IdeaEncore Resources of the Month

IdeaEncore is an easy way for you to learn from others in the nonprofit sector, earn unrestricted income for your organization and share what you know. These resources will help you build invaluable skills for your career in the nonprofit sector. 

And don't forget to select Young Nonprofit Professionals-San Diego (YNPN-SD) as your Primary Professional Association when you sign up for a free IdeaEncore account.

 

Learning Circles: An Effective Modelfor Professional Development and Organizational Capacity Building

Shared by Issue Lab and Created by Girls Best Friend Foundation (Free)

R.A.S.I.C.Roles, Accountability and Responsibility Matrix

Shared by Concinnity Network ($9)

SMARTerTeamwork: Provoking Productive Teamwork One Conversation after Another

Shared by Jazzthink (Free)

TheFour Hour Volunteer Development Process

Shared by Nonprofit Management Services, LLC ($5)

TheThree D’s: The Duty of Care, the Duty of Loyalty and the Duty of Obedience

Shared by NonProfit Direct – Bloomberg Group (Free) 


--

Join our conversation on Twitter, Facebook,and LinkedIn, where we share information about local San Diego nonprofit events, job announcements, and share resources.  Thanks to Jamie and Scott from IdeaEncore for their amazing contributions!

IdeaEncore Resources of the Month

Find proven resources shared by your nonprofit colleagues

IdeaEncore is an easy way for you to learn from others in the nonprofit sector, earn unrestricted income for your organization and share what you know. These resources will help you build invaluable skills for your career in the nonprofit sector. 

And don't forget to select Young Nonprofit Professionals-San Diego (YNPN-SD) as your Primary Professional Association when you sign up for a free IdeaEncore account.

Opportunity Knocks Nonprofit Retention and Vacancy Report 2010

Shared by Opportunity Knocks (Free)

Core Elements of a Successful Nonprofit

Shared by Nonprofit Management Services, LLC ($15)

Workforce Issues in the Nonprofit Sector: Generational Leadership Change and Diversity

Created by American Humanics (Free)

Getting the Most from Business Intelligence and Analytics in the Cloud

Shared by Volunteers of America Chesapeake ($7)

Virtual Learning Cluster Programs

Shared by capbuilders (Free)

YNPNSD Leader Retreat 2011, or, A Lesson in Being Both Productive and Fun

The first weekend of May marked a turning point for YNPN San Diego. It was our first weekend planning board retreat, an idea the board had a while back, and with the help and sizeable donation from The Leichtag Family Foundation, this vision became a reality.

We wanted to ‘up the ante’ if you will, this year by blocking out an entire weekend to nail down our strategic priorities for the coming year, outline our workplans, and solidify our budget –an extensive agenda for the weekend, but we figured that by locking ourselves in for 2 straight days (albeit in the luxury La Costa resort), that we would be able to knock it all out in one sitting.

This was a great idea for a couple of reasons:

1. We’re an all-volunteer organization that meets once a month as a board. So, oftentimes the lag time on decision-making can get drawn out, particularly when it comes to the overall organizational big picture since our daily ‘to do’ list often takes over when we let it; and
2. We recently completed our spring recruitment and added five amazing new board members. Since they make up half our board, we couldn’t have asked for a better board immersion experience.

So the weekend goal was twofold: plan out what we’re trying to accomplish over the next year (based on last year’s progress and our current context), and get to know each other so we begin operating as a cohesive team from Day 1.


How did we do? Mission achieved, if I do say so myself. We started off the weekend with a board in-service on leadership training with Alexis Dixon. This an essential aspect of our role as board members, and the essence of what we try to instill in not just our board, but our committee and membership base as a whole. This session helped to set the stage in our minds to always be thinking about fostering leadership in every aspect of our work.


After a quick break, we dove into planning. By first reviewing our vision, mission, theory of change, and program model (outlined with the help of NP Strategies in last year’s planning retreat), we reviewed our successes and challenges over the past year to achieve last year’s goals. Then, we walked through the finding of our recently closed 2011 Membership Survey, providing valuable information to the board about what our members liked and want for the future. All of this helped to outline what we need to focus on during our next fiscal year. After boiling up findings from detailed SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses, the board clarified 5 strategic initiatives for the next fiscal year. Since, at this point our brains were leaking logic and our stomachs were crying for help, we broke for lunch.


When we re-grouped half an hour later (did I mention that this was a packed agenda?), we were met by a handful of committed and eager committee members who gave up their gorgeous afternoons to assist in our planning efforts. Their fresh faces re-energized the group and we dove in, breaking into 5 teams based on the aforementioned initiatives to outline our SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals and action items. These were eventually shared by the full group, picked apart, added to, and agreed upon as a team until board and committee members alike were satisfied.


Exhausted but content, we looked around the conference room lined with butcher paper outlining our ideas and plans and shared, one-by-one, our excitement. The consensus was that it was an honor and a privilege to have spent the day with a smart group of people thinking about how to make the nonprofit sector stronger in San Diego, and specifically, what our organization – led, run, and supported by a group of emerging leaders volunteering their time – can really do to make a difference.


After having led the research, planning, and facilitation for the day, the group unnecessarily broke out into applause. I took a quick bow and said a silent prayer of thanks to have met such incredible minds and committed people all working towards making this region a better place to live and work. It was then that I was able to reflect on the momentum this organization has created after having been founded just three years ago. What started as a vision and strong foundational leadership has smoothly transitioned into an organization owned and operated by the community it serves.


So, a quick thank you is in order for all of you who have participated with your time, dollars, or membership to make this organization what it is today. I’d also like to extend an offer to the rest of you to get involved and be a part of what YNPNSD will become tomorrow.


And then it was off to the hot tub…


So, without further ado, here’s what we’ll be working on over the next year.


YNPNSD’s 5 Strategic Initiatives:
1. Create a culture that fosters leadership growth for organizational sustainability
2. Define, engage, and retain members
3. Develop an outreach strategy to increase membership of the next generation of leaders
4. Create and implement a brand identity and communications strategy
5. Grow and diversify funding



Thanks to Cynthia Davila, our Retreat Team Leader, for this contribution as well as her time fostering many productive discussions during the retreat. Her skills proved truly invaluable, and we're thankful to have her!

Surveying Our Base, To Serve You Better

Like any community service organization, a key part of our mission is to keep our base flourishing. Most YNPN San Diego members have experienced our outreach through the monthly professional development and networking sessions, our community-serviced listserv, our blog, and the many opportunities to serve.

And, as an organization that aims first and foremost to cultivate the next generation of nonprofit leaders, it's important to know what kind of impact we've had on your lives. This year, we're surveying all our members so we can get that 360 degree perspective on your community involvement, professional pursuits, and personal tastes that make up the wonderful member base you are!

Our survey only takes 5 minutes, and you can find it here. Plus, take it over the weekend and you'll be entered into a raffle to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate! Thanks for your participation, and thank you for the feedback! We look forward to serving you even better in the next year!

YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash Meet & Greet

YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash Meet & Greet

"Treat Yourself!"

That's right, third time's a charm, and YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday celebration is just around corner. Get ready for another chance to meet and mingle with other professionals of San Diego's beloved nonprofit sector! However this time, we'll be adding a bit of frosting to the great occasion.

Whether you are a current YNPN member or non-member, YNPN San Diego invites you as we celebrate our chapter's achievements and successes over the last 3 years. New to YNPN? Our board and committees will be represented to answer any questions you may have, and fill you in on this special celebration. This year's birthday bash will be held at the classy Fifty Seven Degrees wine bar, located on Hancock Street, and just one block away from the Washington Street trolley station. Enjoy a specially extended Happy Hour from 6-8pm, and treat yourself to delicious birthday cupcakes! Discover what YNPN San Diego holds for you as we cheer for another year of nonprofit networking and professional development.

Date: Wednesday, April 20th 2011

Time: 6:00- 8:00pm

Location: 57 Degrees - 1735 Hancock Street, San Diego - www.fiftysevendegrees.com

YNPN San Diego services are free to the San Diego nonprofit community. Please consider making a donation of any size at our event. To lean more about our mission, programs, and opportunities, visit www.ynpnsandiego.org or our Facebook Page

Bring your friends and register TODAY at YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash!

Thanks to YNPNSD Board Member and Meet & Greet Chair Natacha Tullier for the contribution!

Announcing YNPN's National Voice Survey

Make Your Voice Heard. Improve Our Sector. Take YNPN’s National Voice Survey Today!

Over the past several years, a great deal of literature has been released noting significant leadership challenges for the nonprofit sector. With each issue revealed has come a compelling set of recommendations for how the sector can meet these challenges head on. As a movement of now over 20,000 nonprofit professionals nationwide, YNPN is uniquely positioned to put these recommendations to the test.

Make sure our voice includes your perspective. Find 20 minutes to take YNPN’s 2011 National Voice Survey today! Click here to start it now!

Is offering more competitive compensation a priority for retaining talent? Is your nonprofit engaging in succession planning? Is prioritizing diversity having a positive impact on your organization? The valuable feedback and experiences you and your peers will share by completing YNPN’s survey can help influence how our the nonprofit sector addresses its leadership challenges over the next decade.

We look forward to sharing our results with you later this year!

Member Benefit Spotlight: Online Networking

As a current or prospective member of YNPN San Diego do you know all the benefits of being part of our community? Whether you are a new member or have been around since our chapter's genesis, here are some highlights of the YNPN San Diego member benefits. If you know someone who is not a member, but would enjoy being a member, please feel free to forward them this blog post.

YNPN San Diego is open to ALL nonprofit professionals of every age including staff, board members, and volunteers. We believe it is important to strengthen the sector my creating a network for nonprofit individuals and their organizations. The YNPN San Diego mission is focused on developing and supporting the next generation of nonprofit leaders, but this happens in concert with members of every generation. We believe that multi-generational conversations lead to richer understanding and growth of the sector in San Diego.

At this time, joining the YNPN San Diego network is FREE, but we do ask that all of our members complete a membership form to help us serve the community the best way we can. Click here for the membership form. You can also help to keep services free and low cost by making a donation today through our Facebook Cause!

Online Networking
The backbone and perhaps the biggest program at YNPN San Diego is our online networking. There are a number of ways that YNPN San Diego provides information on the nonprofit sector and next gen issues to the San Diego community. Some of these online networking tools are open to all individuals and for others it requires membership. Here is a breakdown for our online networking resources, how you can access them, share information, and more...

Listserv
The YNPN San Diego listserv is our most popular online networking tool and the starting to point for most YNPN chapters around the country. The listserv is simply an email distribution list that includes over 650 subscribers and is growing every day! The listserv postings go out every morning at 8:00 a.m. To learn more about how to post to the listserv, see our recent blog post.

What can I post the listserv? We frequently get this question about YNPN San Diego in addition to being asked to post to the listserv for individuals. It is very important that if you have something to share you post it yourself. Sharing information about nonprofit events, nonprofit news, resources, and opportunities such as board and staff openings are all great examples of what you can post to the listserv. You can learn more about what we ask members not to post and our guidelines on our website through our online sharing policy.

LinkedIn Group
The YNPN San Diego LinkedIn group has nearly 400 members and is an excellent tool for sharing news links, asking questions, and posting resources for the nonprofit community as well. You can connect with the YNPN San Diego community through the LinkedIn Group and search for the YNPN San Diego profile. The YNPN San Diego profile is linked to our Twitter account so you will see more information we share by connecting through our profile today. The LinkedIn Group is open to all nonprofit professionals and does not require membership although we prefer you to be a member of YNPN San Diego as well.

Facebook Page & Cause
Becoming a Facebook Page fan is another great way to get news about YNPN San Diego and local, regional, and national resources in the nonprofit world. We often post our free programs through our Facebook Fan Page as well. Our fan base on Facebook is growing to 300 and we often link our Twitter and Facebook Fan Page posts. We share not only the news you will find on LinkedIn and the listserv, but also partner announcements. If you are interested in pursuing a partnership with YNPN San Diego, please check out our website.

We also have a Facebook Cause where you can make donations to YNPN San Diego. Financial support of YNPN San Diego is critical to keep our membership services affordable and to keep from imposing membership dues. One fun idea is to sponsor a young nonprofit professional with a recurring donation of $15 per month. Make a donation today and keep YNPN San Diego rockin'!

Twitter
YNPN San Diego has nearly 1500 followers on Twitter and that's where you will find the most and quickest resources related to YNPN San Diego, our partners, and in the nonprofit and San Diego networks. Access to information related to next gen philanthropy to social media, to nonprofit events and conferences. We try to post anywhere between 5 - 10 times per day. We would love to have you retweet our information if you are following us - it's a great way to support YNPN San Diego.

E-Newsletter
Each month around the 15th we send out a newsletter sharing YNPN San Diego news, partner resources, blog highlights and more. The e-newsletter is a great way to see a round up for information from the YNPN San Diego community if you do not want to be involved in the day-to-day communications. The e-newsletter is open to anyone in the San Diego nonprofit community.

Our Blog
Of course, our blog is a great way to get news, highlights, and more about YNPN San Diego. We often have guest bloggers sharing donor, board member, and other spotlights. We want you to know about the YNPN San Diego work we do and the best way is to tell our story. The blog is open to all and is another great way to engage in dialogue. Subscribe via email to get the blog posts as they come out and share your thoughts on our posts. The more feedback we can get from you the more we can tailor or work to serve our membership.

Want more information about our online networking tools? You can visit the YNPN San Diego website for more details. We have a whole Communications Committee to manage our online networking; to learn more about them click here. What do you like or what would you change about YNPN San Diego communications? We want your feedback... share your ideas and comments here!

October Meet & Greet: Book Swap

If you’re passionate about San Diego’s nonprofit community, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Diego (YNPNSD) is the perfect organization for you. Whether you are new to the nonprofit sector, or a long time supporter, YNPNSD allows nonprofit professionals around San Diego to connect with one another, share beneficial resources, and enhance their own professional development.

Attending a Meet & Greet is one of the best ways to come together and meet other professionals, while enjoying a cocktail or appetizer! This year’s final Meet & Greet will be hosted at the famous Starlite Lounge on October 21st from 6pm-8pm. We will also be having an optional “book swap”, so bring any book related to the nonprofit world that you’d be willing to exchange, then swap it with another that you’d like to check out! It’s FREE to attend, so bring a friend along and mingle with other professionals who support our nonprofit community. For more details on next week’s Meet & Greet or YNPNSD, check out YNPNSD October Meet and Greet: Fall Book Swap Night or visit www.ynpnsandiego.org.

November 9th is the Day to See Rosetta Thurman!

Please note the new date...

YNPN San Diego presents:
How to Build a Strong Professional Network (from scratch)
with Top Nonprofit Blogger and Author Rosetta Thurman
Sponsored by The Leichtag Foundation

You’ve heard this many times before. The key to getting your dream nonprofit job or moving up in the sector is to network, network, and network some more. You’ve heard it so many times because it’s true. But how do you network if you don't have much of a "network?" Well, back in the day, before Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, nonprofit leaders actually made connections face to face most of the time. These days, technology has made communication much less time-consuming, however the old-fashioned methods of networking still hold true. This interactive presentation will reveal nine practical ways to build your network from scratch - both on and offline.

Registration includes light appetizers and beverages. Join us on November 9th at 6:00 p.m. Registration is only $10 and the Powerhouse Community Center!

About Rosetta Thurman

Rosetta Thurman grew up in the public housing projects of Cleveland, Ohio, and if it weren’t for the nonprofits in her community who helped her family in times of need, she doesn’t know where she would be today. She currently works and lives in Washington, DC. After working in the nonprofit community for eight years within the fields of historic preservation, youth development and capacity building, Rosetta decided to branch out into consulting to contribute to the nonprofit sector as a whole. As a writer, speaker, trainer and coach, Rosetta is passionate about sharing resources, career advice and fresh ideas to educate and inspire young professionals and people of color in doing the work of social change.

Rosetta Thurman writes about nonprofits, leadership and social change on her popular blog rosettathurman.com and her mission is to empower a new generation of leaders. She is the co-author of How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar, 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career, an accessible, do-it-yourself map of how to build a successful career in the nonprofit sector. Rosetta also blogs for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and hosts All Nonprofits Considered, an internet radio show featuring live discussions with social change leaders. Rosetta holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Trinity University and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also completed advanced training programs at The Fundraising School at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Institute for Nonprofit Management at Columbia Business School.

Rosetta is an active member of the Organizational Development Network and serves on the Advisory Council for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of DC. Rosetta has also taught nonprofit management and leadership as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Professional Studies at Trinity Washington University.In 2008, she was named a “New Leader in Philanthropy” by Greater DC Cares. In her free time, she writes poetry, cooks fancy food and listens to old school jams. She also tweets. A lot.

The Nonprofit Rockstar Tour

The Nonprofit Rockstar Book Tour begins in November 2010 with stops in Washington DC, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and San Diego.

Top nonprofit bloggers Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris have co-authored the first book of its kind to offer career advice beyond just getting your foot in the door of a nonprofit organization. How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar provides an accessible, do-it-yourself map of how to build a successful career in the nonprofit sector. As a result of reading this book, young professionals will be able to develop valuable nonprofit expertise, practice authentic leadership, and establish a strong personal brand.

Register here!

Start Voting Today!

YNPN San Diego is one of the TOP FIVE finalists for a Classy Award in the category of Most Innovative Use of Social Media. We need all of our members and their networks to vote for us before October 22. YNPN San Diego has spent the last few years building a network for the San Diego nonprofit community and now is the time you can give back! Help recognize our volunteer efforts to lead YNPN San Diego and provide you with all kinds of good information. We need your support today... please join us in recognizing YNPN San Diego's efforts!

VOTE TODAY!!

October Encores of the Month

IdeaEncore Resources of the Month IdeaEncore Network (www.ideaencore.com), a knowledge sharing website.

• The Changing of the Guard: What Generational Differences Tell Us about Social-Change Organizations, by Harvard University, Free
• Prioritization Toolkit, Shared by Partners for Change, $10
• Not for Profit Management, Shared by Community Leadership Network, Free
• Social Media Plan Outline, Shared by EDA Consulting, $20
• Grant writing toolkit – Needs statement, Shared by Center for Nonprofit Excellence, United Way of Central New Mexico, Free

Looking to find and share with colleagues?
IdeaEncore provides an easy way for your organization to share what it knows, learn from others, and earn unrestricted income. www.ideaencore.com

Using the YNPNSD Listserv

At YNPN San Diego we frequently receive questions about the listserv - how to post, asking us to post for organizations or individuals, requests to join, etc. Here we would like to share some general information about using the YNPN San Diego listserv to help our members understand it better.

What is the listserv? The listserv is simply an email distribution list with nearly 650 members from San Diego nonprofits! The listserv is open only to YNPN San Diego members meaning that you need to fill out a form on our website to become a member for free. The listserv is one of our greatest member-only benefits. You can post news by emailing ynpnsd@lists.ynpn.org. Do not reply to a listserv digest; this will only send your message to the administrators of the listserv.

When can I see my post on the listserv? The listserv postings are sent out every day at 8:00 a.m. Therefore, if you send something to the listserv 8:30 a.m., it will be posted to the next day's digest at 8:00 a.m. This is an important detail to keep in mind for when you post - sending something to the listserv on weekday is probably going to get more traffic and attention that it would during a weekend. Currently, the majority of listserv members receive the daily digest of postings, but you can change your subscription type at any time by following the listserv instructions on our website.

Can YNPN San Diego post to the listserv for me? We can, but it is best that you post directly to the listserv rather than YNPN San Diego posting for you. The reason for this is that if there are questions about your posting (event, service, question, etc.) people will be more likely to respond directly to you. YNPN San Diego will not be able to answer the questions about your post as well as you can. We encourage all members to post to the listserv directly by emailing ynpnsd@lists.ynpn.org.

What can I share on the listserv? You can share questions, resources, organizational events, and more! Anything related to nonprofits is welcome. We do not accept partisan postings or anything endorsing specific candidates. Also, any inappropriate language or content is not permitted. You can see a full list of our listserv and social media guidelines on our website. Don't forget that you are also welcome to post information to our LinkedIn Group and Facebook Page - we welcome knowledge sharing!

I've requested to join the listserv, but cannot post - why? If you cannot post to the listserv it means one of two things: 1) you have not completed a membership form and, therefore, have not been added to the listserv or 2) you completed a membership form but did not ask to be added to the listserv. You will need to become a member of YNPN San Diego to post information to the listserv. Remember, that membership is open to San Diego nonprofit professionals (staff, board, consultants, volunteers) of ALL AGES!

Please remember that YNPN San Diego is a volunteer-led organization. We update the listserv weekly, so be sure to plan ahead when you sign up to become a member and want to post to the listserv.

For more details about the YNPN San Diego's listserv and online communications including our online communications policy, visit our website.

YNPNSD Final '10 Meet and Greet: Fall Book Swap Night

Announcing this year’s final Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Diego (YNPNSD) Meet and Greet! Mark your calendars as we celebrate the coming of fall and the opportunity to network with San Diego nonprofit professionals.

This Meet and Greet will be taking place on Thursday, October 21st on the private outdoor deck of the fabulous Starlite located on India Street. As we welcome back all new and returning professionals, enjoy Starlite’s exclusive happy hour including food specials and discounted drinks, such as the renowned Starlite Mule, $3 beers, and $3 well drinks until 7:00pm.

• When: October 21st, 2010 6:00-8:00pm
• Where: Starlite, 3175 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
• Cost: FREE
• RSVP HERE!
  

YNPNSD will also be hosting a “book swap” throughout the event as a fun way to share valuable resources with each other. Just bring a book focused on nonprofit issues that you’d be willing to part with, and make an exchange for one that you’d like to check out! As always, all YNPNSD members and non-members are welcome whether or not you bring a book, so please spread the word to all your friends and join us! The fun starts at 6:00pm so arrive early for the best parking.

This will be a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other nonprofit professionals in the San Diego community.

YNPN San Diego services are free to the San Diego nonprofit community. Please consider making a donation of any size at our event. To learn more about our mission, programs, and opportunities, visit www.ynpnsandiego.org.

We hope to see you there!

*Starlite is 21+ venue

September Encores of the Month

IdeaEncore Network, a knowledge sharing website.

• Grant Writing Toolkit – Program Plan, Shared by Center for Nonprofit Excellence (Free)
• JVA Grant Proposal Checklist, Shared by JVA Consulting, LLC ($5)
• Look Here! Attracting and Developing the Next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders, Shared by IssueLab (Free)
• FIO Partners Assessment Tool: Board Survey for Start-up Organizations, Shared by FIO Partners, LLC ($25)
• Leadership Development and Leadership Change, by Building Movement Project (Free Link)

Looking to find and share with colleagues?
IdeaEncore provides an easy way for your organization to share what it knows, learn from others, and earn unrestricted income. www.ideaencore.com

Fall Meet and Greet with New Leaders Council on September 16th!

Please join YNPN San Diego for a special summer Meet and Greet with the New Leaders Council on September 16th at Bamboo Lounge! We will have guest speakers including Alberto Cortes, Executive Director of Mama’s Kitchen and our very own Megan Lim, Development Director at the San Diego Public Library Foundation.

The theme of this Meet and Greet is the importance of developing local leadership in San Diego’s civic and service communities. Bamboo Lounge has some great food, drinks, and a patio and should be a perfect venue for mixing and mingling with young professionals working throughout San Diego’s nonprofit and civic communities.

• When: September 16, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Short talk to begin promptly at 6:45 p.m., followed by more mixing and mingling!)
• Where: Bamboo Lounge, 1475 University Avenue, 92103
• Cost: Free to attend! (Cash Bar).
• What: We'll hear from local nonprofit leaders on the importance of developing local leadership in San Diego's civic and service communities.

Register today!

August Encores of the Month

IdeaEncore Resources of the Month
IdeaEncore Network (www.ideaencore.com), a knowledge sharing website.

• Net2 Think Tank Round-up: Writing an effective social media policy, Shared by NetSquared (Free)
• Nonprofit Operations Toolkit, Shared by Nonprofit Alternatives ($21.04)
• 20 Tips Every Strategic Grantseeker Should Know, Shared by Internaut & Assoc, Inc (Free)
• Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Shared by IdeaEncore Network (Off-site price: $32)
• A Brief Guide to Understanding the Social Sector, Shared by Olzak Management Consulting (Free Link)

Looking to find and share with colleagues?
IdeaEncore provides an easy way for your organization to share what it knows, learn from others, and earn unrestricted income. www.ideaencore.com.

Have a job to share?

At YNPN San Diego we want to remind all of our members that sharing job openings through the YNPN San Diego network is a great way to bring interest to your organization along with lots of great candidates! You can use the YNPN San Diego network in many ways:

1. Post the YNPNSD listserv (nearly 600 individuals) by emailing the job posting to ynpnsd@lists.ynpn.org.
2. Post to our LinkedIn job board
3. Post the link on our Facebook Page

There are also plenty of resources locally and nationally where you can look for a job and post jobs. You'll find a nice list of these links on our website under the Career Resources page. Some of our favorite spots to look for and post jobs include:

• NPWorks.org (job board by Nonprofit Management Solutions)
• Idealist.org (national)
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (members only)

If you're looking for a job nothing beats networking and building personal relationships within the community - if people know you personally you have a better chance of getting that job you want. Of course, gaining experience where you might have gaps in skills always helps too! YNPN San Diego is always looking for board and committee members who are looking to develop their skills while helping to contribute to our organization - be part of the movement!

Has a job posting led with YNPN San Diego led to your finding a job or filling a position? Share the news hear and let us know!

YNPN SD Tools You Can Use: The Listserv

While it may be true that many listservs out there are full of extraneous information and community requests, I can personally attest to the authenticity and value of the YNPN San Diego listserv. This daily compilation of San Diego-based events, workshops, and job announcements is different from its many contemporaries for two reasons: the quality of its content is consistently high and the worth of the postings often far outpaces the initial effort required to follow up on a given lead.

With a membership base of nearly 600 nonprofit professionals hailing from organizations that specialize in areas ranging from human rights to business development to community services, I have observed over time that YNPNSD listserv notices consistently cover a wide interest area while still maintaining the ability to captivate an equally diverse audience. Joining the listserv is easy; all you have to do is be a YNPNSD member. Visit the YNPN San Diego website to complete a membership form - it's easy! Read how you can modify your subscription on the YNPN San Diego website as well as learn about the listserv guidelines and policies. Being a contributor to the listserv is what helps to maintain and increase its relevancy among users. It is also a great way to bring greater reach and/or leverage to your organization. It's easy to use the listserv as a member - simply send your email to sandiego@lists.ynpn.org!

In gauging listserv relevancy, I considered several factors: daily interest level (“significance”), user interaction, and payout. From conversations I have held with people both inside and out of the YNPNSD circles, the events, workshops, and jobs posted to the listserv are noteworthy in that they are all directly related to furthering nonprofit leadership in our community. If San Diego is a microcosm of the world, then this listserv is an excellent way to get a sampling. Since there are so many community contributors—including those who have just heard of its reach, and are starting to learn more about the organization—the listserv is a means for capable individuals to represent themselves as the community-minded and motivated people they are to in turn exemplify the organizational membership.

Payout is measured by only one means—results. One particular case study comes to mind when I think of listserv results: Vietca Do, a member of the YNPNSD’s Member Relations and Meet & Greet communities, found her calling via YNPNSD tools. Two years out of college and with all the prospects of the world before her, Vietca was caught in the troubled times of an economic recession. Still, she remained enthusiastically involved in her community commitments—she now maintains the official Facebook page --and one day found a job lead. Her YNPNSD experience had both helped to build her skill set and increase community connections, resulting in a hire.

The listserv is but one facet in the YNPNSD toolbox, so I encourage you to start learning more about member benefits. Next month I will be back with another post, so follow our blog if you're a fan. After all, if the opportunities to improve yourself and your community are endless, then the chance to be a part of a movement is just beginning.

- Danielle Reyes-Acosta, YNPN San Diego Member Relations Committee Member

YNPNSD Helps People Find Jobs

I have felt invincible at least twice in my life.

The first time, I was 8 years old and had jumped off the back of a friend’s moving bicycle. As I was rolling to a stop, I felt no pain, fear, embarrassment, and most importantly, no regret. I was even ready to do it again, if it wasn’t for the gash in my knee and forehead… as well as my mother’s inevitable scolding.

The second time was when I was 24 years old, and it was that nanosecond right before I was officially laid-off from a job I started a year prior.

Wait… what? I just graduated college… my student loan bills have already started coming in... I finally matured from ramen and Easy Mac for dinner (almost – they are pretty tasty). The moment it sunk in that I no longer had a job was when I felt my invincibility slip away. I felt no pain, fear, embarrassment nor regret, but the difference between this instance and that of 16 years ago was this time, I knew there weren’t enough band-aids to patch me up along with the other 10% of the country going through the same thing.

I really started reflecting about my career: should I stay in nonprofit, go back to school? I got my answer three weeks later when I was offered a job that paid very well, but turned it down because it didn’t feel right. Then, when I started getting rejections like, “You’re not qualified enough,” and, “You’re too qualified for this position,” I didn’t know what to think anymore. Am I in some kind of professional purgatory? Was I being punished for being picky?

Then, I saw it – a job posting through the YNPN listserv. After reading the description, I knew this is what I was looking for. So, in goes my application, but once again, out it comes with a red stamp on it, except, with a note from a fellow YNPN San Diego member who happened to be on the receiving end of my application. She referred me to Junior Achievement and two interviews, some squealing and celebrating, and 10 months later, I’m sitting here writing to you about how YNPN San Diego has helped me in my career.

I did not spend months just sending out resumes and applications. I dove into YNPN San Diego and got my hands dirty with the Member Relations Committee as well as the Meet and Greet Committee. I manage the Facebook Fan Page as part of their social media strategy, an asset valuable to my job description here and now.

I learned I am still invincible, and things will get better if I just work at it. I just needed to jump on that bicycle again, unafraid and un-regretful that I waited for what I wanted instead of settling. Thanks, YNPN San Diego for being my metaphorical door opening while all those gently closed behind me.

Many thanks to Vietca Do for her generous contribution to the YNPN San Diego blog and all her work on committees!! To learn more about YNPN San Diego, visit our website and read all about our committees. If you are interested in writing for the YNPN San Diego blog, email us at sandiego@ynpn.org.