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Nonprofit Resource Kit


We're always learning something new at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. These nonprofit resources are some of our favorites, and many of them are free. If you have favorite nonprofit resources to share, please let us know.

Resource of the Month: Mention sends you instant alerts any time a blogger, reporter or other online source mentions the name of your organization, staff members or others you ask it to monitor.

Starting and Nurturing a Nonprofit

Starting and Nurturing a Nonprofit

Creating an Effective Board

Strategic Planning and Management

  • Academy for Nonprofit Excellence (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    We partner with Tidewater Community College on these one-day, two-day and online classes for nonprofits that lead to a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.
  • Alliance for Nonprofit Management
    Learn how to improve nonprofit management and governance.
  • Blue Avocado
    Delivers intriguing and uplifting nonprofit news and tips to help you stay ahead of the pack.
  • Free Management Library
    Connect with strategic planning and management tools.
  • Independent Sector
    Connects you with ways to strengthen and partner with other nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
  • Innovation Network's Point K Learning Center
    Helps your organization set key metrics and evaluate effectiveness through a free online tool and a searchable database of resources.
  • Leap of Reason (New addition to our resource page)
    Provides free books, videos and other tools from Venture Philanthropy Partners to help your nonprofit improve its outcomes and performance.
  • Nonprofit Finance Fund
    Helps your organization strengthen its mission and services.
  • Nonprofit Risk Management Center
    Offers webinars on timely nonprofit topics.
  • PerformWell
    Provides a free tool that enables human service nonprofits to measure program quality and outcomes.
  • VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Half-day training sessions and other resources help nonprofits in southeastern Virginia.

Technology Improvement

  • Charity Advantage
    Helps with web site development, computer donations and computer purchase-assistance programs.
  • CommonCraft
    Helps you create easy-to-understand videos that make complex topics simple.
  • Idealware
    Gives insight into computer software that may help your organization.
  • Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN)
    A blog and free monthly newsletter keep you up-to-date with technology.
  •  Tech Soup
    Helps your nonprofit get donated and discounted technology products.

Fundraising and Development

  • Association of Fundraising Professionals (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Our regional chapter strives to advance philanthropy in Hampton Roads.
  • Community Foundations in the U.S. Locator
    Has a link to connect you to more than 650 community foundations serving specific geographic regions of the United States.
  • The Curtis Group blog (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Keep up with trends in philanthropy and fundraising by subscribing to this timely blog with regional ties.
  • Community Foundations of Virginia Locator
    Gives you contact information on the 27 community foundations serving specific geographic regions in Virginia.
  • Endowment Development Consultants
    Sign up for the free weekly tip from Helen Monroe and keep your development staff focused on what is most important.
  • Fired-Up Fundraising
    Sign up for the free weekly e-newsletter produced by Gail Perry, an expert in innovative ways to raise funds for nonprofits.
  • The Foundation Center
    Search the database to find grantmaking organizations nationwide.  Access is available through VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads or the Virginia Beach Public Library.
  • Grantproposal.com
    Provides tips for both experienced and novice grant writers.
  • Grant Resource Center (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    The Virginia Beach Public Library offers a searchable database of grantmaking organizations from around the country and other information to help you master applying for nonprofit grants.
  • Grant Seekers Gazette (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Susbscribe to this monthly e-newsletter from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and keep up with grant opportunities.
  • Grassroots Fundraising Inc.
    Gives you tips and tools for effective fundraising.
  • Hampton Roads Gift Planning Council (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Connects professionals interested in staying current on gift planning topics.
  • Mal Warwick Associates
    Check out the free resources and sign up for the free monthly e-newsletter created by Mal Warwick, an expert in using direct mail to raise funds for nonprofits.
  • Michael Rosen Says
    Subscribe to this blog on improving donor relations written by the author of Donor-centered Planned Gift Marketing."
  • Netwits Think Tank
    Subscribe to this blog from Blackbaud to keep up with trends in fundraising.
  • Planned Giving Design Center
    Provides current information on planned giving topics written by national experts.
  • SOFII (Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration)
    Lets you browse a database of the best nonprofit fundraising materials.
     

Communications and Marketing

  • Ahern Communications Ink
    Learn from Tom Ahern, an expert on writing to your donors, by subscribing to his e-newsletter or blog.
  • Beth Kanter's Blog
    Keep up-to-date with help from a pioneer in the world of nonprofit blogging by subscribing to her posts.
  • Cause Communications
    Here are links to three of our favorite nonprofit publications: "Why Bad Ads happen to Good Causes and How to Ensure They Won't Happen To Yours," "Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes" and "Communications Toolkit: A Guide to Navigating Communications for the Nonprofit World." You can order free hard copies of these publications from this website.
  • Chris Brogan’s Blog
    Learn from this social media expert new ways to put your organization's social marketing tools to work.
  • Comm-Digest
    Read the best of current online articles related to marketing, communications and public relations aggregated by the Commintelligence Learning Academy.
  • Communications for Good
    Use these helpful online tools to evaluate the effectiveness of your communications efforts.
  • The Communications Network
    Check out this nonprofit communications advocacy organization's blog and other helpful resources.
  • The Duck Pond e-newsletter
    Free resources on this website come from acompany that focuses on nonprofit communications.
  • Fenton Studios
    Offers free downloadable publications focused on improving nonprofit communications.
  • Free-Range Thinking newsletter
    Communications expert Andy Goodman. Monthly e-newsletter shares his tips for effectively using storytelling to connect people to your organization.
  • Getting Attention
    Subscribe to the blog or e-newsletter created by Nancy Schwartz, a nonprofit marketing expert, and learn how to improve your nonprofit's marketing efforts.
  • Jargon Finder
    Use this handy jargon list provided by the Communications Network to banish words from your writing that make it hard for your audience to care about your organization. Links let you download three books that help you banish jargon.
  • Media Evaluation Project
    Go here to download the thought-provoking "Are We There Yet?" guide to evaluating your nonprofit communications efforts.
  • Mention
    This free tool clues you into what media, bloggers and other online places aer saying about your organization.
  • Nonprofit Marketing Guide
    Nonprofit communications and marketing expert Kivi Leroux Miller gives you lots of helpful information through her blog, e-newsletter and webinars.
  • PollingReport.com
    Check the results of recent polls by CNN, NBC, CBS and other organizations to see how people think about issues your organization may be tackling.
  • PR Miscues and Marvels e-newsletter (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    David Rourke, a Hampton Roads public relations professional, points out the highs and lows of public relations efforts in this blog.
  • Press Release Grader
    Grades your news release on a scale from 1 to 100 and tells you what to do to improve it.
  • Public Relations Society, Hampton Roads Chapter (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Connect with other communications professionals in South Hampton Roads and learn from regular meetings. You can also buy an up-to-date media directory for Hampton Roads from this organization.
  • Public Relations Society, Virginia Peninsula Chapter (Right here in Hampton Roads)
    Meet other communications professionals working on the Virginia Peninsula and learn from speakers at regular meetings.
  • The Rowan Report
    Colin Rowan, a public interest communicator, offers best practices, tips and success stories about communicating in the nonprofit industry. Topics range from writing op-ed pieces to improving PowerPoint presentations.
  • Social Media 4 Nonprofits
    Subscribe to Rosita Cortez's blog and learn about online tools that improve nonprofit communications.
  • Social Media Policy Tool
    Use this free interactive tool to create a social media policy that protects your organization's brand.
  • The SPIN Project
    Check out the online tutorials that help you target audiences and develop relationships with key people.
  • Spitfire Strategies
    Use this free interactive chart to guide you as you create a communications plan.
  • Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab
    Use this checkoff list to check the credibility of your website.
  • Straight Talk e-newsletter
    Subscribe to nonprofit communications expert Rick Schwartz's e-newsletter for common sense public relations tips aimed at nonprofits..
  • We Are Media
    Use this toolkit to learn to use blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other online tools for listening and connecting people.
  • Working Wikily
    Blog focuses on ways nonprofits can harness social networking to advance their missions.

Publications, E-newsletters and Miscellaneous Nonprofit Resources