Revised with new information as of January 30, 2009

 
The Best FREE Internet-Based Resources
for Mission-Based Organizations
(Nonprofits, NGOs, schools, civil society, etc.)

Coyote Communications endorses the following Web sites as the BEST Internet-based resources for mission-based organizations (non-profits, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, civil society, public sector agencies). The following were chosen to be listed here as the "best" because they are all or most of the following

• comprehensive in the information they provide, and their information is particularly, especially and immediately helpful to nonprofits, NGOs, public sector organizations, schools, and other mission-based organizations

• are outstanding "starting places" for nonprofits, NGOs, public sector organizations, schools, and other mission-based organizations looking for information (in fact, I would say 90% of the questions I receive in emails are already answered on these links)

• provide indices of and links to most (if not all) of the other best Internet-based resources out there for mission-based organizations, the ones that are referred to again and again on online discussion groups

• are fully-accessible for those who are not using the latest-and-greatest web browsers, and are easy-to-use and download, without too many graphics and advanced design features that, more often than not, get in the way of a person accessing the site

• provide the bulk of their advice for free

The resources below are not only the ones that stand out -- I use them frequently myself.

Many, many links to other suggested sites are also included within the my web site's other pages. But remember -- no one site can list every valuable link. Also, what I find valuable, you may find too basic; and what you find valuable may not be relavent to my own experience. Finding the information you need most means researching sites yourself . And, finally as mentioned earlier, you have to READ the information (or, in some cases, listen to it):

 
US Internal Revenue Service Resources and Forms for Charities (and those who want to form such)
Forms, frequently asked questions and their answers, tips, reminders, updates -- it's everything you need if your organiation is based in the USA.

 
Free Management Library
This extensive web site includes excellent information from nonprofit professionals all over the U.S.A. on:

• how to incorporate an organization as a nonprofit
• management, human resources issues and sample policies
• board issues
• donor relations, annual campaigns, planned giving, fund raising events, grant writing
• strategic planning
• accounting issues
• marketing and community relations
• how to subscribe to USNonprofit-l / soc.org.newsgroup

  and much more! Whatever you are looking for relating to nonprofits, look here first. Compiled by Carter McNamara.

 
Organizational Effectiveness Series
The National Minority AIDS Council offers a series of free manuals in PDF ready to download. They include manuals on board development, fiscal management, grant writing, human resources, leadership development, needs assessment, volunteer involvement, strategic planning, surviving an audit and more. There are 14 "Organizational Effectiveness Series" manuals in all.

 
TechSoup
An online project by CompuMentor (based in San Francisco, California), with extensive technology-related resources especially designed for mission-based organizations. Provides excellent information, worksheets, online discussion groups, and many other resources to help organizations with everything from technology planning to working with IT/ICT volunteers (and even has soup recipes!). In fact, it's so comprehensive and well-done that I scaled back the advanced tech-related information on my own web site and now concentrate my tech section on very basic information for the smallest and most-resource-strapped organizations.

 
Alliance for Justice Resources & Publications
Provides high-quality resources and trainings to ensure that all nonprofit organizations in the USA understand how they can engage in advocacy activities with greater efficiency and entirely within legal limits and more aggressively.

 
Virtual Volunteering Project
Comprehensive, detailed resources to help your agency involve volunteers working from home or work computers. Includes extensive information on managing, recognizing and recruiting online volunteers, creating online assignments, the realities of online culture, and organizations already engaged in virtual volunteering. This particular section of the web site is no longer updated, yet, it remains an excellent resource.

 
Nonprofit Indicators (an internal evaluation tool)
A series of checklists that can help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your agency's governance (board), human resources (including volunteer management), planning, financial activities, fund raising and legal protection. An excellent resource developed by staff and volunteers of the United Way of Minneapolis Area for internal use by nonprofit organizations.

 
The Foundation Center
This site offers an overview of the not-for-profit funding process, including a proposal-writing course, a directory of libraries and resources by region, a philanthropy news digest, funding trends and analyses, and a page of links to corporate grant makers and private foundations, some with downloadable grant guidelines and applications. It also includes information for organizations outside the USA.

 
NonProfit Gateway Network
Links to charity-related Web pages maintained by various USA federal agencies and departments. Users may search more than 3,000 federal Web pages, as well as federal grant announcements and information about federal volunteer programs and how to comply with laws pertaining to nonprofit organizations. As of November 1999, it was a rather jumbled compilation, but I'm so thrilled to the government doing this that I'm giving them an "A" for effort, with high hopes that this site will get better in the coming months.

 
Coyote Communications Web Site
An ever-increasing number of tip sheets to help mission-based organizations with a variety of issues, including to use technology more effectively. The tip sheets, which are revised monthly, include:



• Tips on Tech Tools for Nonprofit Organizations, NGOs, and other mission-based groups
  More than a dozen files of basic, easy-to-understand information on database management, specialized software (such as volunteer-management software), free resources to help with software, resources for older computers, introducing a computerized system or upgrade successfully, and much more.

• Community Relations, With and Without Technology
  Basic tips on outreach and press relations, and resources on how organizations use the Internet successfully to manage their organizations and to attract and keep donors, volunteers and other supporters; using the 'Net to find information and funding leads; overcoming barriers to getting hardware and Internet access; how to market your organization online without getting flamed; and more.

• On Volunteering and Volunteerism
  A portal to the various volunteerism and volunteer-management resources I've created or which I've contributed to, and to house original work that is not under the auspices of other organizations.

 
 
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