Resource Center for Nonprofits Coping with the Economy
Vanno, a member of The National Council of Nonprofits, recently launched this ever-evolving resource to help nonprofits and our allies better understand the situation and have ready access to strategies to help you navigate the economy so nonprofits can serve their communities more efficiently. Facts, analysis, and proactive measures are all tools available through this resource.
 
The Health Benefits of Volunteering
Over the past two decades we have seen a growing body of research that indicates volunteering provides individual health benefits in addition to social benefits. This research has established a strong relationship between volunteering and health: those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.
 
Lobbying Options for Nonprofits
501(c)(3) organizations are not necessarily excluded from lobbying since the IRS narrowly regulates lobbying as not including "general advocacy on public issues and public policy nor does it include grassroots campaigning on matters of public importance when no legislation is involved or at issue." In order to be permitted to expend about 20% of an organization's funds on lobbying, a 501(h) form can be completed. To lobby more than that, a separate 501(c)(4) can be established. The most important caveat is that "funds given to the 501(c)(3) for its charitable purposes may not be used by or commingled with the 501(c)(4).
 
Evaluating Capacity-building Efforts for Nonprofit Organizations
This paper explains how funders, management support organizations, evaluators, and nonprofits can evaluate efforts to enhance the management and governance of nonprofit organizations.
 
Modest Needs
Modest Needs is a public charity whose mission is to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for the low-income workers whom conventional philanthropy many times leaves out. Four types of grants are available: Self-sufficiency, Back-to-Work, Independent Living, and Nonprofit. Visit the 
nonprofit section to find information on this grant.
 

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