How To Convert Event Donors into "Real" Donors

and other topics are covered in the June issue of The Major Gifts Report (in Noprofit Center at Library):

• post-campaign priorities
• grant application cover sheets
• capital campaign budgets
• wall display recognizes donors, encourages giving
• how to estimate a prospect's giving potential
• recognizing multi-year pledges
• ratchet up endowments with 5-year marketing plan
• employees as major donors
• handling former named spaces when renovating a facility
• any paid position is "endowable"
• how to recognize multi-year pledges in print

Youth at Work summer job program

Teenagers ages 14-19 are eligible for jobs with public and private employers this summer. Employers who agree to pay at least minimum wage for youthful workers may be eligible for tax incentives or can made a $1000 tax-deductible contribution to subsidize a youthful worker. www.rwdb.org/youthatwork/index.html.

Grants Workshop at UCONN July 24-26

The Grant Institute’s Grants 101 Course is an intensive and detailed introduction to the process, structure, and skill of professional proposal writing designed for both the beginner and the intermediate looking student. Three courses will be completed during the three-day workshop:
FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAM PLANNING will teach professional program development essentials and program evaluation. This class will teach students the relationship between overall program planning and grant writing.
PROFESSIONAL GRANT WRITING covers the basic components of a grant proposal, successful approaches, and the do’s and don’ts of grant writing. Each student will learn to stop writing the grant and to start writing the story.
GRANT RESEARCH will address the basics of foundation, corporation, and government grant research. Focusing on funding sources and basic social science research, this course teaches research as part of a strategic grant acquisition effort.
$597 tuition includes all materials and certificates. To register,visit www.thegrantinstitute.com or call (888) 824 - 4424.

News for CT Exporters

The CT District Export Council of the US Dept. of Commerce is located in Middletown (860-638-6950). Their recent newsletter recommends the following websites for information about trading with other countries:

• Report on European Union sanctions against US products: www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/sanctions.html
• US companies may receive free one-hour consulation with an experienced Intellectual Property Rights attorney on doing business in China: www.export.gov/china
• Full ITAR regulations: www.research.ucf.edu/compliance/EAR.ITAR_map.html
• Commercial environment/potential reconstruction business opportunities in Iraq: www.export.gov/iraq
• Chinese and Spanish language editions of US Dept of Commerce export magazine, Commercial News USA: www.export.gov/cnusa
• Middle East and North Africa trade info: www.export.gov/middleeast or 800 USA TRADE

Free events at the Foundation Center, NYC

Thursday, June 1, noon–2 pm / 3–4 pm: Meet the Author Brown Bag Lunch and Class on Prospecting for Individual Donors, at The Foundation Center, NYC. Laura Fredricks, author of The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose, will describe the skills and mindset needed to make personal requests from individual donors. Register at http://www.foundationcenter.org/newyork/mtafredricksny.html. Immediately following: Prospects Research Basics: Researching Individual Donors. Register at: http://www.foundationcenter.org/newyork/prbny.html

Free 2-part Workshop on Roles and Responsibilities of Nonprofit Leaders at Hartford Public Library June 7 & 14, 3-5pm

Workshop focuses on what nonprofit board members and executive directors need to know to perform their duties in compliance with today's legal standards and organizational best practices. It may be particularly useful for new (less than 1-year) board members and/or executive directors.

Part 1 : Legal roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors (fiduciary duties; administration; fiscal and personnel matters; insurance; fundraising, public relations and mission); potential liability of and protection for Board members; conflicts of interest, and on-going compliance concerns including registration, reporting and disclosure requirements. Presenter is Priya Morganstern, Esq., Director of the Nonprofit Pro Bono Initiative.

Part 2: How requirements and duties discussed in part 1 play out in "real life," including operational best practices, fundraising, and how an organization's Board and Executive Director can work together most effectively. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of effective strategic planning, teamwork, and more productive board meetings. Presenter is Richard Ryan of the National Executive Service Corp Central CT.
Registration required: www.hplct.org/register.

TechSoup extends deadline for GiftWorks software to June 5

The remaining supply of donated GiftWorks 2006 products is available for an admin fee of $35 at TechSoup Stock through June 5 (extended from May 24) or until all products are distributed, whichever comes first. After June 5, the Mission Research Donation Program will change from a donation program to a discount program, with an increase in the admin fee.

GiftWorks from Mission Research is fundraising management software for small- and medium-sized nonprofits. Nonprofits can use GiftWorks to track donors and donations and to build targeted lists of donors, supporters and prospects. The interface is designed for use with minimal training, so volunteers can quickly become productive. Learn more and place your donation request here: http://ga0.org/ct/R7AoXN41pmpq/ Join the discussion about GiftWorks:
http://ga0.org/ct/QdAoXN41pXRZ/

New books!

Nonprofit Essentials series: Endowment Building by Diana Newman, covers:

• Developing an endowment action program;
• marketing the program and enlisting the board's help;
• identifying likely donors and conducting personal visits;
• establishing benchmarks and measuring success

How To Write a Grant Proposal, by Cheryl Carter New, includes CD-ROM of downloadable sample proposals for

• After School Program
• Senior Citizen Wellness Center
• Fire Station
• Inner City Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program

Never Eat Alone and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time, by Yale graduate Keith Ferrazzi, founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a marketing and sales consulting company and contributor to Inc., the Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Sample chapters:

• Build It before You Need It
• Connecting with Connectors
• Be a Conference Commando
• The Art of Small Talk
• Build It and They Will Come
• Find Mentors, Find Mentees, Repeat

Ready for check-out!

Volunteers needed for Elderly Service Program

Jewish Family Service of New Haven is gearing up for another L’Yad Training Program which offers 8 weeks of training about aging, after which volunteers are matched up with Jewish elderly in the community. Some of the clients are Holocaust survivors and need someone in whom they can confide; others need someone to share their concerns about aging, becoming physically more frail, losing friends to disease, or being far from their children. Additional volunteers are needed to meet the demand of the elderly in the community. The only requirements are patience, good listening skills, and the desire to make a difference in the life of an elderly person. Details: Alice Raim (203) 389-5599 x117 or toll free (866) 389-5599 or araim@jfsnh.org.

Free workshop on managing endowments June 14 in Hartford

Citizens Bank's Investment Management Services invites trustees, CEOs and CFOs of nonprofit organizations for a seminar on the fiduciary role of trustees, audit and financial responsibilities, and investment management issues. Location/Date: the Hartford Club, 46 Prospect St., Hartford, on June 14, 9-noon (continental breakfast at 9). Please RSVP to Alicia Gonsalves at (401) 456-7908 by June 7.

Grassroots Use of Technology Annual Conference in Boston June 17

Register by May 22 and receive a free book (choose from over 25 titles) courtesy of O'Reilly & Associates. Conference will cover databases, online donations, improving websites, managing email lists, etc. Non-tech track requires no previous technical expertise, and technical track is for IT folks, developers, and software consultants. $60 ($30 student/limited income). http://organizerscollaborative.org

Creative Art Workshop's Summer Session runs June 19 to July 29

To register for the Adventures in Art Summer Program for Young People, as well as CAW¹s regular visual arts classes and intensive workshops for adults and young people visit http://www.creativeartsworkshop.org/ or call
562-4927.

Create a list of households by zip and income

ReferenceUSA is a database that you can use to create customized lists that are downloadable to spreadsheet format. Need a list of florists with more than 5 employees in New Haven? Or households with upper level incomes in your neighborhood? Your New Haven library card will get you on even from your home or office computer: Visit the library's website, click on databases, and scroll down to ReferenceUSA. Questions? Call me: 946-7431.

Guidezilla now offers free online event registration

and several other quite useful features that help to organize and streamline event planning, like a registration list that downloads to spreadsheet format and automatic email reminders sent prior to the event. It's free and it's produced by local talent. Check it out yourself at www.guidezilla.com.

How to Recycle Practically Anything

Don’t throw away those exercise videos and ubiquitous AOL CDs. Jim Williams wants you to mail old videotapes and CDs to him, so that more than 40 disabled staffers at his ACT Recycling in Columbia, Missouri can recycle them. And, oh, don’t toss out those used Fed-Ex envelopes or broken smoke detectors; their manufacturers take them back for recycling. Full story at www.emagazine.com/view/?3172

Motherread/Fatherread grant applications due by June 30

See Funding/Other Opportunities below

Next Generation Manufacturing II in Hartford

Sustaining Productivity Improvement is the theme of this conference for manufacturers at the CT Convention Center in Hartford. Gov. Rell will speak, along with workforce and education leaders concerned about preparing the next generation of workers. $45. Register at www.cbia.com or (860) 244-1900.

May 16 is banner day for learning opportunities--see Calendar below!

I'm not the Culeseminar sender

If you have received any messages from Culeseminar I suggest you delete them--I'm not sending them, and I don't know where they're coming from.

Camp Rising Sun for young cancer patients

The American Cancer Society sponsors a one-week summer camp experience at Camp Jewell YMCA in Colebrook for youth ages 6-18. Activities include swimming, photography, horseback riding, boating, hiking. For more information: www.cancer.org or (800) ACS-2345. Applications due by June 2.

City of New Haven Summer Youth Guide is Now Available

This useful booklet describes all the many activities and programs available for New Haven's young people this summer. Printed copies will be distributed to New Haven Public Schools and in the meantime, find English version at www.cityofnewhaven.com/CommunityServices/pdfs/English_FINAL.pdf and Spanish version at www.cityofnewhaven.com/CommunityServices/pdfs/Spanish_FINAL.pdf.

New Haven Symphony Receives Matching Grant

Through the month of May all new or increased Annual Fund pledges and gifts will be matched by anonymous donor, up to $25,000.

Help for Older Citizens

• New Haven residents who turned 65 by Dec. 31, 2005 or disabled individuals between 18-64 may be eligible for rent rebates from the Dept. of Elderly Services. Income limits apply. For information call 946-8585.
• Agency on Aging of So. Central CT offers paid employment and training opportunities for Greater New Haven residents aged 55+ who meet income eligibility requirments. Details at 752-3059.

CT Act Concerning Jobs Helps Business, too

Property taxes on manufacturing machinery & equipment will be phased out over next 5 years, and a new tax credit goes to companies producing films and TV shows in CT. Bill also creates new Office of Business Advocate to connect small business with assistance programs. Details:
http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=2425&Q=313416

Community Mediation offers mediation certification training

Community Mediation of New Haven will offer a 16-hour basic training session as well as a 32-hour certification training in mediation at their office in New Haven.
Classes are 5-9:30pm (dinner from 5-5:30), as follows:
Intro to Mediation, June 26, 27, 28, 29
Mediation Certification , July 17, 18, 19, 20
Parent-Teen Mediation, Sept. 18, 19, 20, 21.
Community Mediation is an Approved Provider of CT CEUs. Course fees start at $400. Details and to register: www.community-mediation.org or call 782-3500.

Family Visitation Program helps families in transition

The Women & Family Life Center in Guilford has launched Together Time, a supervised visitation service for noncustodial parent/relative and children which provides a safe and comfortable environment, plus documentation for all sessions. Contact lorilodge@snet.net or 458-6699 for details.

NHSO Receives $25,000 Challenge Grant

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra has received a matching grant from an anonymous donor toward the 2005-06 Annual Fund campaign. The donor will match all new or increased gifts and pledges to the Annual Fund made between now and May 31, 2006, up to a total of $25,000. Contributions to the Orchestra’s Annual Fund help support operations as well as education and community programs throughout CT. Details: 865-0831, x21 or lkelly@newhavensymphony.org.