Want more information about the Pepsi Refresh Grants?

Posted on June 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

Success! I just confirmed that a rep from Pepsi Mankato will attend the at the Friday, June 18 Mankato nonprofit networking lunch to share her insight and knowledge about both the national Pepsi Refresh grants and as well as the local Pepsi grants. As always, the lunch will be from Noon-1:00 at the Blue Earth County Historical Society in Mankato! Save the date and plan to attend and watch for details…

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Grant Opportunities, Mankato Networking Meetings

Fairmont networking lunch – June recap

Posted on June 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Seven nonprofit leaders from the Fairmont area attended today’s nonprofit networking lunch to discuss nonprofit burnout. Our conversation included general frustrations and burnout that come with being a one or two-person shop and the day-to-day challenges with so many things to do, places to go, people to meet with, board members to work with and budgets being cut.  One topic that came up was the pressure that external factors place on ourselves and our organizations (ie: the printer not working just when a grant application is due, the recession, etc). The decreased amounts in giving and/or changes in some Foundations also led us to talking a bit about the Pepsi Refresh grants, which have certainly generated a lot of buzz. The group was pretty interested in the grants and on the drive back, I decided to try to find someone to share more about the Refresh grants at a future networking lunch… stay tuned!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Fairmont Networking Lunches

2010 Legislative Session Update

Posted on May 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

With the 2010 Legislative Session all wrapped up, it’s time to summarize what happened and what it means for nonprofits. If you follow policy as it relates to nonprofits, please join three of MCN’s public policy staff in Mankato this Thursday, May 20 from 1-3 pm for an update on the 2010 Session, federal policy as well a peek at how nonprofits can be involved in the fall elections. The meeting will be at the Blue Earth County Historical Society, 415 E. Cherry Street in Mankato. If you can attend, please RSVP to amy (at) mncn.org. The meeting is free and open to all. Bring your questions and insights! Oh, and big shout-out to all those involved in policy: long hours, late nights and the same four walls is no fun (especially on a beautiful May weekend…).

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Public Policy

Marshall networking recap: May 13

Posted on May 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

Can you see it? Can you see the bit of blue sky? It’s been a long, gray week  in Southern Minnesota and the peeks of sun were a welcome sight. This was taken at the YMCA of Marshall, right after the nonprofit networking lunch where a group of about 16 people discussed Facebook for nonprofits. We’ve done that topic in three communities in Southern Minnesota now, each one with great response. General feedback from nonprofits is that, yes, they know, they need to have a presence on Facebook and appreciate the opportunity to talk with others about how they are doing it, how much time it takes and how to roll it into an overall marketing and communications plan (instead of having no idea what the intern is doing with the page). I expect the topic will continue to be one of interest, mostly because Facebook keeps changing, but it also a feels a bit like websites, email and cell phones did at first… If you’re interested in the topic a bit more, scroll down — there are lots of entries with some helpful Facebook links.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Marshall Networking Meetings

Rochester – we hear you!

Posted on May 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

A big shout-out to the staff of the Good News Children’s Center in Rochester for delivering fresh-out-of-the-oven-rolls for a meeting of a group of nonprofits today! Yummm… Nothing warms a cool, damp day like cinnamon rolls, coffee and great energy! (Note: the bar for meeting food has definitely been raised).  Anyway, MCN attended the meeting to give nonprofit leaders in Rochester a bit more insight into why there isn’t currently a lot of MCN programming in SE Minnesota and answer questions about if, when and what a regional MCN presence would look like. Although getting something more official off the ground is still in the works and is a year or two out, MCN does have a goal of increased efforts in the SE part of the state. If you are with a nonprofit in that part of the state and want to stay in the loop as things develop, send an email to amy (at) mncn.org and I’ll add you to our growing list.  Stay tuned…

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Social media mania!

Posted on May 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

Because I know many of you have been thinking more and more about Facebook and social media for your nonprofit, I wanted to pass on some resources that were in Lori Jacobwith’s most recent email. (Lori’s name may be familiar because she is a frequent presenter and did the Sustainable Fundraising Strategies workshop in North Mankato in April).  The first is a link to a sample social media policy (note, this isn’t a direct link, but you’ll see the link which is to a Word doc) and the second is a link to a free document titled “The 8 Online Fundraising Changes You Must Make in 2010″ which was written by the keynote speaker of MCN’s technology and communications conference which was held this past March. Good stuff — especially if you’re trying to figure out how social media fits in with your marketing plan (and if you’re thinking “what marketing plan?” stay tuned — I hope to have this as a topic of a future nonprofit networking lunch).

→ Leave a comment

Posted in General Fundraising Resources, Social Media Mania

A busy few weeks…

Posted on May 10, 2010 | Leave a comment

If you haven’t received the monthly e-newsletter that I send out summarizing upcoming nonprofit events in the area, please scroll through previous entries on this blog– there are LOTS of upcoming events, many of which are free or very low cost. And, if you’d like to receive the e-newsletter let me know — send an email to amy at mncn.org.

This week, I’ll be heading to Rochester for a meeting with nonprofits who would like to explore the idea of having a greater MCN presence in SE Minnesota, and then, I’ll be heading the other direction for a nonprofit networking lunch (topic: Facebook for nonprofits) in Marshall. Have a great week!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Marshall Networking Meetings

What orgs in your community are at risk of losing their tax-exempt status next week?

Posted on May 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Although the news has been out since 2006, next week’s deadline for many small nonprofits to file a firm 990-N or risk losing their tax-exempt status is coming as a surprise. Statewide, this impacts well over 4,000 small nonprofits, and in our region alone, the number is in the hundreds. MCN is working to get the word out, and is contacting MCN member organizations that are at risk. To find out more, visit MCN’s homepage. Even if  your organization isn’t impacted, be sure to take a few minutes to download the list of small nonprofits yet to file. If you sort by city, you may be surprised at the groups that are in your own community that have yet to file. Please help spread the word.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

“Fiscal Hardship: Making the Big Change”, May 13

Posted on May 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

The deadline to register for yet another great free event in Southern Minnesota is this Friday.  “Addressing Fiscal Hardship: Making the Big Change”  with keynote speaker Tom Gillaspy, state demographer and trend expert. The event will be Thursday,  May 13, 3:00-8:00 p.m. , Best Western Hotel, North Mankato. No charge, meal provided and participants receive a free implementation toolkit. RSVP to Cheryl at cheryl@rndc.org or call 507-389-8885 by this Friday, May 7.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Free Stuff

Federal grants forum recap

Posted on May 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

I knew getting grants was competitive, but I have to admit, I almost spit out my coffee when I heard that 320 — three hundred and twenty — people were registered for last Friday’s federal grants forum, sponsored by the Office of Congressman Tim Walz (MN-First District), in Mankato.

Their office called and invited me to be part of panel about “tricks and tips for grant writing”. Of course, if it were only as simple as a few “tricks and tips”…

Anyway, it was a wonderful event, filled with detailed information about seekingfor grants from various federal agencies. Congressman Walz spoke at the lunch, where he provided an update on current federal issues, and encouraged those in the room to work together and partner to make Southern Minnesota even stronger.

I’d like to report that there was some earth-shattering news regarding the “tips and tricks” panel, but it was the stuff that we hear all the time: follow the grant guidelines,  meet the deadlines, partner with other organizations and stay true to mission (don’t just chase the money).

I did overhear someone from the Congressman’s office saying they’d like to do something similar again in the future, but nothing has been set. In the meantime, there is another government grants session coming up in Mankato on May 20, this one sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Federal Policy