The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, offers a two-credit course titled "Grantwriting and Fundraising: Ideas to Realities".  The course is taught by Sparrowhawk President and Founder, Don Chalmers.  After an orientation to philanthropy and current trends, students learn how to increase an organization's competiveness for grants and other donations.  This class is part of the evening and weekend program, and more information can be found at:  www.evergreen.edu/eveningandweekend/2008-09.

Nonprofit organizations are just as likely to face change and the periods of transition that take place in the corporate world and in government agencies. Layoffs are sometimes necessary to keep organizations afloat. Interns graduate and temporary employees move on. New people are hired with new perspectives. Sometimes it is not just the faces that change around us, but also the good work that we do. Perhaps a long-standing program has to be cut because its grant funding has run out. The ways that we deal with organizational change are many, some help ease us through transition, while others keep us mired in it, frustrated and confused.

If your organization is facing change, here are three important reminders: involve as many people as reasonably possible in decision-making; be communicative about what is happening and what is about to happen for the organization; and recognize that everyone is going through transition, which can be hard. In periods of transition, strategic planning can be very helpful to refocus everyone’s energies and attention to the important work of the organization. At SparrowHawk, we have helped guide the process of change from small grassroots organizations on up to multi-million dollar agencies, and we can help you too.

It can be challenging to provide enough necessary funds for sophisticated software in a tight organizational budget focused on program services. Many nonprofit organizations and public libraries qualify for free and reduced price software at TechSoup, an informative site for a wide range of technology topics. For instance, how would you like donated or discounted access to NOZA, an online search service allowing you to review over 30 million donation records to find potential donors for your cause?

Check out TechSoup, then contact us for assistance in making the most of your technology. We can help you build and maintain donor databases, or offer assistance crafting an individual donor program that is active and productive, sustaining the important work of your organization.