Online Resource Guide

Rivermarket ArtSpace 2nd Friday Art Night. Picture provided by the Arkansas Arts Council.

There are so many online resources for nonprofits—from free technology resources to timely and important news publications, to information sharing sites and those that create space for nonprofits to publicize their good works-- the internet is replete with resources to inform, inspire, share, and further your nonprofit’s mission. We at ACE have taken the time to gather some of the best online sites for you.  Check them out and stay connected!

Also visit our Resource Room in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices, 200 South Commerce St., Little Rock, AR 72201

Mission

Idealist is an interactive site, a project of Action Without Borders, where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities, volunteers, jobs, internships and more.  Their vision is to create a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives, where every person who wants to help another has the ability to do so, and no opportunities for action or collaboration are missed or wasted.

The Stanford Social Innovation Review is an online version of the journal from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  The journal’s purpose is to lead in the search for new and better ways of improving the lot of the world.  With a balance of pragmatic and intellectual articles from executives, faculty, and leaders, the Stanford Social Innovation Review covers subjects from social entrepreneurship to program effectiveness, philanthropy, management and more.  They also offer a bi-monthly newsletter; ask an expert section, and blog.  (For 25% off a print subscription to The Stanford Social Innovation Review, contact us, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

The Society for Nonprofit Organizations provides nonprofit staff members, volunteers, and board members with affordable resources and information to work more effectively and efficiently towards accomplishing their mission.  ACE members receive their publication, Nonprofit World every other month.

Management

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is the professional association of individuals and organizations devoted to improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits - to assist nonprofits in fulfilling their mission.  The Alliance is a learning community that promotes quality in nonprofit capacity building.

GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.  Search capabilities range from the free and simple search to verify a nonprofit's legitimacy, learn whether a contribution will be tax deductible, view a nonprofit's recent Forms 990, or find out more about its mission, programs, and finances to a more narrowly defined search with detailed reports  on a nonprofit organization.  Register with GuideStar and receive a free GuideStar report for your nonprofit that you can link to your website and download to give to funders.

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a consulting, research, and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools, strategies, and resources to lead change in their communities.   In addition to their notable research and publications, CompassPoint’s Board Café is the electronic newsletter exclusively for members of nonprofit boards of directors.  Short enough to read over a cup of coffee, Board Café offers a menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service.

Nonprofit Risk Management Center provides consulting services, easy-to-understand publications, technical assistance and online tools related to risk management for nonprofits.  As a satellite center for the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, ACE hosts Nonprofit Risk Management training events bi-annually.  The Center’s bi-monthly newsletter is accessible here.

Free Management Help is the Free Management Library for nonprofits online. The Library provides easy-to-access, clutter-free, comprehensive resources regarding the leadership and management with relevant content to nonprofits of most any size and scope.

Money

Did you know that the nonprofit section of the IRS website has many useful resources for nonprofits, including frequently asked questions, a newsletter for exempt organizations, and tips for searching Publication 78- the Cumulative List of Organizations?  The IRS provides information, explanations, guides, forms and publications on all of the areas of interaction between exempt organizations and the IRS.  Most notably, they provide a graphical depiction of the “Life Cycle of a Public Charity” with links to the documents you need at each stage of your exempt organization’s “life cycle”.

The Nonprofit Gateway Government Portal provides official information and services for nonprofits from the U.S. Government, including specific information on grants, loans and other assistance.

Governance

The Independent Sector sponsors ground-breaking research and advocates for public policies that support a dynamic, independent sector.  They are leaders in tracking and advocating for legislation for the nonprofit sector.  The Independent Sector offers resources especially for improving accountability and self-regulation, provides free research publications and compilations of research on a variety of topics including the Giving and Volunteering Research Clearinghouse.

BoardSource seeks to increase the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening boards of directors through consulting practices, publications, tools, and membership program.  They provide excellent Q & A’s for board recruitment and orientation, board essentials, legal and ethical issues, committee and meeting structure, board and committee roles and responsibilities, as well as a variety of resources related to nonprofit governance and management.

Legal e-Sources

Glance at the news, whether you prefer to read it electronically or in print, and you soon realize that we are once again becoming a nation of serviceminded individuals. Arkansans are ahead of this curve and in a position to demonstrate leadership in this era of renewed interest in service and in the non-profit sector. The book, Legal Guide for Arkansas Nonprofit and Volunteer Organizations, was written as a guide to help those individuals achieve their goals and see their projects come to fruition.

UA Online Legal e-Source is a web site designed to be used as a free tool for current non-profit organizations and individuals wanting to start a non-profit organization. There are many tools available to help ensure that non-profits are in compliance with rules and regulations. This web site was made possible by the collaboration of the CommunityCare Foundation, Inc., University of Arkansas School of Law, and the University of Arkansas School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach. Legal e-Source was presented an Award of Excellence for exemplary work in the field of lifelong learning from LERN (Learning Resources Network, INC). The program is being honored for exceptional practice in Community Service, originality, innovation, appropriateness, and adaptability as a model for other programs.

2008 Economic Impact Report- "The Benefit of Doing Good: The STructure, Contribution, and impact of arkansas nonprofits on the state's economy"

The nonprofit sector is an increasingly important contributor to the socioeconomic health and vitality of our community. Follow the links below to read  the 2008 report on the economic impact of nonprofit organizations in the state of Arkansas. Follow the links below to view and/or download your copy of both the Executive Summary and Full Report.

The Benefit of Doing Good: Executive Summary

The Benefit of Doing Good: Full Report

Online News for Nonprofits

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is the newspaper for the nonprofit world.  It is the #1 print and online news source for nonprofit leaders, grant makers, fundraisers, and others involved in philanthropy.  Access to some articles is free, while others require a site subscription.  (Come visit the Resource Room in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices, 200 South Commerce St. Suite 100, Little Rock, to review Chronicle archives.)

A service of the Foundation Center, the Philanthropy News Digest contains press and news releases, grantmaker Web sites, abstracts of articles, columns and commentary, an RFP bulletin, and Connections- a weekly-updated source of the best web resources on the latest issues and trends in philanthropy.

The Nonprofit Times is a biweekly print publication of concerning nonprofit management issues.  The web version has selected articles form current and back issues.

Nonprofit Issues is an e-newsletter of “nonprofit laws you need to know.” Find answers to your questions on nonprofit law and governance.  The site provides Ready Reference Pages- summaries of issues in nonprofit law.

Blogs

Commentary and Idea Exchange

Nonprofit Literature Blog spotlights books, articles, and other literature obtained by the Foundation Center Libraries.

PhilanTopic is the Foundation Center’s blog containing “opinion and commentary on the changing world of philanthropy.”

Beyond Philanthropy is Geneva Global’s forum for comment and analysis on the philanthropy and social investing industries.

Tactical Philanthropy is an open space for discussion of philanthropy and a “chronicle of the Second Great Wave of Philanthropy”- tactical philanthropy that funds entities that are  bring new approaches to solving social problems

FLiP is the Future Leaders in Philanthropy blog published by onPhilanthropy.  A blog dedicated to connecting future nonprofit leaders for idea exchange to contribute to one another’s success.

Inside Philanthropy from the Philanthropy Journal- a blog on nonprofit and philanthropy news and issues

GiveWell explores how to get real change for your dollar.

Nonprofit Communications is a blog with tips and ideas on nonprofit communications, publications, marketing and PR.

Getting Attention is a source of ideas, tactics, and tips for nonprofit communicators focused on helping their organizations succeed through effective marketing.

Great Nonprofits is a place to find, review, and talk about great nonprofits.  Your nonprofit’s staff, clients, and volunteers can be “citizen marketers” to create your nonprofit’s own (free) homepage, where you add information, links, reports, newsletters, and blog.

The Stanford Social Innovation Review is the blog from the SSI Review, which offers commentary on strategies, tools and ideas for nonprofits, foundations, and socially conscious businesses.


Technology and Nonprofits

Ephilanthropy foundation helps large and small nonprofit organizations learn to utilize the best Internet practices and services to build and enhance relationships with supporters, to raise money, and to build trust among donors in their use of the Internet to aid in various philanthropic endeavors.

990 Online helps nonprofits publish their exempt organization records online, either in their database, or through your nonprofit’s website.

Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information within the nonprofit technology community.  They strive to connect people involved in nonprofit technology to each other, provide professional development opportunities, and educate their constituency on issues of technology use in nonprofits.

Philanthropy Online examines subjects related to philanthropy and "being online:" online marketing, online fundraising, Web 2.0 technologies, new tools, new issues, and new strategies to help nonprofits find their audience.

Nonprofit Matrix is an online directory and guide to Application Service Providers and portals offering web-based services for nonprofits and charities