North Sky Non Profit Network

The Grand Vision

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Professional Development Programs

Capacity Building Support Available for Northern Michigan Nonprofits

Recover Michigan is a statewide nonprofit capacity building program that provides eligible nonprofits with free training, technical assistance, and small grants to address internal capacity gaps. A mandatory registration and orientation session is required of all organizations interested in participating in the program. Orientations will be held in eight regional locations in September. Incorporated community and faith based Michigan nonprofit organizations with a budget less than $500,000, and specializing in assisting low-income individuals in the following areas are welcome to apply:

  • Secure and retain employment
  • Earn higher wages
  • Obtain better quality jobs
  • Gain greater access to state and federal benefits, and tax credits

Please visit the Program Overview for more information. http://www.mnaonline.org/CMDocs/MNA/Recover Michigan/RecoverProgramOverview.pdf

Examples of eligible programs include:

  • Mentoring programs for all ages (such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls clubs, After School Programming, etc)
  • Childcare facilities
  • Organization providing assistance in resume building, skill building, etc
  • Organizations offering transportation assistance
  • Prisoner reentry programs
  • Organization offering navigation assistance for Federal and State programs (MI Child Applications, WIC, Unemployment, Food Assistance, School Lunch Programs, Medicaid, Heating Support, Temporary Housing etc)
  • Tax Relief Organizations
  • Financial Education Programs
  • Literacy Programs
  • Assistance Referral Services
  • Job Training Sites

Northern Michigan Fundraising Professionals Group Established

We have some exciting news for fundraising professionals. A leadership affinity group is being formed targeting individuals whose position description is focused on fundraising activities.

Join other local fundraisers who are responsible for generating philanthropic revenue on behalf of their nonprofit. Meet others who spend their days writing grants, developing capital campaigns, meeting with donors, designing mail solicitations, etc. Share successes and challenges with like-minded fundraising peers in a collaborative, professional setting.

Meetings will be held the second Wednesday of the month from 8 - 9:30 a.m., beginning with September 8, at Goodwill Industries, 2279 S. Airport Road W. A light breakfast will be provided. At the first meeting, we will:

  • Make introductions amongst fundraising professionals
  • Talk about the climate of fundraising in the Grand Traverse region - what are the trends/new challenges?
  • Discuss our role in the Grand Vision as fundraising professionals of the nonprofit sector
  • Discuss regional fundraising collaboration and future opportunities
  • Polish a group purpose statement.

Please RSVP by September 1 by calling/emailing Leah Bagdon McCallum, Goodwill's Director of Fund Development, at 231.995.7719 / leahm@goodwillnmi.org.

Register for the Michigan Cultural Data Project

October 20, 2010
10:00 a.m.
Northwestern Michigan College
University Center

Fee: FREE, Co-sponsored by NorthSky

The Michigan Cultural Data Project (CDP) is a powerful online management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations. Arts and cultural organizations enter financial, programmatic and operational data into a standardized online form and can then use the CDP to produce a variety of reports designed to help increase management capacity, identify strengths and challenges and inform decision-making.

This unique system will provide your organization with the tools necessary to analyze and benchmark your financial and organizational data. By participating in the Michigan CDP, you will be part of a successful and growing project that will allow the arts community as a whole to better articulate and provide evidence for the sector’s assets and needs, as well as its contributions to the state and the country. The system will enable you to run reports on your organization, which you can use as one part of the grant application process to partnering funders and to make your case to board members, potential donors, advocates and policy makers. Learn more about the Michigan CDP at www.miculturaldata.org.

[REGISTER] http://traversecity1.eventbrite.com/

Looking for New Board Members?

The United Way Volunteer Center and NorthSky have joined forces to help nonprofit agencies recruit and support board members. We will minimize research time to identify and recruit qualified candidates with specific skills. Improve access to committed, enthusiastic volunteers with a diverse range of backgrounds and interests and secure board candidates who are trained and background checked. For more information or to register your organization, visit http://www.unitedwaynwmi.org/BoardRecruitment.html

Professional Development Programs Download The Workshop Schedule>>

NorthSky's Fall of 2010 Workshop Schedule

  September  

[ Click here to see the entire list of workshops ]

This Week at NorthSky RSS| Community Calendars| Events Listings >>
  Blog 8/12/10  
Presentation

Look Out the Window
The view can be not only inspirational but an education. We all forget to do it. It's easy to become absorbed by the internal workings of our organizations. We respond to our clients, staff, donors and other constituents and increasingly view the world through a narrower lens. Overtime, we may base decisions, conclusions, and recommendations on an internal perspective without drawing information from a broader environment... [Read more of this blog posting]

The Mission Driven Path
LTU May 2009 presentation

Click to see a QuickTime movie version of a presentation by Debbie McKeon, NorthSky Executive Director. Or download the original Apple Keynote presentation (63 MB). You can also download a Microsoft PowerPoint version (59 MB).

Our Newest Resources

Latest additions to the NorthSky Resource Center:


Mission in Action
United Way Day of Caring 2008

Track Opportunities Available Thru Economic Stimulus Dollars

If you are interested in securing economic stimulus dollars for your nonprofit, it's important to check these resources daily for updates:

michigan.gov/recovery - State of Michigan's portal for ARRA information. Click on “Grant Opportunities” for a summary and contact information for all ARRA grant opportunities (formula and competitive).

grants.gov/applicants/recovery.jsp The grants.gov page dedicated to Federal Recovery Act competitive grant opportunities. There are links to all the Federal departments' newly created recovery web pages as well as a link to a listing of all of the open Recovery

Seeking legal assistance for your nonprofit organization? Community Legal Services offers free legal services to qualifying nonprofits.

TREATickets ArtsPulse Northwest Michigan's Portal to Arts and Entertainment


NorthSky Nonprofit Network
202 East Grandview Parkway, Suite 203
Traverse City, MI 49684
231-929-3934
FAX: 231-941-4066
Email NorthSky Nonprofit Network