COVID-19
COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits
We are rounding up practical information, tools, and resources (from our library and elsewhere) to help you navigate these uncharted waters.
• From the Center for Nonprofit Stewardship
Parking Lot Facilitation Tool
This tool allows open issues or ideas not on the agenda to be “parked” for discussion at a later time, keeping the meeting on track.
Building a Board Notebook
A thorough and complete board notebook (also called a board manual or a board binder) will help keep your directors organized.
Board Meeting Assessment
Assess your meetings and implement a plan to make them more effective.
Internal Controls Exercise
This exercise will identify who currently handles different accounting tasks and indicate if there is adequate segregation of duties.
Emergency Succession Planning
This exercise will raise your board’s awareness of the need to prepare for a sudden departure or unavailability of a key leader.
Micro-Plans: Messaging for the Here and Now
These tightly focused campaigns are intended to deliver a specific intention or motive; a perfect option for the here and now.
Board Member Job Descriptions
It’s always a good time to get the basics in order. The exercise (and a shareable PDF) is on our blog.
Action Plan Template
Use this template to categorize each step in an action plan.
Working Across Generations
To successfully integrate diverse generations into your board of directors, organizations will need to embrace changes in recruitment and orientation strategies, how expectations are communicated, and more.
Worksheet on Developing a Data Backup Policy
Use this worksheet to start developing a data backup policy for your organization.
Conflict of Interest Policy Template
Board members have a duty of loyalty to the nonprofit they serve. Use this template to adopt a conflict of interest policy for your board of directors.
Webinar: What All-Volunteer Boards Need to Do in Response to COVID-19
In this recording from April 29, Jess Hampton (CNS) and Jim White (NAO) explore the fundamental duties, and roles and responsibilities of board members of all-volunteer nonprofits regarding governance and programming.
From Around the Web | Other Resources
• Organization Development & Board Governance
Every Board’s Must-Have Documents
Some of the documentation is legally required while some is simply helpful to have. BoardSource outlines the various documents to which your board needs to pay attention.
Serving on Nonprofit Board When You Can’t Meet in Person
The Oregon Department of Justice Charitable Activities Section outlines several ways your board can ensure its directors are doing their jobs without holding in-person meetings.
Annual Board Tune-Up Checklist
National Council of Nonprofits provides twelve ideas to add each year to the agenda of your nonprofit’s board of directors’ meetings.
Partnership in a Time of Pandemic: The CEO and the Board
BoardSource provides great tips for the board and chief executive to participate together in decision-making and adaptive planning.
A Guide to Nonprofit Board Service in Oregon
Also called “The Red Book”, a basic guide to your roles, rights, and responsibilities as a director.
Decision Framework for Nonprofit Leaders and Boards
This toolkit from SeaChange Capital Partners provides a summary of key decision points, options for nonprofits and boards to consider for both the short and long-term, and insight into the legal and financial implications of certain decisions.
Leading an Organization Through the COVID-19 Crisis
15 things to keep in mind as you adjust to the many new realities that COVID-19 has created.
6 Essential Ingredients for Effective Governance
This formula from BoardSource is neither complex nor profound, but few organizations apply it consistently or thoroughly.
Oregon Department of Justice, Charitable Activities Section
Statutes and Rules Governing Oregon Nonprofits, put together by the DOJ.
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
NAO’s mission is to serve public benefit nonprofits by strengthening the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the lives of all Oregonians.
Who Should Serve on Which Committee?
All board members should serve on a board committee, but determining where to place them is often more art than science.
Nonprofit Board Member Codes of Conduct and Ethics
This resource provides practical tips for conduct as well as sample codes of ethics.
• Fundraising and Philanthropy
First Fundraising Strategies for Startup Organizations (Video)
GrantSpace offers steps that organizations can take to bring in their first dollars and begin to fundraise for their future.
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
GOSW has a running list of local foundation efforts.
Coronavirus and Your Event: Tips and Resources
Tips for moving your event online and for postponing events.
5 Tips for Telling a Better Story in Email
The Storytelling Nonprofit provides tips for writing a great fundraising email, plus sample text from a successful campaign.
How to Create a Content Bank for Your Nonprofit
Useful steps from The Storytelling Non-Profit for getting the most out of your communications content, including setting up and managing your content bank.
What Are Foundations Looking For? (Podcast)
Join GrantSpace for a panel discussion with grantmakers and learn first-hand what foundations and corporations are looking for from grantseekers.
10 Tips for Writing a Better Donor Thank You Letter
The Storytelling Non-Profit offers these tips for copy that is colloquial, informal, and simple.
Put Your Donor Data to Work: Five Frameworks to Develop Your Top KPIs (Video)
Learn how to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help you make strategic decisions about where to devote time, what is resonating about your mission, and where there are gaps for reaching your fundraising goals.
Is Your Fundraising in Compliance?
Forty-five states have laws regulating charitable solicitation. These laws exist to protect the citizens of each state from unregistered, misleading, and downright illegal activity.
Sample Grant Applications & Documents
GrantSpace provides a library of sample grant applications and documents such as letters of inquiry, proposals, and budgets.
Tip Sheet on Saying “Thank You” to Donors
This collection of tips from the National Council of Nonprofits guides nonprofits on what to keep in mind when thanking donors for their contributions.
• Financial Management
Financial Self-Assessment Worksheet: Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Organizations that can clearly and accurately articulate their financial story and resource needs are better positioned to make a strong case for support.
Guide for Nonprofit Capital Projects During COVID-19
Hester Street, a New York nonprofit organization, has released this resource for nonprofits undertaking acquisition or construction projects.
From Sustainability to Survivability
Steve Zimmerman of Spectrum Nonprofit Services (Wisconsin) shares financial leadership insights, tips, and tools.
Cash Flow Projection Template
A tool from Nonprofit Finance Fund that provides detail on the timing of cash coming in and going out of the organization.
Proactive, Not Perfect Scenario Budget Planning
A guide from Nonprofit Quarterly on proactively preparing for the possible paths ahead.
Models and Components of a Great Nonprofit Dashboard
Dashboards focus the conversation at the board and staff levels, clarifying the goals and strategy of the organization for both groups. From Nonprofit Quarterly.
State Law Nonprofit Audit Requirements
You may wonder if your state’s laws require a charitable nonprofit to conduct an independent audit.
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Center for Nonprofit Stewardship of any of the products, services, or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. CNS bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links.