Published on Wednesday October 14th, 2009
By Carie Benton

First, let’s talk a little bit about the importance of developing an effective nonprofit board.

Board development seems to be one of the most frequently written about topics for nonprofits, and with good reason. Here are some of the reasons:

·        Without a strong board of directors, the executive director and staff are expected to not only have the vision for what the organization can become, but also to do all of the work.

·        An effective board can provide a foundation for the mission of the organization and a framework of expectations that make it possible for the management, staff, and volunteers to focus upon the day-to-day tasks of making that mission a reality.

·        The bottom line: Without a strong board, nonprofit organizations show limited success in meeting both client and community need.

Steps to Board Building
Building an effective board is similar to creating a winning sports team. Recruiting ...

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Published on Wednesday October 14th, 2009
By Carie Benton

The Seven Deadly Sins of Recruiting Volunteers
by Thomas W. McKee

The scene: Tuesday night at our monthly membership meeting. A frantic staff member stands before the group of about 300 members and says, "If we don't get any volunteers for this program, we will assume that you aren't interested, and we'll just cancel it."

Some over-worked members feel guilty and raise their hands. Others groan and say, "The trouble with our organization is that no one wants to get involved." Others say, under their breath, "Good, it's about time we cancel some of our activities."

Sound familiar? We've all seen it happen. Well, if you are going to mess up in your volunteer program, you might as well mess up bad. By committing one of the following seven sins, you not only chase members away, but you burn them out.

Sin One: Expect Announcements ...

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Published on Wednesday October 14th, 2009
By Carie Benton

ACF Mission

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF programs aim to achieve the following:

  • families and individuals empowered to increase their own economic independence and productivity;
  • strong, healthy, supportive communities that have a positive impact on the quality of life and the development of children;
  • partnerships with individuals, front-line service providers, communities, American Indian tribes, Native communities, states, and Congress that enable solutions which transcend traditional agency boundaries;
  • services planned, reformed, and integrated to improve needed access;
  • and a strong commitment to working with people with developmental disabilities, refugees, and migrants to address their needs, strengths, and abilities.
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