Free Microsoft Services for Nonprofits

Nonprofits large and small use some sort of platform for their email needs. Google’s Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Microsoft’s Office 365 are all viable options. Whichever platform you chose, you and others at your organization will use it for daily communications with volunteers, Board members, and those who benefit from your services. But at what […]

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Seven Tips for an Effective PowerPoint Presentation

No matter the topic, using a PowerPoint presentation can be an effective way to communicate, interact, and make a lasting impression on your audience. Here are seven tips to help you create a more engaging and effective presentation. Design When building your presentation take advantage of the slide master feature, this will allow you to create […]

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The Facebook Algorithm

In terms of nonprofit organizations and affiliated individuals, Facebook has been somewhat of an underused or misunderstood tool. However, when used correctly it can be an incredible resource. One of the keys to cultivating your audience on Facebook is understanding the Facebook algorithm. The popularity of Facebook is very impressive. ESC consultant and social media […]

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Managing Your Meeting Goals

One of the most important aspects of leading an organization or team is the skill of facilitation. According to ESC Consultant and facilitation expert Jack Smith there are three essential components to facilitating effectively: planning the meeting, managing the tools, and managing the meeting. Planning the meeting is the process that ensures the groups interactions […]

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The 21st Century Volunteer

Volunteer recruitment has changed over the years—not just from the development of new techniques and technology, but in the way that people perceive and take on service opportunities. ESC President & CEO Bethany Kendall breaks down the key characteristics of the modern volunteer in her workshop on volunteer management, based upon material by Thomas and […]

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Assessing Your Burnout Risk Factors

Employee burnout is one of the greatest risks posed to a nonprofit’s success. ESC consultant Sue Ogle teaches leaders to assess the following factors when reviewing their organization’s risks: Workload When assessing employee workload, nonprofit leaders should reflect on influences that may make the employees they manage unable to perform to their highest capacity. First, […]

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Use Storytelling to Report Nonprofit Outcomes

Nonprofit leaders may tend to associate storytelling with marketing efforts, but creating a narrative for your organization is equally helpful in outcomes measurement for nonprofits. ESC Consultant Barry Seltser breaks down what an organization’s story should include, and how nonprofit leaders can collect the necessary information to build an effective narrative for reporting outcomes. Whether you are […]

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How to Make Nonprofit Content Stick on Social Media

  Some nonprofits are in a better position than others to create compelling content, especially in social media marketing. For instance, the number one tip we come across is to post compelling photos, but let’s explore that for a moment:  how can a nonprofit offering management consulting services compete with another working to find homes […]

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5 Tips for Emergency Succession Planning

In nonprofit management, succession planning is an absolute necessity. Executive transition—no matter how long a leader holds his or her title—is inevitable over time. In her Succession Planning workshop, ESC Consultant Sue Ogle teaches that board members must be mindful of the possibility: What would happen if our Executive Director was not available to work […]

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