Welcome back to e-strategies, the online newsletter for clients, friends and other nonprofit sector colleagues of ESC! We hope you'll find this bi-monthly publication a useful and efficient source of knowledge, advice and reference, guiding you to new ideas and resources.

It is ESC's mission to equip our clients and other nonprofits and public agencies with the tools, insights and guidance they need to strengthen, sustain and expand the quality and impact of the programs and results they deliver to the people and communities they serve. Please let us know how we can keep improving e-strategies so it can be an effective resource for you!

Sincerely,

Marcia J. Lipetz, President & CEO

State Funding - Making Some Sense of the Mess

The pressures on nonprofits caused by the awful condition of Illinois' state finances, the budget process and payment cash-flow are still bad, and may yet get worse if things don't get fixed. What's most important for any nonprofit contending with these challenges and managing around the problems they create is being informed and getting involved in making progress. Among the sources of information, ESC recommends the following for useful, timely information:

For Illinois nonprofits, the single best source for current news, advocacy efforts and opportunities for helping make positive change is the Donors Forum website.

It may not be a consolation, but Illinois nonprofits are not alone in facing challenges like these. The National Council of Nonprofits' new special report, State Budget Crises: Ripping the Safety Net Held by Nonprofits (.pdf file) is a great source for understanding more about just how and why these problems are happening all across the country.

We're all in this together - and that's how we'll survive the crisis and move forward. Get informed and get involved!

Just in Case: Managing Risk through Preparing for Emergencies

It’s never too soon to have a plan in place for coping with emergencies. When most of us think of planning for an emergency, we think of running fire-drills and setting up our board and staff phone-trees. But as important as these tasks are, too many nonprofits neglect to think of preparing for emergency leadership. If your executive director is suddenly out of action with little or no warning, is your organization ready and able to continue delivering its programs and services? Does someone know your information system’s passwords? The banking information? Would you and your colleagues know what to do – and who’s doing what – in an emergency situation? All too often, we never think we would ever need to know all this stuff – until we do.

The most important in planning for the ‘un-plannable’ is documenting the critical information and ensuring that the right people have the right access to ensure organizational stability and effectiveness during a transition time, whether short-term or long. ESC is pleased to share two easy-to-use resources that might be of help to you:

As part of our Executive Transition Management program, ESC developed a tool that any organization of any size can speedily adapt to fit their needs, the Emergency Leadership Kit.

Recently, we came across another resource for emergency preparation, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund’s "Studio Protector". This very nicely designed and easy-to-use creation is a fantastic tool, designed primarily for individual artists, yet useful in many settings (and highly affordable to order directly from CERF).

Coaching & Philanthropy Action Guide – GEO

ESC is a big fan of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), a collaborative of 350 grantmakers from across the nation working to ensure the meaningful impact of grantmaking through the promotion of strategies and practices that contribute to grantee success. GEO's research, programs and other initiatives are fantastic sources for best-practice models, new ideas and opportunities.

GEO's new publication Coaching and Philanthropy: An Action Guide for Grantmakers is an incredibly useful, informative overview of the importance, value and impact that coaching can have on nonprofit leaders. While intended for the grantmaking reader, it is an easily accessible resource for nonprofit leaders too, with many excellent aspects, including an "online toolkit". ESC highly recommends this great report and commends GEO, our longtime friends at Compass Point and the funders and other organizations that contributed to it.

Using Direct-Email (like E-Strategies!)

For any organization needing to communicate with a large mailing list of clients, friends, supporters and/or other key stakeholders, direct email efforts like this one are a very good option. While some groups have staff and skills to manage and produce such publications all on their own, for ESC (like many others) it's great to have some excellent, affordable options already available from third-pary vendors.

Of the several vehicles for doing direct email that are currently available, ESC uses Vertical Response. What makes this a very attractive option for us is that Vertical Response is essentially free of charge for nonprofits with relatively limited mass-emailing needs.

Another very popular provider that does excellent work for many nonprofits of various sizes is Constant Contact, and there are many other quality providers. What matters most is getting this tool in your toolbox!

Social-Networking: How Goes it for You?

Nonprofits are being inundated with reminders about how they MUST be out there, building their social networks-especially online. With all of us rushing to build a presence on Facebook or get connected on Linked In, ESC is trying to get a better handle on what's actually happening in terms of results, here, on the ground, with Chicago-area nonprofits. We want your input!

What are you doing to socially network? How much effort does it cost you? What are the results you're seeking? What do you expect to see? Has it been "worth it" so far? We want to know what you've been able to do in this field, and from the information we receive assess the trends, experiences and possibilities for the future. Please email us and let us know. We won't publicize individual comments or divulge personal or organizational information.

June 5 - Conference on Not-for-Profit Organizations 2010

Chicago-Kent College of Law – Center for Continuing Legal & Professional Education

This one-day seminar at Kent College of Law (565 W. Adams Street, Chicago) is designed for experienced attorneys, accountants, not-for-profit executives and staff, and board members with a comprehensive program of mid-to-advanced level of discussion on the most current developments in taxation, legislation and regulation of nonprofits. More information, including registration, is available in this brochure (.pdf file).

June 9-10 - Options for Nonprofits Facing Financial Pressure

Community Economic Development Law Project

This conference offers attendees presentations and discussions around a number of topics of interest to organizations in fiscal distress, ranging from strategies to consider and careful planning to organizational restructuring and last resorts such as winding down operations. Hosted by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 155 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. This is a FREE conference, but advance registration is required; email to register. Please pass along this information to anyone who may be interested, and call 312.939.3638 with questions.

June 9-10 - Making Media Connections - Storytelling and Strategy in the Digital Age

Community Media Workshop

ESC is proud to be a Community Partner of this year’s MMC conference, one of the area’s most insightful and informative learning and networking opportunities for nonprofit communicators, leaders and members of the media. Many excellent speakers and sessions will provide great ideas, tips and models for getting your message out and heard. Register through the website for this great conference which will be held at Columbia College Chicago - Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor, Chicago. There is a 20% off discount for friends of ESC; enter the discount code "ESC2010" when registering.

Donors Forum Ongoing Opportunities - Upcoming DF Workshops & Learning Sessions

ESC is always pleased to recommend Donors Forum workshops and other learning sessions. Among the programs running in June are sessions in proposal writing, building relationships with funders and donors, and more.

Blue Avocado - Self-described as, "practical, provocative and fun food-for-thought for nonprofits," this site is a lively, enjoyable and highly informative source of ideas, news, connections and enjoyment that we believe is a must-read for any nonprofit leader.

Peter Brinkerhoff Website - ESC greatly appreciates the ideas, perspectives and advice that this guru of nonprofit leadership provides through this very informative website - we recommend signing up for the newsletter too!

The Nonprofit Times - Available online as well as in-print twice a month, The Nonprofit Times is a great source of news and learning, covering issues and opportunities across the country.

YNPN & The Leadership Institute

In partnership with the 4,000+ member Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) of Chicago, ESC is pleased to be announce the second year of our collaborative program for developing the nonprofit leaders of tomorrow: The Leadership Institute. In this unique, multi-dimensional program, 16 younger nonprofit professionals, selected through a competitive application process, explore topics, questions and their own growth needs as they work toward their future roles as leaders in the sector. A new cycle of participants in the first phase, "So You Want to be an Executive Director?" began the eight-month program this May, following the first year’s group, which commences the second phase "Charting Your Course" in June. Coupling ESC’s leadership-roundtable/peer-learning program with veteran executive guest speakers and individual ESC coaches for the participants, the program has been a tremendous success. For more information on YNPN, please visit their website.

About ESC

Executive Service Corps of Chicago (ESC) is the greater Chicago area’s leading nonprofit provider of capacity-building consulting services for nonprofits and public agencies. Working with 150+ organizations every year, ESC serves clients of all kinds and sizes, equipping them with knowledge, strategies and guidance critical for their sustainability and growth. ESC services are provided by our 270+ consultants, all of whom bring decades of expertise, insights and experience gained from their long-time executive-level careers in business, education and the civic/philanthropic sectors.

ESC's Programs & Services are tailored to each client’s specific needs, organizational culture and unique identity, grounded in the following core competencies:

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