yacht and his Porsche and purchased a building in the heart of Phnom Penh's slums which is now the Cambodian Children's Fund facility - a centre dedicated to providing for the city's most neglected and impoverished children.

The lesson to be learned from Mr. Neeson's story is that finding ways to connect volunteers personally to your organization's service delivery, in a way that is meaningful, will generally result in long-term and truly committed engagement for your organization. For most of us, there is nothing more powerful than touching the life of another - and having them, in turn, touch our lives.

Ten Creative Ways to Support Charities this Month

With more than 8,000 registered charities in Atlantic Canada, the charitable sector makes up a significant portion of the Atlantic Canadian economy. These organizations deliver vital services in areas of education, health, and social and community service. Many, such as food banks, provide the basic essentials of life. Together, with nonprofits, charities in Atlantic Canada generate $6 billion in revenues and employ 106,000 people - and support more than 1,000,000 volunteer positions.

In tough economic times, finding creative ways to support charities is even more important. In economic downturns, charities often find themselves in the difficult position of facing increased demand for services while dealing with cuts in funding from government, corporate and foundation donors.

As individuals, most of us do not have the financial resources to make those newsworthy million-dollar gifts that transform lives, through the work of charitable organizations. But collectively, we have the power to make a real impact. With a population of more than 2,000,000 (Atlantic Canada), we have the potential to provide the charitable sector with $40,000,000 in essential funds, over the next month, if we each make it a priority to contribute $20 to a charity of our choice.

Here are some creative ways of finding an extra $20 for charity:

1. Donate the money you would normally spend on take-out coffee for the next month (sorry Tim Horton's).
2. Remember when gas was more than $1.40/l? Calculate what you were spending then for one fill-up vs. what you are spending now, and donate the difference.
3. Are you one of the lucky ones getting a tax-refund? Consider donating a portion of it to charity.
4. Does your employer match gifts? Let them know you are making a donation.Their support will double your impact.
5. It's still a little cool outside for yard sales, but if you're selling stuff on Kijiji - consider donating a portion of your sales to charity.
6. Are you able to tele-commute? Ask your employer to support your charitable efforts by encouraging employees to tele-commute for one week or more, and donate the $ saved on gas and transit fees to charity.
7. If you don't already have one, consider starting a casual-day at your workplace. Ask participating employees to donate a small amount each week ($1 or $2) to a charity fund - and ask your employer to match it at the end of the month.
8. Do employees at your workplace participate in a lottery pool? Consider donating the pool funds to charity for one month - that's one way to guarantee a win!
9. Ask your kids for ideas - they are far more creative and resourceful than us old folks.
10. Put a spare change jar on your kitchen counter and ask all family members to deposit their spare change for one month - it adds up quickly! (This is a good idea for the workplace, as well).

Is Bill Strickland Coming to Halifax?

According to a December 2008 article in Miller-McCune magazine, Halifax is on Bill Strickland's list of cities where he is planning on creating a Manchester/Bidwell-like facility. In fact, local rumour has it that Bill has already been to visit, and has been discussing his plans with some of Halifax's movers and shakers.

If there was ever a time for Halifax to put out the welcome mat, this surely must be it. If there ever was a great campaign to get behind - the "bring Bill Strickland to Halifax" campaign would be the one.

Not sure who Bill Strickland is? He's one of those quiet heroes who you don't hear enough about. Bill is the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and its subsidiaries, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG), and Bidwell Training Center (BTC). He is a visionary leader who provides educational and cultural opportunities to disadvantaged students and adults within an organizational culture that fosters innovation, creativity, responsibility and integrity.

Manchester Craftmen's Guild Guild began as an after-school arts program in a donated rowhouse that Bill Strickland secured while still a college student at the University of Pittsburgh. Today, Manchester Bidwell is a national model for education, culture and hope.

MCG Youth & Arts and MCG Jazz are programs of Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. MCG Youth serves 3,900 youth annually through classes and workshops in ceramics, photography, digital imaging and design art. MCG Arts gives students a chance to work with visiting national and international artists through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, residencies and school visits. MCG Jazz is dedicated to preserving, promoting and presenting jazz music, and has become an anchor of Pittsburgh's cultural and community life. Bidwell Training Center provides market-driven career education created through partnerships with local industries. The center offers accredited Associates Degree and diploma programs in fields as varied as culinary arts, chemical laboratory technologies, health careers, horticulture and office technology.

Have I mentioned that these programs are all designed to serve marginalized and disadvantaged youth, single moms living on social assistance and individuals living in the cycle of poverty?

Bill Strickland hopes to persuade 200 cities around the world to replicate his arts, education and job-training program. Persuade? No city should need persuasion - we should be begging Bill to bring his innovative and collaborative model here - and to teach us how we can help.

You can read more about Bill Strickland here:
http://www.bill-strickland.org/index.html

Innovation and Collaboration at its Best

Bernie Smith, manager of the Spring Garden Area Business Association, is a very wise man.

For years, merchants in the Spring Garden Road area have struggled with finding a solution to the significant population of panhandlers who frequent the area. Attempts to rid the area of panhanders have only resulted in relocating the population to other business districts within the city.

Non-profit and charitable organizations working on behalf of persons living in poverty, street youth, homeless persons and persons living with addictions or mental health challenges have long advised that attempts by police and security personnel to encourage panhandlers to "move along" does not address the root of the problem. Criminalizing panhandling does not work either, and these efforts may, in fact, encourage petty crime.

Bernie Smith has taken it upon himself to devise an innovative and collaborative solution to a challenge that the HRM has not yet found an effective way to address. Mr.Smith has pioneered a constructive and humane program that works to address the root causes that lead people to a life of panhandling.

The business association has hired a "navigator" to work with street people. The navigator works directly with panhandlers to teach them basic life skills and direct them to social and employment agencies that will help them take steps to improve their life situation. The program helps provide services such as access to a computer to create a resume or money to buy work boots (necessary for most labour jobs). In addition to the services provided by non-profit and charitable organizations, participants in the program are given $12 a day until they get their first paycheque.

As well as being innovative, Mr. Smith's initiative is also collaborative. Three other business districts have joined the program - Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association, Downtown Halifax Business Commission and the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission. The group has joined with Halifax Regional Municipality and the provincial Justice Department to fund the $70,000 program.

The only set-back to the program is that the navigator currently has to run back and forth between all four business districts. To increase effectiveness and efficiency, it would be ideal to have a navigator in each district.

We have all been advised over and over again not to give money to panhandlers - primarily because it can enable an addiction problem and does not provide a long-term solution. As patrons of these businesses, the best way we can help is to encourage businesses to provide coin boxes in support of those organizations which are working to help address the root issues of poverty and homelessness - and that is where we should deposit our spare change.

The full article from today's Chronicle Herald can be accessed here:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1111287.html

Charity Co-ops?

In Ontario, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa provides a vast range of services to young people with the objective of helping youth move toward independence and self-sufficiency.

From a drop-in centre for street youth, emergency and transitional housing, and mental health services, through to long term housing and employment resources - YSB provides a continuum of services to young people in the Ottawa area to help and encourage them to become productive members of their community and attain their full personal potential.

But not all charitable organizations have the capacity - whether it be financial, physical or professional-skills related - to deliver such a broad range of services. What is often the case, is that one organization will provide emergency shelter, another will provide mental health services, and yet another will provide employment resources or job training. All are contributing vital ingredients for healthy, productive communities - and all are necessary.

But as a "client", who is helping to guide me to the many resources and through the full range of services I need so that I might achieve my own personal potential?

Is your charitable organization working co-operatively with others in order to ensure your "clients" are aware of, and have access to, the many resources available to help them move forward in life? Are you working co-operatively with other non-charitable organizations, such as business and government? Do you see these types of "partnerships" as being appealing and valuable to funders and grantors?

Collaborative partnerships and co-operative arrangements have benefits in addition to improving client service. These types of arrangements will often allow organizations to access resources, goods and services that may otherwise be out of financial reach. Most charitable organizations cannot afford to employ a full-time web development professional - but a job-sharing arrangement between several organizations can help provide a service that is quickly becoming essential for success.

Are you embracing partnerships, co-operatives, collaborations, and innovative solutions? Are you job-sharing, cost-sharing, or co-habitating? Have you formed partnerships/buying-groups with others to provide your organization with essential professional services, such as graphic design, website creation, IT support or event planning?

Humber College Fundraising Interns

Are you interested in an intern from Humber's Fundraising and Volunteer Management program?

The program provides students with the equivalent of three to five years of on-the-job fundraising experience. Interns are available full-time from June 15 to Aug. 20, 2009.

Here's how to post your opportunity online:

1. Go to http://coop.humber.ca/

2. a) If this is your first time posting an opportunity, click on and complete the Humber College Company Registration. Your User Name [your email address] and Password [initially set to humber] will appear. Please save this so you can edit or change your listing.

b) If you have registered before, fill in your User Name [your email address] and your Password.

3. Enter your User Name and Password and click on Log In.

4. Click "Post an Opportunity" (or View Old Posted Opportunities to refresh a posting from last year). Check the box "Show information above for users applying to this job opportunity," so applicants may contact you directly.

5. Check the box, "Fundraising and Volunteer Management". If your internship opportunity might be of interest to students in other listed programs, you may check those as well.

7. Position Type: Select Internship.

Fill in the fields and click “Submit Opportunity”. Your information will automatically be posted for the students to view.

After You Post Your Opportunity:
Students will review the list of opportunities and contact you to request interviews. You can select the students you wish to interview, and arrange a date and time. Interviews and internships should be outside class time, if possible (Fridays, weekends, or evenings).

Once you and the student agree on a match, please inform Humber so they can track progress.

You will be asked to provide feedback to the students and Humber at the midway point and the end of the internship.

BACKGROUND ON THE FUNDRAISING PROGRAM
The program covers annual and capital campaigns, grant writing, donor research, major individual donors, donor relationship management, planned giving, direct marketing, sponsorship, project management, financial management, volunteer coordination, The Raiser's Edge and Income Manager software, special events, ethics, charity tax law, prospect research, and just about every conceivable form of fundraising. Every year the class organizes real special events as part of the program.

You can find more about the fundraising program at
http://mediastudies.humber.ca/index.php?page=course_view&code=10381
and
www.postgraduate.humber.ca/10381

Women Still Have a Long Way to Go

Today is International Women's Day, 2009. Belinda Stronach (former MP and Chair of the Belinda Stronach Foundation) observes that in tough economic times, fear about layoffs, bankrupticies and companies shutting their doors threatens to push women's issues off the public agenda. She says that "taking stock in the state of Canadian women in 2009 means taking a hard looking at the inequalities that reman, and taking action to help eliminate them." (Readers can click the hotlinked headline of this post to read Ms. Stronach's aricle).

Bread and Roses...and Funding for Education

The Honourable Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, launched the Bread and Roses Bursary Fund today to mark International Women’s Day.

The term “Bread and Roses” comes from a poem by James Oppenheim, published in 1911, and later set to music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_Roses

Nearly a century later, the Advisory Council is embracing the spirit of Bread and Roses -- to mark International Women’s Day, to celebrate women’s contributions to society, and to highlight opportunities for women in well-paying, non-traditional fields.

The Nova Scotia Community College Foundation will manage the $20,000-fund, to benefit women studying sciences, trades, or technology, with particular consideration for women from diverse communities.

For more information, please see the full press release from the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women:
http://women.gov.ns.ca/ProjectsBreadRoses.asp

Fundraising with Impact

Organized by Impact Entrepreneurship Group, Impact Microcredit is an innovative entrepreneurial competition open to high school students across Canada.

Each school is allowed to enter one team of 3-5 students. Teams are given $100 and one week (in October) to generate as much revenue as possible from that $100. Of course, there are rules - all activities must be legal, etc., but teams are challenged to be innovative and creative with their entrepreneurial projects.

Half of all monies raised/generated go to a microfinance institution and half to charities chosen by competing teams.

Sponsored by RBC and the British Columbia Innovation Council, teams are eligible to win up to $10,000 in scholarships and seed funding.

Deadline is March 27, 2009.

More information can be found at:
http://microcredit.impact.org/

International Women's Day in Lunenburg County

In honour of International Women's Day and our 25th anniversary, Second Story Women's Centre is hosting an Open House:

Date: Sunday March 8, 2009
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: 22 King Street, Post Office Centre (upstairs), Lunenburg
More Info: 640-3044 or 543-1315

We want everyone in Lunenburg County to know who we are, where we are, and what we offer.
Join us for refreshments, quilting, information, and a wonderful social afternoon.

Everyone welcome!


Scroll down for more International Wome's Day Events being held in other communities.

Evergreen 2009 Common Grounds Funding

Evergreen, a national registered charity founded in 1991, is an environmental organization with a mandate to bring nature to Canadian cities through naturalization projects. Evergreen’s Common Grounds program — in partnership with Wal-Mart Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, The Home Depot Canada, and Unilever Canada — provides grants to community groups doing environmental stewardship work across Canada.

Wal-Mart - Evergreen Green Grants provide funds of up to $10,000 to local groups working on urban naturalization projects that use native plants to restore and steward woodlands, meadows, wetlands and ravines. The program also supports community gardening projects that involve native plants and food gardening.

Wal-Mart - Evergreen Green Grants application deadline is March 27, 2009.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/cg/cg-funding.html

Community Grants Program - Halifax Regional Municipality

Each year, the HRM Community Grants Program provides cash grants to registered non-profit organizations and charities located throughout HRM.

There are two types of grant (a) a project grant of up to $5,000 and (b) a capital grant of up to $25, 000.

The program provides assistance for projects in the following categories:

Environment
Recreation & Leisure
Affordable Housing & Emergency Shelters
Emergency Assistance
Neighborhood Safety
Community History
Community Diversity
Arts & Crafts

Application deadline is March 31, 2009. Full details and the Grants Guidebook are available at:

http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/bccgrants/CommunityGrantsProgram.html

Government of Canada - Call for Proposals

On February 23rd, the Government of Canada announced a multi-year Call for Proposals (2009–2012) focusing on projects that will improve services or accessibility for people with disabilities to allow them fully participate in society.

Proposals submitted must meet the program criteria and fall under one of two streams: Social Development Projects and the Accommodation Fund. Social Development Projects must address one of the following three themes: promotion of accessibility, seniors with disabilities, or youth with disabilities. The Accommodation Fund provides up to $20,000 in funding to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in events and conferences.

Proposals will be accepted until April 6, 2009

For more information, visit:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/sdpp/call/disability_component/page00.shtml

Speaking of Collaboration

The Centre for Social Innovation, located in downtown Toronto, is an excellent model of community collaboration. Home to approximately 100 social mission groups, the Centre boasts 20,000 square feet of shared space, ideas, strategies and experiences.

Proponents of collaboration, market transformation and systems change, The Centre for Social Innovation's website provides links to articles on topics such as: Constellation Governance Model, Open Philanthropy and Limitless Imagination.

Interested in learning more? Check out http://socialinnovation.ca/

Federal Dollars for Vulnerable Populations

On the eve of International Women's Day, the federal government has announced $188,000 in funding for the P.E.I. Rape and Sexual Assault Centre's STEPS Program for Women.

Funding was provided to STEPS through the Women's Community Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada.

The full news release is available online:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/01/c4837.html

International Women's Day - 1 week from today

Thank you to everyone who has submitted events and happenings celebrating and supporting IWD. Here's one more:

Host: The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: The Company House, 2202 Gottingen St., Halifax, NS
Phone: 902-431-2311
Email: events@acic-caci.org

Join us for a potluck and evening of performances in celebration of women. The potluck will begin at 5 and performances at 6.
Talented local performers include:
El Jones - spoken word poet
Kim Wempe - singer-songwriter
Mufaro - african dancer
Erika Kulnys - singer-songwriter
The Women Next Door - a cappella women’s choir
Asna Adhami - spoken word poet
Rena Kulczycki - actor (vagina monologues)
Cumbiamba - mother-daughter latin dance troupe
And more...
Hosted by Evany Rosen of local comedy troupe, Picnicface.

Donations will be collected for Salutary Angels, a local organization working to improve child and maternal health in Haiti.

This is a family friendly, inclusive, wheel-chair accessible event – all are welcome!

Cost of fundraising -- when priorities are in conflict

From policy-makers' offices to the cocktail party circuit, nothing sparks debate quite like posing the question: "What is an acceptable cost of fundraising for charities?" At issue are diametrically opposed positions of fundraising effiiciency versus gross amount raised. In essence we wonder, what is more important? A low cost-to-income ratio or the total amount a charity has raised in support of its cause? Matt Mendolsohn in The Economist proposes a procative perspective....maybe charities should approach return-on-investment like companies do. Do you agree?

More on International Women's Day

The Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women lists events being held across the province in support of International Women's Day. Please visit their website at:

http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp

Event in Support of International Women's Day

Growth Trends

In their final newsletter of 2008, Canada Revenue Ageny reports approximately 83,000 currently registered charities and 4,500 new applications submitted every year (with the majority of new applications being approved). If this trend continues, the number of registered charities in Canada could surpass 100,000 by 2015. When non-profits without charitable status are added into the mix, that number doubles.

Why does this matter?

Canada's population currently stands at approximately 32.9 million. In 2007, Canadian taxfilers reported making approximately $8.6 billion in charitable donations. If every single individual in Canada were included in this $8.6 billion, it would work out to approximately $261 per individual. However, not every individual in Canada is a tax-filer. Children, for example, are included in the population count, but not as tax filers.

The actual number of donors reported in this $8.6 billion was approximately 24% of tax filers - just under 5.7 million people. Using these numbers, we end up with an average donation of $1,500 per person. Statistics Canada reports the median donation as $250, meaning that half of the donors gave more than $250 and half less.

In a 2004 study conducted by Imagine Canada, 75% of charities reported annual revenues of less than $250,000. Assuming the growth trend for registered charities continues, and that approximately 25% of tax-filing Canadians continue their support to the charitable sector, the years ahead could see 6 million tax-filers providing annual financial support of more than $4,000 each to sustain revenues of less than $250,00/year for 100,000 charities. However, if all Canadian tax-filers contributed to tax-deductible charitable donations, that amount drops to approximately $1,000 per tax-filer, on average - still well above the mean donation amount of $250 reported by Statistics Canada.

So, does the charitable sector need more donors and supporters? Of course. As citizens, we can all add value to the work of the Canadian charitable sector. But does the charitable sector also need to work together, share resources, and examine potential mergers and partnerships before considering adding yet one more organization to a sector that is currently being supported by only 25% of the Canadian population?

Your views are welcome.

Oxfam Halifax - International Women's Day

Oxfam Halifax would like to invite you to “Get caught up in the action: Women’s Movements and Change”!

To celebrate International Women’s Day we will be holding a dynamic discussion featuring four prominent activists working for greater gender equality locally and internationally. This event will include a lively conversation with panelists, an opportunity to enjoy our musical guest and a chance to access great resources and learn more about how you can get involved in issues that are important to you.

We hope you will join us for a fun and inspiring evening!

For more information please contact: Peggy at mr842902@dal.ca

When: Thursday March 5, 2009

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm to mingle with organizations; panel will be at 7pm.

Where: The Public Archives
6061 University Ave.
Corner of University Avenue and Robie Street

International Women's Day

March 8th - International Women's Day is a day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

In addition to being a day of celebration, IWD is also a day of advocay and awareness-building. With female CEOs and prime ministers; young women welcomed into university; the opportunity for women to work and have a family -today's women have real choices. So have women achieved equality - at least in the "developed" nations?

Internationalwomen'sday.com states,

"With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are often still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men".

Corroborating that statement, is a Canadian News Wire release from late January, 2009:

The number of women in top executive jobs at Canada's largest publicly traded companies is at its highest level, but remains at 7.2 per cent, according to a new report. The fourth annual Rosenzweig Report on Women at the Top Levels of Corporate Canada found that 36 women now hold top officer jobs in Canada's 100 largest publicly-traded companies; up from 31 last year. On a percentage basis of top jobs, women now hold 7.2 per cent of the positions and men 92.8; last year it was 5.8 per cent and 94.2 respectively. However, more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Canada's biggest public companies do not have women executives at the top paid ranks.

Unquestionably, women have made great advances in equality over the past 100 years. Recognizing this, the tone and nature of International Women's Day is shifting more to being a celebration of the positives, rather than a reminder of the negatives.

However, there is still more work to be done. According to the United Nations, women do 2/3 of the world's work yet earn only 5% of the world's income and own less than 1% of the world's real property. Women often lack resources that might help move them out of poverty. This includes capital, land, and borrowing opportunities. Advocating for equality for all women and girls remains a priority for the United Nations. The United Nations Development Fund for Women continues to work for women's empowerment and gender equality.

More times than not, when women live in poverty, so do their children. With just over two weeks until International Women's Day 2009, please take a moment to share with us your plans for this important day, and your thoughts on how we can work together to improve the lives of women and children.

Now celebrated annually in dozens of countries throughout the globe, International Women's Day (IWD) was first celebrated in 1911. A list of 333 IWD events taking place in 33 countries, as well as a history of IWD can be found on www.internationalwomensday.com.

Gender Pay Equity in the Fundraising Profession: Why is this still an issue?

AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) annual Compensation and Benefits Study (2006) reveals that from 2004 to 2005 salaries for professional fundraisers decreased in the United States and remained stable in Canada

The average salary for U.S. respondents to the 2006 survey fell to $67,181 in 2005, a 16.7% decrease from the average in 2004. During the same period, average salaries for Canadian fundraisers increased by 2.3%, to $65,768.

While the survey results reveal a to-be-expected correlation between salary level and factors like geography, organizational size, tenure in the profession and possessing the CFRE credential, it also revealed that a significant gender gap continues to exist between the salaries of male and female fundraisers.

Male fundraisers in the U.S. reported an average salary of $76,148 in 2005. Women earned $62,980 on average.

In Canada male fundraisers reported an average salary of $75,254 in 2005. Women earned $63,055 on average. Seventy percent of all respondents (both U.S. and Canada) classified themselves as female, while 30 percent classified themselves as male.

Several survey questions addressed respondents’ perceptions of the reasons for the salary gender gap. Forty-four percent of respondents in both countries stated they feel there is widespread salary gender bias in fundraising. Top reasons cited for this gap included the “double standard” in society and the unconscious bias of supervisors. Other high ranking reasons included the fact that women employees have been hesitant to complain about salary bias, and male employees tend to be more aggressive in pursuing salary raises.

In a profession where each year sees a greater percentage of females, the persistent gender gap in pay scales seems incongruous. Perhaps in an era when we’ve witnessed watershed moments like the election of the first African American U.S. president, we will also see the extinction of a disparity that itself should have become extinct a long time ago. I hope it becomes extinct before I do.

Transparency and Accountability

Today's Chronicle Herald features a front-page article on a donor's discontent with the way her donation was handled by a local charity:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1105956.html

Reading the article, one is left with the impression that the donor is not so much upset by the use of the funds, as she is about the apparent lack of transparency. According to the article, the donor was not informed when the charity instituted a change in the use of the facilities made possible by the donated funds. The donor received several letters of complaint from stakeholders affected by the decision made by the charity - leaving her feeling, in her words, "heartbroken and saddened".

Could this situation have been avoided? Had the charity made thier intentions clear from the outset, the public sentiment may still have be one of disapproval, but the donor would have known clearly how her gift was to be used and would not have been left surprised and, perhaps, embarrassed, by the charity's actions.

Charities play an invaluable role in society, and their continued success is dependent upon the public's trust and confidence. No one can argue that the charity discussed in this article is not fully deserving of the public's trust and confidence. No one can question the outstanding dedication of the staff, and the enormous contribution they make to our community. As a public, we embrace them and whole-heartedly support their work.

However, this "black-eye", as the article refers to it, on the organization could have likely been avoided through improved donor communications. Communicating in a way that is fully transparent with donors and stakeholders, even if the news is unpopular or unpleasant, not only builds trust and confidence - it fosters a culture of accountability.

Can Charities Collaborate to Weather the Economic Downturn?

Collaboration brings many benefits to those who choose to embrace it. Increased knowledge, reduced costs and the power of many acting as one, are just a few.

Cooperatives are a prime example of how collaboration can work to reduce costs by increasing buying power. When large-scale buyers form a buying group, such as a cooperative, members are able to purchase goods in bulk - resulting in cost savings to both the member organizations, and to the end-user consumer.

In the corporate world, many small businesses will collaborate through the sharing of resources. It is not uncommon for an office comprised of several small businesses to share a central reception and office technology centre, thus reducing the cost for each business while allowing for crucial resources that otherwise might be finacially out of reach.

Most charitable organizations are well-practised at operating on a shoestring budget and making the most of limited resources. Many are known for being innovative in times of extreme need. Will the recent economic crisis see even more innovation and creativy from the charitable sector? Will charities forge new partnerships in an effort to build or maintain capacity, and what lessons can the for-profit and not-for-profit organizations learn from each other?

If you have any great examples of collaboration, we'd love to hear about them.