Organizational Resources

Third Wave has compiled resources in a number of areas of interest to social justice organizations, particularly those that are youth-led. These resources can help with skill building, analysis, and strategic thinking in each area. If you have suggestions to add, please send them to info@thirdwavefoundation.org.

Board Development
   1. Roles and Responsibilities
   2. Board Staffing
   3. Getting the Most Out of Meetings
   4. Evaluation
   5. Strengthening Your Board

Organizing
   1. General
   2. Mobilizing: Building Your Base
   3. Self-Assessment
   4. Additional Resources

Succession Planning
   1. General
   2. Executive Directors
   3. Board Members

501©(3) Compliance
   1. What is 501©(3)?
   2. To Be or Not to Be?
   3. Getting Started
   4. Compliance

Finances and Financial Management
   1. General Financial Resources for Non-Profit Organizations
   2. Confronting the Economic Downturn
   3. Additional Resources

Capacity Building Resources

Board Development

All non-profit organizations are governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for the vision, legal and financial safeguard and overall success of an organization. Therefore, it is crucial to have strong, efficient leadership in place. The following is a list of resources to enhance your knowledge of effective governance and aid you in the process of developing your organization’s board.

Section 1: Roles and Responsibilities

Ten Basic Responsibilities of Non Profit Boards
From: Board Source

Quick overview of the 10 basic responsibilities of Non Profit Boards

Governance Basics: Role of the Board
From: Institute on Governance

The article provides an analysis of a board’s role in the good governance of an organization based on three categories: Representation, Decision Making and Leadership, and Accountability.

Section 2: Board Staffing

Board Membering
From: The Management Assistance Group

This is an article that deals with the importance of board member dynamics.

Section 3: Getting the Most Out of Meetings

How To Take Meeting Minutes
From: Suite101.com

This is a brief article on the importance of taking minutes at your meetings. Additionally, there are some tips on how to take minutes.

Making the Most of Time Together
From: Board Source’s Newsletter Board Café

The following article provides some tips on how to transform your “bored” meetings into fun, productive board meetings!

How To Have Effective Board Meetings
From: The Management Assistance Group

This article further analyzes various ingredients to having an effective board meetings such as planning an agenda and establishing goals.

Section 4: Evaluation

How Does Your Board Measure Up?
From: Grassroots Fundraising

This article presents a quick and simple way to evaluate your board’s performance.

Self-Assessment for Board
From: Compass Point

The following is a short piece on board self assessment.

Section 5: Strengthening Your Board

Strengthening Boards of Non Profit Organizations
From the Journal for Nonprofit Management

This article examines the role of boards in developing and strengthening the organization’s mission and relationship with the communities they serve. Furthermore, the article provides examples of challenging circumstances and solutions.

Here are some practical tips about how to strengthen your organization’s governance:

o  Practical Tips
o  Board Development Cycle
o  How Does Your Board Measure Up?
o  Boards Matter: Board Building Tools for the Social Justice Executive

Organizing

Organizing is absolutely key to promoting social change. At its most basic, organizing refers to the process of bringing people together to have an impact on the decisions and systems that impact their lives. Below is a list of organizing tips to provide you with ideas on how to build power more effectively.

Section 1: General

Community Organizer’s Guide
From: ROSC (Resources for Organizing and Social Change)

A general guide for effective community organizing.

Power Analysis Tool adapted from SCOPE
From: The Praxis Project

A power analysis exercise which includes relevant questions about decision-makers’ role and background. After answering the questions, there is a power analysis grid to be filled out. The purpose of the exercise is to determine who are potential allies, how to mobilize said allies, and to understand your organization’s position and influence.

Section 2: Mobilizing: Building Your Base

Tips on Base Building
From: The Praxis Project

The following tips include reasons and methods for mobilizing successfully.

Tips for Organizers
From: The Highlander Research and Education Center

Section 3: Self-Assessment

Who are Community Organizers?
From: Neighborhood Funders Group

Understanding Role of an Organizer
From: School of Unity and Liberation

Capability Index: Assessing Individual Assets
From: The Praxis Project

A checklist that assesses individual strategies for mobilization.

Evaluating Grassroots Organizing
From: Neighborhood Funders Group

Outlines some of the questions funders ask about community organizations in deciding whether they want to give. They may be helpful to consider for self-evaluation.

Self-Criticism Checklist
From: School of Unity and Liberation

A tool for self-reflection for organizers.

Section 4: Additional Resources

Below are some print resources on organizing. Many are examples of contemporary organizing efforts. For further details on each source, please consult the Highlander Research Center Print Resources on Organizing.

BRIDGE: Building a Race and Immigration Dialogue in the Global Economy – A Popular Education Resource for Immigrant and Refugee Community Organizers. Eunice Hyunhye Cho, Francisco Arguelles Paz y Puente, Miriam Ching Yoon Louis, and Sasah Khokha; 320 pages, 2004. English version (Spanish version will be available).

Taking Flight (Comenzando a Volar)
Latina Immigrant Women Organizing for a Better Future: A History of Mujeres Unidas y Activas (United and Active Women). Julia Teresa Quiroz, May 2000, English or Spanish version.

Unpacking Globalization: A Popular Education Tool Kit. Economic Literacy Action Network, Paperback, 145 pages, 2000.

When Hate Comes to Town: A Handbook of Effective Community Responses (Faith Based Edition), Center for Democratic Renewal (CDR), Third Edition, Paperback, 143 pages, 2002.

Succession Planning

For all organizations, leadership transitions can be an extensive, challenging process. For youth-empowerment organizations, it is particularly important that leadership is representative of the constituency, and is trained and prepared to take on executive roles. Succession planning is the process by which organizations recruit, develop and prepare staff and leaders to fill critical organizational roles. The following are various key resources to help your organization prepare for leadership transition.

Section 1: General

Roots Initiative Toolkit
From: Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing

This is an important resource based on extensive research with youth organizations. It covers three critical areas, including many valuable resources on leadership transitions.

Three Phases of Executive Transition
From: transitionguides.com

This resource provides a brief, bullet point overview outlining the three phases of executive transition: getting ready, recruiting and post-hire.

Generation Change and the Leadership of Non Profit Organizations
From: Compass Point

This guide to succession planning primarily focuses on the generational gap and its effect on executive transitions. The guide’s purpose is to offer innovative ways of developing young professionals to take the lead.

Succession Planning for Nonprofit of All Sizes
From: BoardNet USA

A one-page article detailing the importance of planning leadership transitions in advance in order to increase your likelihood of an efficient, positive transition. Additionally, the article provides self-assessment questions for key positions within your organization.

Section 2: Executive Directors

Ten Ways to Set a New Executive Director on a Path for Success
From: Board Café

10 tips for board members on how to handle the post-hire phase and provide additional support to the Executive Director.

Executive Director Succession Planning
From: NAMAC

An article that provides a basic outline of succession planning as it relates to the executive director. Moreover, the article summarizes emergency succession planning, or the sudden unexpected departure or a planned short-term absence, as well as succession planning for strategic development.

Section 3: Board Members

Board Succession Planning
From: ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership

A brief piece on the basic elements for a successful change of leadership within the Board of Directors, such as identifying and training potential candidates and preparing current board members for the change.

Stepping Up, Staying Engaged
From: Compass Point

A 20 page article to help boards prepare for transitions and create sustainable leadership.

501©(3) Compliance

For many non-profits, the decision to become a 501©(3) tax exempt organization can be difficult for various reasons, namely the stringent requirements and restrictions that accompany the status. Furthermore, many organizations find themselves confused as to how to maintain their tax exempt status. This section provides resources on what 501©(3) status is, whether or not your organizations should pursue it and what steps should be taken to maintain it.

Section 1: What is 501©(3)?

Tax-Exempt Status
From: The Internal Revenue Service

A brief article that outlines the nature of tax exempt organizations, the benefits of tax exemption under IRS 501©(3) and the types of activities that can jeopardize your tax exempt status.

What is a 501©(3)?
From: Suite101.com

A brief blog piece about what it means to be a 501©(3) organization.

Section 2: To Be or Not to Be?

Pros and Cons of the 501©(3) Status
From: Form 1023 Help

This website lists the benefits and responsibilities that come with tax exemption. Also, the site provides a summarization of the differences in regards to tax treatment for non profit and for profit organizations.

501©(3) To Be or Not to Be?
From: The Grantmanship Center

An extremely helpful guide providing questioning non profits with answers to frequently asked questions.

Section 3: Getting Started

Application for Recognition of Exemption
From: The Internal Revenue Service

How To Apply for 501©(3) status
From: Support Center for Nonprofit Management

This power point presentation contains a useful section on how to apply for 501©(3) tax exemption and the filing requirements for non profits.

Section 4: Compliance

Compliance Guide for 501©(3) Public Charities
From: The Internal Revenue Service

This guide provides information on rules and regulations 501©(3) organizations must uphold. Topics include activities that may jeopardize a charity’s exempt status, tax returns or notices that must be filed and record keeping.

Protecting Your Nonprofit Corporation’s Tax-Exempt Status
From: Nolo.com

The following is a brief article that addresses the importance of good record keeping in maintaining a 501©(3) status and outlines various limitations on non-profit activities.

Finances and Financial Management

The current economic downturn has severely impacted non-profit organizations, leaving many of them struggling financially. Below is some general information on what organizations need to ensure financial health, as well as tips and strategies for how to better prepare for the effects of this economic climate.

Section 1: General Financial Resources for Non-Profit Organizations

Funds Management
From: Compass Point Nonprofit Services

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding non-profit finances and financial management. Includes detailed information on budgets, reporting, interpreting financial statements, and audits.

990 Forms
From: Compass Point Nonprofit Services

Answers to frequently asked questions about 990 Forms.

Financial Statements and Analysis
From: Free Management Library

A guide to understanding financial statements, including sample statements.

Assessing Liquidity and Operational Efficiency
From: Cengage Learning

A chapter that explores the definition of liquidity and how to assess it accurately.

Section 2: Confronting the Economic Downturn

Managing in Tough Times
From: The Bridgespan Group

A list of links to resources for non-profits on how to handle the economic climate.

Scenario Planning
From: Nonprofits Assistance Fund

A guide to budget scenario planning. Includes an example of a completed scenario planning worksheet and a blank template for organizations to use.

Fighting Back on Budget Cuts: A Tool Kit
From: The Praxis Project

A tool-kit for building a healthy budget during economic downturn.

Section 3: Additional Resources

Fiscal Management Associates offers a range of fiscal management, accounting, organizational and technology consulting services for the not-for-profit sector.

FMA Institute Course Calendar
The Fiscal Management Associates Institute provides Webinar and in-person (NYC-area) training in financial management for those in the non-profit sector.

Certified Not-for-Profit Accounting Professional Training
From: Fiscal Management Associates

The CNAP program assists financial managers to organize and produce the financial information necessary for accurate reporting and sound financial management.

The Nonprofit Finance Fund provides financial/advisory services for organizations. Below are links to register at their various locations:

      o New England
      o New York
      o New Jersey
      o Philadelphia
      o Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia
      o Midwest
      o West Coast

Capacity Building

Finding a great consultant or trainer can help you enhance organizational effectiveness in many areas, including campaign development, fundraising, and strategic planning. This directory provides links to dozens of organizations and individuals that provide consulting and training, particularly for social justice and youth-led organizations.

Download the directory here.

If you would like to be listed in this directory, please review the following RFP.

Coming soon:

  • Coalition building
  • Evaluation
  • Fundraising
  • Legislative reform
  • Media and communications
  • Strategic planning and organization development