Approaching Business: Getting Corporate Support for Your Non-Profit

Pattie Johnson has written a thoughtful piece called Approaching Business: Getting Corporate Support for Your Non-Profit in the June issue of the NonProfit Times.

She outlines the various ways non-profits can partner with corporations as well as providing four key strategies on how to obtain corporate support. Her perspective is important because corporations need to be approached differently than non-profit or public entities.

New Resource! Non-Profit Times - The Leading Business Publication for NonProfit Management

Need guidance as a non-profit executive or leader in your community? Check out the NonProfit Times - the leading business publication for nonprofit management.

The NonProfit Times offers resources such as a salary survey, free enewsletters, a resource directory, among other information to help non-profit executives more effectively manage their organizations and projects.

To sign up for their free magazine and enewsletters, click here.

Request Free Technology Donations by June 30

Tech Soup Stock: Bringing Technology Donations to Non-Profits provides a comprehensive list of corporations that provide donated technology products to non-profit organizations. Some corporations offer their donated products between July 1 through June 30. So it is not too late to make a request for this fiscal year and then submit another request for products after July 1.

To find out more about this free resource, check out their Donation Program Section.

Tech Soup - The Technology Place for Non-Profits

Confused about to use technology to improve the quality of your afterschool program? Look no further than Tech Soup - the Technology Place for Non-Profits.

This comprehensive website offers tools, tips and resources to help every non-profit with an array of their technology needs including free downloads and information on where you can get donated software and computer equipment. In addition to their on-line resources, they also offer two free newsletters. One provides information on technology resources and forums and the other provides information on products that are available for non-profits. To get on their mailing list, sign up here.

The Sustainable Non-Profit: Spending Your Web Dollars Wisely

Karen Roberts, in her article, Spending Your Web Dollars Wisely, outlines five key steps to help non-profit organizations develop a quality website. She wisely points out that an unprofessional looking website may "alienate donors, volunteers, and corporate partners". There are do-it-yourself kits that can provide professional templates to help organizations develop a web presence. They can be purchased through hosting services such as Go Daddy among others. Non-profits also use volunteers to help them develop their new websites identified either through their Board or local colleges or universities.

In addition to providing a way to market your program, many websites also provide a way to raise funds for non-profit activities and programs on-line fundraising is a growing and successful method to raise money and should be considered as part of your overall sustainability strategy.

Free Newsletters from the Foundation Center

The Foundation Center offers 8 different free electronic newsletters that may help you in your sustainability efforts. Among their topics are:

1) Arts Funding Watch
2) Education Funding Watch
3) Health Funding Watch
4) Marketplace Updates
5) PND News Alerts
6) PND Job Alerts
7) PND RFP Alerts
8) PubHub Alerts

In order to register to receive then, click here.

The Foundation Center Offers a Short Course in Proposal Writing

The Foundation Center, the nationally recognized organization dedicated to philanthropy and grantseeking, has a wealth of information about the "art and science" of grantwriting. Among their many on-line resources, they offer an on-line Proposal Writing Short Course. In addition to English, they provide the course in five other languages including Spanish.

This is one place to start to get your questions answered about grantwriting. Check it out!

BELL Expands to Springfield, Massachusetts

On Monday, BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) has announced it will expand their services to Springfield, Massachusetts. Currently, BELL serves more than 11,000 students in Boston, Baltimore, New York, and Detroit. They have decided to expand to Springfield, Massachusetts based on the need. They start their Summer Program on June 30 and will serve 800 students in grades 2,3,4, and 5 as well as 8th grade students.

For more information, read their press release.

New Resource! Great Science for Girls

Great Science for Girls: Extension Services for Gender Equity in Science through After School Programs (GSG) works with Intermediaries to build the capacity of after-school centers to deliver evidence-based programming that will broaden and sustain girls' interest and persistence in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Check out their website for more information about evidence-based programs and websites for girls only science-based programming.

New Resource! The Preteen Alliance

While based in California, the Preteen Alliance may offer some intriguing insights into the lives and minds of preteens. For those of you who primarily serve this population through your afterschool or summer program, you may want to look at their website where they have research and other resources of interest.

In particular, you might want to check out one of their new publications called Putting It All Together: Guiding Principles for Quality Afterschool Programs Serving Preteens .

Afterschool Alliance Promotes Three Key Resources

Free Promotional Game Exclusive to First 350 Respondents - Apply Before July 3
For a limited time, Sports Camp Federation is offering a free trial package of the new family game coming out this fall called Guess What I Am. It is a modern twist on the classic guessing game, targeted to children age five through 12. The game includes 30 different character picture frames with four different playing games. Each free trial package will include the Guess What I Am retail game for the program, a program/game guidelines letter, and 50 picture frame magnets for children to take home. There will also be five Rubik's cubes included for older children to use during program time. Programs with children age five to seven and eight to 12 should apply before July 3. To apply for the promotion, contact Katie Logan at klogan@scfsports.com or 847/418-2015.

Program to Combat Child Obesity
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, whose mission is to stop the increase of childhood obesity by 2010, recently introduced The Healthy Schools Program (HSP). The program's goal is to improve nutrition, physical activity, and staff wellness in America's schools. The program offers tools and resources to help schools improve access to healthier foods, increase opportunities for physical activity, and establish staff wellness programs. The HSP would like to see this initiative taken beyond regular school hours and into afterschool programs' meal plans. For more information on The Healthy Schools Program, call 1-888-KID-HLTH.

Literacy Program to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
Reader's Theater is offering a free resource to afterschool providers to help boost literacy skills through "edu-tainment" in the form of play-acting. The "Take Center Stage" playbooks provide an interactive environment for youth to read and learn. "Mini, the Super Watermelon," is available free for download and includes game instructions, playing cards, and playing tips. To access the materials, visit their website.

Text courtesy of the Afterschool Alliance.

Afterschool Part of National Task Force on Education Policy Reform

In the latest issue of the Afterschool Alliance's newsletter, it featured some exciting information about a national task force that is calling for "A Broad, BOLDER Approach to Education Policy". The task force is convened by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and afterschool is one of the "pillars of education" they believe is central to improving the educational lives of low-income children.

Boston's former School Superintendent, Tom Payzant is one of the Co-Chairs of this effort.

To learn more, check out their website by clicking here.

Governor Patrick Releases Project Readiness Report

After nearly a year of work, Governor Patrick's Project Readiness Task Force released its report today to the first joint meeting of all the state's education boards. The report called Ready for 21st Century Success: The New Promise for Public Education calls for a number of recommendations in four key goal areas.

Over 200 people participated in the Governor's Project Readiness Task Force in different sub-committees including a one that looked closely at the issue of extended learning opportunities. In this group, several members of the state's afterschool community participated.

To review the 44-page report that contains recommendations and information about the Project Readiness Task Force and its members, click here.

For more information from the Governor's Office that talks about his Education Action Agenda, click here.

Gloucester in the News - Teenage Pregnancy Pact Made?

Gloucester, Massachusetts made huge headlines in the last few days when news spread that a group of teenage girls made a "pact" to become pregnant and raise their children together. According to Time in partnership with CNN, some of the girls had requested pregnancy tests as early as in 6th grade and had little supervision or support at home.

This news raises a lot of questions for the work we do in afterschool. While no program can be a substitute for a parent, it is a sobering reminder of what can happen when young people do not have the relationships they need with caring adults to understand the ramifications of their actions. For me, this situation dramatically underscores the importance of your good work.

To learn more about this story, click here.

Curious about Afterschool Workforce Development Issues?

Maintaining a quality workforce in the afterschool field is a challenging task. Not only is this an issue in Massachusetts, but other states across the country are wrestling with this concern as well.

In an effort to help keep track of what is happening across the nation, NIOST has created a clearinghouse on workforce development initiatives. Searchable both by state and by category, this on-line database may be of interest to all of us who are trying to continually keep abreast of new efforts to maintain and improve the ASOST workforce.

Registration for NIOST Summer Seminars Closes July 1st!

Just a reminder that registration for NIOST's Summer Seminars closes in 9 days! Occurring on July 14-17 at the John Hancock Conference Center in Boston, take advantage of these excellent opportunities to deepen your expertise in four key areas:

A. Advancing School, Afterschool and Community Partnerships
B. Quality Advisor Training
C. Seminar for System Builders
D. Afterschool Program Assessment System (APAS)

For more information on how to register, click here.

New Links and Resources Added to the Blog!

The World Wide Web continues to be a treasure trove of information for all of us who are passionate about our work in the afterschool field. In addition to the wide array of organizations devoted to the issue of afterschool, there are a number of other associations and networks that are promoting afterschool to their members that I found interesting and helpful. There are other entities and blogs that represent the latest trends and information about the best ways to serve youth and to secure funding for the work we do. As a result, I have posted new links and resources to the blog that may be of interest to you.

In the Sustainability Resources section, check out:

1) Center on NonProfits and Philanthropy - Urban Institute - useful briefs and information on both topics
2) Child Trends DataBank - statistics on afterschool participation nationally
3) Communities in Schools - a toolkit on afterschool programs
4) National Center on Charitable Statistics - a helpful grant writing resource
5) The Federal Register - the Bible of all federal funding sources
6) The Grantmanship Center - the title says it all

In the Promising Practices section, check out:

1) Afterschool Community and Learning Network - features the work of Dr. Terry Peterson
2) American Association of School Administrators - showcases their own toolkit on afterschool
3) Americans for the Arts - Youth Arts - comprehensive section on how to develop youth arts programs
4) ERIC Digests - a searchable database of scholarly articles on a range of education topics
5) Fight Crime: Invest in Kids - afterschool materials developed from a criminal justice point of view
6) International Bullying Prevention Association - resources on best ways to prevent bullying
7) National Endowment for the Arts - a wealth of information on arts and arts education opportunities
8) National School Boards Association - features strategies on how to engage school boards about afterschool
9) National Service Resources - tips and resources for volunteers and community service
10) National Youth Development Information Center - provides information for youth development workers
11) Institute for Youth Development - offers a range of resources emphasizing the importance of youth development
12) Tool Find - a searchable directory of youth measurement outcome tools organized by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

Last but not least, I have posted links to some other blogs that you might find helpful as well. They are:

1) 79 Grant Writing Resources You Can't Live Without - grant writing tools and tips
2) ARTS Blog - a blog maintained by Americans for the Arts
3) Donor Power Blog - thoughtful insights about charitable giving
4) Prevention Works - a blog maintained by the National Crime Prevention Council
5) Simply Grant Writing - grant writing tools and tips
6) Technology in the Arts - title says it all
7) The Artful Manager - addresses issues of arts management
8) The Grantwriting Coach - grant writing tips

Happy Solstice and summer reading!

Media Technology Class Project II

Media Technology Class Project I

Fresh Idea! Working with Utility Companies to Increase Outreach about Summer Food Programs

The Food Research Action Center (FRAC), on their blog last month, announced strategies to increase outreach for summer feeding programs by working with local utility companies. While many of you may work with other state entities or provide food for young people in your summer programs yourselves, you may want to reach out to your local utility company as soon as possible. They can send information about available food resources in their monthly bills to customers and also could include an article in their newsletter.

With increased prices of household goods, food, utilities and gasoline, many families that you work with during the year may not be able to adequately provide enough food for their households. I know that not all of you provide summer programs, but for those who do, you may want to consider this strategy.

To learn more about summer food outreach strategies, click here.

New Features Added to the Blog!

I wanted to point out that two new features have been added to the blog to help keep you current with all the happenings in the afterschool world. They are:

1) Links to other Blogs - There are a few blogs that are dedicated to afterschool issues or have implications for the work you all do for children and youth after school. Blogspot has made it possible for us to feature those blogs as another source of information for you. At the moment, there are only three listed but if you know of others, including your own, drop me a line at dmclaughlin@kunnusta.com.

2) New Media and Technology Section - As a result of a recent successful training on media and technology, we will be featuring links and other resources related to this important topic on the blog. Look for further updates and resources as this section is more fully developed.

Let us know what we are missing as we strive to provide content in this blog that will help you do your jobs.

Complementary Learning: A New Look at an Old Idea?

Providing additional learning opportunities for children and youth has taken on different terms of late. Whether it is called "extended, expanded or extra learning opportunities", or "complementary learning", the intention is clear - children and youth learn in different ways and in different environments all throughout the day.

What is promising is that researchers, policymakers and funders are grappling with what these means in today's society and are beginning to collect research and write about how best to foster different types of learning experiences.

To learn more about the exciting efforts that are occurring all across the country, check out the section on the The Harvard Family Research Project's Complementary Learning web site.

Free Management Library for Non-Profits

Managing non-profits and other community-based or volunteer efforts can be rewarding but complex experiences. Covering 650 topics with over 5,000 links, the Free Management Library has been created to help civic-minded folks figure out what works in key areas such as: fundraising, leadership and business planning among other key topics. Free on-line peer groups and free trainings are also available. These resources and tools may be of help as you continue to work with your Local Councils and continue your sustainability planning efforts.

Free Tips, Tools and Guides for Grantwriters by Grantwriters

We have all been there - wandering in the grantseeking desert chasing the ever elusive dollar. It seems that a grantwriter who has been there, has created an oasis where fellow grantwriters can access a series of free web-based non-profit guides . These guides examples of clearly written proposal cover letters, budget sheets, and proposals written to public and private funders to help them through this seemingly complex process. To learn more about these free non-profit guides, click here.

One Stop Shopping for Federal Funding Sources! A New Searchable Database from The Finance Project

Confused about finding federal funding for your afterschool program? Look no further than The Finance Project. They have created a new, on-line searchable database of federal funding sources that should help take the mystery out of what is available and how you can access it.

This project is part of a Clearinghouse on Expanding and Sustaining Youth Programs and Policies developed in collaboration with the Forum on Youth Investment.

Building the Future of Family Involvement: Harvard Family Research Project's View

Many of you have talked about the challenges of getting parents and other caregivers involved in your afterschool efforts. Fortunately for us, the Harvard Family Research Project has been thinking about this too. Their recent Spring 2008 newsletter focuses on this issue and provides all of us with the latest research and strategies concerning this important topic. To read more, click on the highlighted link:Issue Topic: Building the Future of Family Involvement

You can also subscribe to their free newsletter which regularly provides providers and policymakers with cutting edge information on what works for children and youth in their afterschool hours.

The Finance Project Issues Tool for Funders: Investing in the Sustainability of Youth Programs

The Finance Project, known for developing and issuing tools to help sustain quality afterschool and youth programs, has issued another tool. Called Investing in the Sustainability of Youth Programs: An Assessment Tool for Funders, this publication will assist the philanthropic community in determining how they can more effectively marshal their resources to help children and youth in the communities in which they fund.

This is another resource that may help you, as 21st CCLC Program Coordinators, reach out to funders in your communities to better support your afterschool programs.

Public Private Ventures Publishes Report on Serving PreTeens in Quality Afterschool Programs

In April 2008, Public Private Ventures issued a report commissioned by the Packard Foundation on the best ways to promote quality while serving preteens in afterschool programs. The report, Putting It All Together: Guiding Principles for Quality After School Programs Serving PreTeens provides a succinct look at five essential elements that will help preteen make the important transition from their elementary school through their middle school years.

Grounded in youth development research, the six elements as quoted from the report are having a:

1) Focused and intentional strategy - programs have a clear set of goals, target specific skills and deliberately plan all aspects of the program with a youth development framework in mind.

2) Exposure, duration and breadth - programs are designed to: a) provide preteens with a sufficient number of hours per week over anextended period of time to achieve program outcome goals; and b) allow preteens to attend a variety of activities.

3) Supportive relationships - programs emphasize positive adult - youth relationships regardless of the curriculum.

4) Family engagement - programs strive to include families through various strategies, such as clear communication and a
welcoming environment.

5) Cultural competence - programs have diverse staff whose backgrounds are reflective of participants and who create practices and policies that: a) make services available to (and inclusive of) a variety of populations; and b) help participants
understand and value a broad range of cultures.

6) Continuous program improvement - programs strengthen quality through an ongoing and integrated process of targeted staff training, coaching and monitoring, and data collection and analysis.

Afterschool Classes More Popular than School in Gangnam

Donga.com reported last month that students in two middle schools located in Gangnam, South Korea are attending their afterschool classes more than their academic classes.

A survey conducted by the Gangnam Department of Education found that students enjoy their afterschool programs more because the class size is smaller and they have more of an opportunity to work on their academics instead of focusing on grades. Part of the increased popularity is attributed to how the afterschool programs operate. Last year, they grouped two to five schools together with one acting as a base to offer afterschool programs. As a result, enrollment rose not only in the two middle schools but the other 8 "base" schools increasing participation from 2,856 students in 2007 to 8,508 as of May 15 this year.

To learn more what is working internationally with young people, click here.

Six Communities in New York State Receive Over $4M in 21st CCLC Funds

Ever interested in learning what gets funded in other states?

The Olean Times Herald reported last week that six communities in Allegany County, New York are the beneficiaries of a $4.05M grant to to fund six 21st CCLC middle school sites. The program will serve nearly 900 students annually through afterschool and summer activities. This grant will also fund home-school liaisons as well as providing in-home GED services to 15 youth.

To read more, click here.

Afterschool Voc-Ed Program Teaching At-Risk Youth to Repair Computers

The Fundamentalist, which is the Jewish Telegraphic Association's (JTA) new philanthropy blog, reported yesterday about an exciting effort combining afterschool, career development and training for "at-risk" youth.

On a recent media tour to Negev, correspondents toured Net@. According to their blog entry, "Net@ is a four-year-long after-school program run in lower-income areas that teaches high school students how to become computer repair technicians. When the students complete the course, they receive an internationally recognized certificate that qualifies them as IT techs. Open to “at-risk” students, the program seeks not A+ students, but those just a cut below, according to Net@ officials. The idea is to help students who might not have great financial prospects to find good-paying middle class jobs. And, it tries to attract girls, who are normally less likely to go into the IT filed."

According to their report, 100 youth are served with a budget of $175,000. However with the falling dollar, they may have to reduce the program by half in the coming year.

This model may provide some ideas about the best ways to help teens develop new skills in your community while preparing them to compete in the global economy.

To read more about this compelling program, click here.

Teens Making Better Decisions

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released findings from the 2007 Youth At-Risk Behavior Survey of high school students in the United States. Conducted every two years, this survey charts how teens make decisions as they contemplate engaging in at-risk behaviors such as smoking, premarital sex, drinking and taking drugs.

As reported by USA Today, the latest survey reveals that overall fewer teens across the United States are drinking, smoking and having less sex than their peers in 1991. Other data indicate the following: :

TEENS' RISKY BEHAVIOR

Rarely or never wore a seat belt (when riding in a car driven by someone else):
1991: 25.9%
2007: 11.1%

Rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol
1991: 39.9%
2007: 29.1%

Current cigarette use (smoked cigarettes on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey)
1991: 27.5%
2007: 20.0%

Current alcohol use (had at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey
1991: 50.8%
2007: 44.7%

Used a condom during last sexual intercourse (among students who were sexually active)
1991: 46.2%
2007: 61.5%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Reviewing this data more closely may help providers of teen providers determine the best strategies to engage youth to help prevent these behaviors while focusing promoting their leadership ability.

To read more of the USA Today report, click here. To review the CDC Youth Risk Surveillance Data, click here..

Canada Recognizes 20 Youth under 20 and Pairs Them with Mentors

Canada recognizes 20 youth under 20 and will pair them with Order of Canada Award Recipients as mentors for the upcoming year. Soliciting applications from all the country, 20 youth were chosen for their volunteerism and selected by Youth in Motion. In existence for the past five years, this is the first year award winners will be paired with mentors.

"Ms. Peoples says the Top 20 program is a strong reminder that there is much to be celebrated about today's youth".
"All we have to do is turn on the TV or radio and we hear all the negativity associated with young people — cyber-bullying, guns, violence, disenchanted me generation," she notes."Hopefully, Top 20 Under 20 is a domino effect about the good things. There are a lot of very talented, very positive young people that are doing just incredible things."

To read more about this exciting program, click here.

E.N. White School in Holyoke Fights Obesity After School

With funding from the Holyoke Food and Fitness Council supplied by the Kellogg Foundation, elementary and middle school students at the E. N. White School are fighting obesity after school. This weekly program promotes physical activity through games such as flag football, basketball and soccer. In addition to moving around, students are learning to build friendships with other youth at their school as well as with caring adults. Over 150 youth are participating in this popular program which also provides a healthy snack and a lesson on nutrition.

This is yet another example of how Massachusetts schools and community-based providers are working to promote the health and well-being of its youth through afterschool programs.

Ohrenberger Students Learning Hip Hop After School

Students who attend the Ohrenberger School in Roslindale are "busting moves" hip hop style after school with the help of professional dancers provided by BalletRox. A group of 11 4th and 5th graders are creating a dance that will be performed as part of their school assembly before the end of the year.Over 30 2nd and 3rd graders also participate in this two-month experience and it is hoped that the program will expand to the Ohrenberger Community Center and the Beethoven Elementary School this coming year.

To learn more about how you might be able to start something similar in your own community - read more here.

Bayer Partners with Carnegie Science Center to Create Environmental Programs for Children and Teens

The Corporate Responsibility News reports today that the Bayer Corporation is working with the Carnegie Science Center to create environmental programs for at-risk children and teens.

As quoted from their press release, this program is "to help foster a new generation of environmentally literate elementary-, middle- and high-school students, Bayer Corporation, as part of its Making Science Make Sense(R) initiative, has teamed with Carnegie Science Center on World Environment Day to create a new six-week environmental curriculum for the Science in Your Neighborhood (SIYN) program that is scheduled to launch this summer in city neighborhoods and at the Science Center.

The new program is designed to connect at-risk teens with academic and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and help them become science literate. By joining with the Science Center on this initiative, Bayer is continuing its support of programs that help diversify the STEM pipeline by bringing more females and underrepresented minorities into STEM fields."

While this effort is based in Pittsburgh, PA, it provides an example of what corporations can do with schools and other community-based organizations to help prepare youth for the 21st Century.

Click here to learn more and how it may spur your own local program.

Youth PSA Competition - Deadline August 31, 2008

Looking for a way to involve youth this summer? The Afterschool Alliance reports on their website that "the By Kids for Kids and DoSomething.org are encouraging youth to discover the social issue or cause that matters most to them and then "Do Something" to raise awareness about it. Youth are invited to create Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for the "Advertise Your Cause: Media Challenge. Organizers will award the most clever and powerful PSA that has the broadest impact..

Contest winners will receive $10,000 and national media exposure for the winning PSA. The deadline is August 31. The competition is open to students ages five through 19 who have not yet graduated from high school.".

Text courtesy of the Afterschool Alliance.