Business & Non-Profit

Supporting your staff with professional development helps build a better organization and better members of your team.

• Association of Fundraising Professionals 
• 52 Free Development Opportunities for Nonprofit Staff 

• Free Management Library 

Technical & Social Media Assistance Resources:

• Nonprofit Tech For Good - Nonprofit Tech For Good is a blog created and managed by Heather Mansfield, author of Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits.
• Google for Nonprofits - Nonprofits must apply for services. Google offers free or discounted version of Google Apps; free Adwords advertising; premium branding and increased uploads on YouTube; free licensing for Google Earth, SketchUp, and Maps API for qualified nonprofits.
• TechSoup.org - a technology product philanthropy program that truly serves nonprofits, libraries, and foundations across the country, and around the world.

Foundations

• Council on Foundations - Links member foundations & corporations' web sites. Grantseekers should use the Foundation Center's web site.
• Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) - This organization of grantmakers believes that smarter grantmaking results in stronger nonprofits and promotes strategies and practices that contribute to grantee success.
• National Center for Family Philanthropy - Focuses on issues important to families engaged in philanthropy.

As the governing body of a nonprofit, the board of directors or board of trustees fulfills a variety of roles and responsibilities. Among its many duties, the board:

• Oversees the financial operations of the organization
• Maintains the legal and ethical standing of the organization and its staff
• Provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization
• Serves as guardian of the public trust
• Ensures that an organization remains accountable to its donors and to the general publi

In order to carry out these duties effectively, the board will often need to expand as an organization grows and matures. While recruitment is one important step in this process, a broad, systematic approach to board development, including orientation, training, evaluation, and the cultivation of prospective board members, is critical to ensuring the long-term success of any board.

To learn more about developing nonprofit boards, the Foundation Center offers the following:

• WEBINAR- Your Board and Fundraising: An Introductory Class for Small Non-Profits - This webinar gives tips on how to get your board actively involved with fundraising.
• WEBINAR - Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits - This webinar is designed for new non-profits or community groups with little experience in grantseeking. The class focuses on foundation fundraising.
• Where can I find information on a board’s legal duties? 
• What is the board's role in fundraising? 

• How can I find board members for my nonprofit? 

One of the most common questions we hear is "How do I start my own nonprofit?" By following the steps here, we hope that many of your questions will be answered. These resources are certainly no substitute for legal advice from an attorney familiar with the law of tax-exempt organizations in North Carolina. 

While we offer the resources here for informational purposes, we highly recommend also consulting with legal counsel to ensure that you are in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations governing the establishment and operations of a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

Here is a link to more information on starting a North Carolina nonprofit, as well as a guide provided by the NC Center for Non-Profits:

• How to Start a Non-Profit in North Carolina

Mentors & Advice

Where Alamance County non-profits can receive guidance about start-ups and funding:

Small Business Center - Alamance Community College - Provides counseling for both for-profit and non-profit start-ups.  Free one-on-one counseling and advice.  There are lots of free classes on topics such as start-ups, marketing, and more.
 

North Carolina Center for Non-Profits - A private, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a statewide network for nonprofit board and staff members, an information center on effective organizational practices, and an advocate for the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Government & Association Help, Advice and Training

• USA.gov Federal Government Gateway for Nonprofits - Find information and services for nonprofits, including grants, loans, assistance, taxes, management and more.
• U.S. Internal Revenue Service  - "Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits" - links, documents, forms, and advice for nonprofits from the IRS.
• Resources for Filing 990 form - Non-profits are required to file Form 990.
• Grants.gov - Central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.