NW Nonprofit Blog by AE Consulting

Reduced Hotel Rate from the Spokane Club for Conference Attendees

2012-01-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

If you’re coming from out of town for the Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference on February 16, 2012, the Spokane Club Inn has offered a reduced rate of $95 for King/Queen rooms and $115 for deluxe rooms, both with access to athletic facilities, for February 15-16.

For reservations, call the hotel directly at (509) 838-8511. They ask that you DO NOT make reservation online.

Conference Session: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations

2012-01-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Dave Heyamoto, SNAP Financial Access

www.snapaccess.org

Dave is the Business Development Manager for SNAP Financial Access and assists low to moderate income families to increase family income, create financial assets, and build a financial future through small business ownership. He has 34 years of experience in the corporate business world developing and implementing strategic planning initiatives. Dave has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has completed course work through the EWU MBA Program.

By attending this class, you’ll cover subject matters such as:

What is a strategic plan, why is it important, and how to get started
How strategic planning manages for the continuously changing environment including:

Decreases in federal funding
Changes in political winds
Staffing issues
Competition for scarce resources

Benefits to establishing a strategic plan and the consequences of not doing so
Case-based examples of current non-profit strategic plans used at SNAP

Check out this video to learn more about SNAP's programs and services:

Join Dave at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2012, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information, visit the AE website.

Reduced Hotel Rate from the Red Lion for Conference Attendees

2012-01-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

If you’re coming from out of town for the Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference on February 16, 2012, the Red Lion Hotel has offered a reduced room rate from February 15-16.

For reservations, visit their website or call 1-800-RED-LION (1-800-733-5466) and request "AE Consulting special rates."

Conference Session: Marketing in the Tech Era

2012-01-10T17:38:00.000-08:00

Speakers: Tine and Ed Reese, Sixth Man Marketing
www.sixthmanmarketing.com

Tine and Ed Reese are a dynamic, engaging, and extremely knowledgeable duo that will offer information on this topic not to be missed!

Tine Reese, Usability Analyst, has a BA in Communication Arts and Design and is passionate about thoughtfully integrating good design, clear communication, and user expectations in all facets of the online experience. She knows what motivates people to take action on the web and is also the founder and director of the local nonprofit Bloom Spokane.

Ed Reese, Principal of Sixth Man Marketing, is equal parts website analyst, SEO, and online marketing strategist. He ensures that client websites and online marketing campaigns are optimized to produce a promising return on investment for the business. Ed is also a national marketing speaker, member of the Get Listed University Faculty, and has a BA in Mass Media Communications.

This session’s learning objectives will cover:

The nitty-gritty of the ever-changing social media landscape
The multiple tools available and what’s best for what activity
And how to create a plan to engage an audience and offer content that cuts through the noise!

Join Tine and Ed at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series Thursday, February 16th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Getting Started Roundtable Sessions – FREE (9:30a – 11:30am)

2012-01-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

The February 16, 2012 Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference will host a NEW and FREE roundtable session for individuals who think they want to start a nonprofit. If you have an idea that you think would be eligible, if you have ever wanted to become part of the sector, or you have done some research and want to take your mission to the next level then please join us.

Table Topics will be:

Understanding the 501(c)(3) application process;
Legal considerations when getting started;
How a state association connects you to the nonprofit community;
Finding work in the nonprofit sector; job roles and functions;
Starting a capital project, what’s involved from the outset; and
Options other than starting a nonprofit (fiscal sponsor, B Corp).

Each table will have an individual present who can speak directly to the topic. Come prepared with questions.

We encourage you to stay for the lunch and keynote presentation that immediately follows. Lunch is only $15 and includes exposure to all the Exhibitors who will offer more information and resources within the sector.

To register for the Roundtables, please RSVP through the Contact Us page and note “RSVP for Roundtables.”

To register for lunch, visit the AE website.

Conference Session: Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations

2012-01-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Angela M. Richardson, CPA, Manager, CliftonLarsonAllen

Angela has 13 years of experience within accounting and financial management. Currently she is involved in substantial planning and supervising of audits of nonprofit and governmental entities, providing professional consulting and training to nonprofit organizations related to board governance and financial management, and conducting quality control reviews for other CPA firms. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

From this session, the audience will gain a better understanding of:

Basic financial management best practices;
Risks related to accounting for nonprofits; and
The role of the board of directors with regard to financial management.

Reviews from this class last year stated stellar remarks and attendees wanted more! Join Angela at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2012, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: The Uber Board Member: Adopting a Model for Guiding Your Organization (for Board Members)

2012-01-04T16:28:00.001-08:00

Speaker: John Ferrone, Ferrone Associates

www.ferroneassociates.com

John has been a consultant for 15+ years with the majority of his engagements focused on assisting organization leaders to evolve their perspective about what it means to lead the organization. He has developed a framework that provides leaders with a roadmap for leading the organization; a framework which dozens of client organizations have employed to great use in achieving higher levels of staff accountability, achievement of the mission via outcomes, and the identification and attainment of new funding sources towards sustainability. (EOE Sustainability Model)

The audience will walk away with:

A new perspective, or context, as to what it means to be a Board member;
Tools that can easily be employed within any organization; and
The ability to answer questions such as:

“How and where should I plug in my most valuable talent?”;
“How do I know we are doing well and accomplishing our mission?”;
“What is the donor looking for in an investment-worthy organization, and what is my role as a Board member to help shape our organization to deliver it?”

Join John at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: The Art and Science of Grant Writing

2012-01-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Katie Howard, KH Consulting
www.thinkwritegrow.com

Katie has more than 10 years of professional proposal writing experience (both grants and contracts), during which time she has raised $15+ million in grant awards and $40+ million in contract awards. She has been providing grant writing trainings to audiences ranging in size from 5 to 350 since 2004. Most recently, Katie has trained nonprofit professionals in five cities nationwide using her proprietary curriculum sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. She has also taught grant writing courses for the Institute for Extended Learning housed within the Spokane Community Colleges system.

By attending this session, you will:

Learn about when you should and should NOT write grants
Review types of funders and types of funding
Learn the common elements of a grant proposal
Discuss common mistakes and strategies to avoid making them
And much more

Join Katie at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2012, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: Succession Planning

2011-12-30T22:59:00.001-08:00

Speakers: Jason Swain, Jason Swain & Associates, LLC, and Diane Quincy

Jason Swain, of Jason Swain & Associates, LLC, brings over 13 years of professional experience in organization development, training, and executive and corporate coaching. He has brought his expertise to mid- to large-size, publicly held companies as well as nonprofit organizations. Using validated, research-based processes and tools, Jason helps clients discover and use their signature strengths in service of something greater than themselves.

He will be joined by Diane Quincy, who has over thirty years of experience in human resources, organization and leadership development in the private sector. She has facilitated nonprofit board retreats and strategic planning, provided training and coaching for board and staff members, and has assisted with the director recruitment process. Diane has an MBA from Eastern Washington University and has taught leadership and team development at Gonzaga University as an adjunct faculty member.

By the end of this session, participants will:

Understand the basic value systems and characteristics of the four generations in the workplace today;
Be able to identify potential clash points between generations;
Learn strategies for working more effectively across generations;
Understand an important framework for engaging and developing current and future leaders of any generation; and
Identify potential strategies for accelerating development of high potential individuals as part of a succession plan.

Join Jason and Diane at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: Board Management and Development (for Executive Management)

2011-12-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

Speaker: Don Chalmers, SparrowHawk Consulting Company, Inc.
www.sparrowhawkco.com

For the past 40 years Don has worked successfully with groups of people in a wide variety of settings; from small “encounter” groups to audiences in the hundreds. He has served as the Executive Director of a number of nonprofit organizations including a higher education foundation and a health care system foundation and has been a member of several non-profit boards. As a seasoned consultant, he’s collaboratively worked with scores of Executive Directors and their Pacific Northwest nonprofit boards to help their organizations grow, develop, and flourish.

By attending this session you will:

Learn innovative, creative, and proven strategies to build a board of directors;
Develop a clear understanding of a board’s roles and “job” within the organization;
Review the skills and tools needed to perform those roles;
Understand funder expectations of nonprofit boards; and
Learn how the board contributes to the sustainability of your organization.

Join Don at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2012, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: Human Capital Management

2011-12-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

UPDATED Speakers: Pam DeCounter, Red and Associates and Adam Borgman, YMCA/RSVP

Pam has 25+ years of experience in small business management and Organizational Development / Human Resources consulting. She has both managed and owned her own businesses, and served as an organizational development consultant for businesses and franchisees in the construction, manufacturing, banking, hospitality, professional services, non-profit, and healthcare industries.
Pam has served as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University and her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership. Adam has worked in volunteer management for the last seven years and currently, with RSVP of Spokane County, is responsible for volunteer program management which includes general recruitment, interviewing, orientation, and placement of senior volunteers to serve in community agencies.

This session will cover areas that help us understand why human capital is a major success determining factor, yet not typically an organizational priority. We’ll discuss:

Methods for attracting and retaining great talent (specifically performance mangement)
How generational communication differences play a role
Who’s responsible for effective human capital management
Basics of volunteer management
Recruitment messages, barriers to volunteering
And much more…

Join Pam and Adam at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series Thursday, February 16th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Session: Endowments and Planned Giving 101

2011-12-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

Speaker: PJ Watters, Director of Gift Planning, Inland NW Community Foundation

PJ Watters assists donors and professional advisors to achieve donors’ philanthropic goals. She has a Master’s degree from Whitworth, 10+ years development officer experience, and 20+ years leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, including Group Health, Morning Star, Red Cross, Heart Association, and Chase Youth Commission. PJ has completed courses at Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, including Principals and Techniques of Fundraising and Planned Giving.

At the end of the session participants will be able to understand and better articulate answers to the following:

What is an endowment?
How do you know when you are ready to establish a true endowment?
What is your Board’s fiduciary responsibility?
Who manages the investments and what is a good “asset allocation”?
How do you determine your spending policy?
What are the best ways to build your endowment?
What is a community foundation and how can they support you in this effort?

Join PJ at the 2nd annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Leadership Series held Thursday, February 16th, 2012, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Keynote: Deanna Davis

2011-11-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to announce the keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference on February 16, 2012 at the Spokane Masonic Center. Deanna Davis, Ph.D., MPH, Managing Partner and Principal Consultant for Applied Insight, LLC, will deliver an engaging and insightful presentation over the lunch hour.

Combining her cutting-edge research with practical strategies, Deanna delivers presentations meant to inspire organizations to take action to achieve their goals – and she does it with flare! Known for her sense of humor and ability to tell a good story, Deanna has a way of engaging her audience while providing useful tools to achieve lasting change.

Deanna earned her Ph.D. in Leadership with a focus on Positive Psychology from Gonzaga University. She also has a master’s degree in Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in English. She has over 20 years experience leading more than 15 collaborative community initiatives, including the Inland Northwest Communities in Charge Initiative, Healthy Kids Now!, Second-Hand Smoke Community Awareness Project, and Disability Awareness, Surveillance and Health Promotion (DASH) Program.

With Applied Insight, LLC, Deanna (See attached) has acted as lead consultant on all community development, strategic planning, research, and training initiatives for several projects, has authored three books and is a professional speaker, executive and leadership coach, leadership trainer, and team building and facilitation expert.

Join Deanna for her informative presentation from 11:45 – 1pm in the Ballroom, 2nd Floor. Conference registration opens December 1 at www.ae-consulting.net/Conference.htm.

Class Announcement for Inland NW Nonprofit Conference!

2011-11-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

We have confirmed our class schedule for our 2nd Annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference taking place on February 16, 2012 at the Spokane Masonic Center. The class schedule is as follows:

1st session (8 - 9:15am)

Grants Research & Prospecting *Back by popular demand!
Human Capital Management
Endowments and Planned Giving 101

2nd session (9:30-11:30 am)

Funders Panel (Participating organizations TBD)
Succession Planning

Keynote Lunch Speaker: Deanna Davis

3rd session (1:10 - 2:30pm)

The Science and Art of Grant Writing
Strategic Planning
Financial Management 101 *Back by popular demand!

4th session (2:45 - 4pm)

Marketing in the Tech Era
Board Management and Development (for Executive Management)
The Uber Board Member: Adopting a Model for Guiding Your Organization (for Board Members)

Happy hour on-site to follow!

Class descriptions and speakers will be announced throughout the next few months. Stay in the loop by signing up for AE’s blog here.

Washington Nonprofit Launch Party This Thursday, Oct. 6th!

2011-10-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Don't miss Washington Nonprofit's launch party this upcoming Thursday taking place consecutively in both Spokane (Spokane Masonic Center) and Olympia (The Heritage Room) from 5-7 pm.

The event will feature two speakers, Laura Papetti, Anchor & Director of Community Services for KREM TV in Spokane, and David L. Thompson, Vice President of Public Policy for the National Counsel of Nonprofits in Washington, D.C. A social hour will follow where the newly formed organization will introduce its goals to the local community.

Washington Nonprofits is a recently incorporated state association whose mission is building a strong, collaborative network of nonprofits serving Washington communities through advocacy, education and capacity building.

This event is free and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Visit www.washingtonnonprofits.org to learn more and register for the event. Free parking is available to those who RSVP!

Save the date! The 2nd Annual Inland NW Nonprofit Conference is February 16, 2012!

2011-09-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again. Plans for next year’s conference are underway. The 2012 conference will be a full day event with happy hour on location to follow. There will be up to 12 separate classes covering grants, marketing, financial, and other topical issues for nonprofit organization’s staff, management, or board.

It’ll be here before you know it, so save the date!

February 16th, 2012 (full day)

Spokane Masonic Center

Be sure to sign-up for AE’s blog to stay in the loop on registration dates, classes, and speakers as they become available.

Washington Nonprofits hosting launch party October 6th

2011-09-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

On October 6th, they’re hosting two launch parties – one in Spokane and one in Olympia – with free training, local speakers, and a social hour to introduce their goals to the local community.

Spokane’s launch party will be hosted at the Spokane Masonic Center, Thursday, October 6th from 3:00-7:00 pm.

A free training, “Advocacy: A critical part of achieving your mission” will be delivered by nonprofit sector veteran Melora Hiller who has 25 years of experience in the sector, an MPA from Seattle University, and whose work focuses on organizational development, capacity building, and program planning.

Following the training, the event will feature a happy hour from 5:00-7:00 pm which will include short presentations from both the Olympia and Spokane events (simultaneously webcasted). A briefing by Washington Nonprofits’ Executive Director, Alison McCaffree, will precede adjournment.

Nonprofit leaders from across Washington have long acknowledged the need for a statewide nonprofit association that could provide a voice for the more than 50,000 nonprofits in Washington. Our state association will provide Washington’s nonprofit sector with better representation in state and federal policy decisions, improved access to programs and funds, and access to services and programs to build their capacity.

The entire event is free and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Visit www.washingtonnonprofits.org to learn more and register for this event.

Kids in Need Teachers Grant

2011-08-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

The Kids in Need Foundation’s annual teachers grant is now available through September 30, 2011. The grant provides K-12 educators with funding to support creative classroom projects. Awards range from $100 to $500 each and typically 200-300 grants are awarded each year. All certified teachers working in public, private, charter, or parochial schools are eligible.

There are three sponsorship applications to choose from, which can be found here. All teachers that apply will receive a package of poster making and bulletin board supplies (worth $25).

What The Foundation is Looking For

Innovativeness and merit (40% of evaluation)
Clarity of objectives (20% of evaluation)
Replication feasibility (20% of evaluation)
Suitability of evaluation methods (10% of evaluation)
Cost effectiveness (10% of evaluation)

A Hypothetical Project

Let’s say a teacher wants to integrate as part of their classroom curriculum NW Public Television’s Dr. Universe, a public television and online series, currently in production, that provides scientific education to youth. That teacher could apply for this grant requesting funding to purchase DVDs for their classroom to support an established learning outcome. Because the DVDs can be used in future classrooms, the project’s replication is feasible, which is a quality sought after by the Foundation.

To see what projects have been funded in the past, visit The Guide to Award Winning Projects. However, remember that they are looking for new and different ideas.

Important Things to Remember

The grant funds projects, not programs. Projects are usually not more than a few weeks long at most.

The grant awards are based on innovativeness and educational value, not need.

Only one application per project is allowed; however, you may submit applications for as many different projects as you want.

Take your time and read the guidelines. The Managing Director, Peggy Hawk, has encouraged applicants to contact her if they’d like her to review their project.

Nonprofit Community Offline Event: From Start-up to Sustainable, June 28th, 5 p.m.

2011-06-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the inaugural LaunchPad Nonprofit Community offline event on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at 5 p.m. in the LaunchPad Training and Coworking Center at 120 N. Stevens in downtown Spokane.

Leaders from local nonprofits will share stories around the topic “From Start-up to Sustainable.” Together, we will explore successes and lessons learned as nonprofit leaders built their programs and organizations. Fundraising, volunteerism, program development, donor relations, marketing, and community engagement are just a few of the topics that panelists will discuss. Participants will also have a chance to ask questions or share their own stories. The event will begin with the panel discussion and will end with an opportunity for attendees to share their opinions on how to make the LaunchPad Nonprofit Community’s online and offline content dynamic and resourceful!

Light refreshments will be provided. Cost: Free to members, $10 for non-members.

We look forward to meeting you in person at this inaugural offline event!

Amusing Quotes on Nonprofit Governance

2011-06-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

This subject matter isn’t our forte nor are we qualified to provide legal advice, but we found the following quotes taken from the Nonprofit Law Blog’s “Quotes from Glee and Nonprofit Governance” highly informative and most importantly, quite entertaining (laughs are necessary to get through Mondays).

"When my mom applied to college, she put being popular as her main extracurricular activity." - Quinn. Too often, nonprofits recruit board members because of their social status or popularity. They justify this because of the funds and connections they may bring with them. We criticize colleges for accepting students for the same reasons. Shouldn’t nonprofits also recruit and elect board members for their abilities and desire to govern the organization?

“It takes years to build a good reputation, and only seconds to destroy it.” - Will. Doesn’t this apply almost everywhere? There are so many ways to ruin an organization’s reputation. Some bad fact patterns: board members using organizational resources to benefit themselves, unprofessional conduct of staff and other representatives, negligent management of organizational resources, and failure to control the organization’s communications (including through social media vehicles). Make sure the board is attentive to the need to protect the organization’s reputation. Use Will’s statement as a talking point at one board meeting.

“You're lashing out at me is fantastically compelling and inappropriate.” - Kurt. A good lashing out can make for great television. But it generally would not be appropriate at a board meeting, where divergent ideas and perspectives should be encouraged, but only if they are delivered respectfully and within an agreed upon framework. Chairs of the board or board committees should be instructed on how to effectively preside at meetings consistent with the organization’s values.

“People just don't like me.” - Rachel. “You might wanna work on that.” - Finn. If your organization goes through a multi-year decline in donations, donors, and volunteers, you might wanna work on that … at the board level.

“I have no idea what's going on in this script, and it's not in a cool Inception kind of way." - Finn. It’s important that instructions given by the board to the executive and staff through policies and directives are clear. Be careful of informal directions given by individual board members who have no inherent authority to act and conflicting directions. Make sure your policies are regularly updated and staff trained on understanding them. For example, it may be critical to educate and receive feedback from your development staff about the organization’s gift acceptance policy.

“Status is like currency. When your bank account is full, you can get away with doing just about anything. But right now, we're, like, toxic assets.” - Quinn. When your organization is riding on a wave of strong support, financial health, and programmatic achievements, it may seem like you can do just about anything – expand, pay more, leverage your status in collaborations. But waves eventually break and your organization’s status will also go through valleys as well as peaks. Make sure your plans account for these fluctuations.

“At what age are you allowed to look back on your life with nothing but regret?” - Emma. At certain times, your organization may need to cut a program, reduce the scope of its services or the number of people it serves, lay off staff, or even dissolve. Yet, there may not be a need to look back with regret. Sometimes, admitting failure is a sign of strength – that the organization was able to take a chance on something new that turned out not to work but would stand as a learning tool for others, or that the organization recognized its mission could be advanced more effectively and/or efficiently by another organization or another way.

On a side note, this legal blog is actually based in California and often covers California issues only. Does anyone know of any great nonprofit legal blogs that are Washington focused?

AE offers Constant Contact services!

2011-04-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

AE is now a Constant Contact partner! Constant Contact is a service offering email marketing, event marketing, and online surveying. We like it because as a partner of Constant Contact, we now can provide these services to our clients! Here’s the scoop:

Email marketing is a quick and efficient way to communicate to your audience by email. With email newsletters, there’s no more stamp licking and you save on the print and postage costs of regular snail mail. You can send E-newsletters more frequently than newsletters without making such a large dent in your wallet.

E-newsletters have the potential to reach a larger audience because they can be forwarded with the click of a button. In contrast, the only audience a paper newsletter is going to catch is someone snooping through the recipient’s mail.

AE starts by choosing a template for your email newsletter. Constant Contact offers a variety of templates to choose from and for those who dare, Constant Contact allows for HTML editing. Luckily, AE knows how to tread the murky waters of HTML coding, so we can custom fit your E-newsletter to match your brand. AE can also assist in researching and writing content for your newsletter.

We then import your email contacts into the Constant Contact database, which can be saved for future use. These contacts can be grouped based on demographics or interests so specialized E-newsletters can be sent out targeting a particular audience. Need more contacts? AE can add a “join mailing list” button to your website or social media page.

In one click, we can send your E-newsletter to your chosen email contacts. We can also schedule the delivery of your email newsletter to target recipients during times when they are most likely to check their email.

Constant Contact provides tracking and reporting so you can see who read, clicked, and forwarded your E-newsletter as well as who shared it via social media. You can see which links had the most click-throughs giving you an idea of what types of content your contacts are interested in. You can also learn who unsubscribed to your email list and why. Constant Contact’s tracking and reporting features help you measure the success of your email marketing campaign and improve future E-newsletters. See an example email report here.

Another useful tool is event marketing. Constant Contact is a great way to spread the word about your organization’s upcoming events. For example, AE used this service to market our annual Nonprofit Conference this last February. We were able to solicit potential attendees, update existing ones, and offer a way for our attendees to register early just by sending out simple E-newsletters. This was especially handy when we needed to send out last minute reminders the night before, which would have been impossible by regular mail.

Constant Contact also provides an online surveying feature, which allows you to distribute an online survey by linking from your blog, website, Facebook page, or email newsletter. Online surveys have a better response rate compared to direct mailings and responses are received sooner. Also, there is no need to spend all that time compiling survey responses because Constant Contact does that for you, providing detailed reports of your survey data.

To learn more about AE’s services through Constant Contact, please contact us.

2011 North Idaho Nonprofit Forum

2011-04-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

This forum, presented by the Idaho Nonprofit Center, will feature local and regional grantmakers for round table discussions. These funders will represent private foundations and corporations.

There will be three 20-minute opportunities to hear funders discuss giving priorities, deadlines, application processes, contact information, and all the basic facts relevant to their grant programs!

The forum will offer:

Unique access to prominent funders;
Unique Thought-provoking panel and breakout sessions;
Roundtables with regional and local grantmakers; and
Networking with your peers.

When: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 8 am - 4 pm

Where: Coeur d’Alene Inn at 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Cost: $89/Person; $59/Member or

Early Bird Special: $75/Person; $49/Member (Deadline April 20)

Registration: Idaho Nonprofit Center website

Check out what funders are attending so far by visiting the Idaho Nonprofit Center website.

Free Charity and Nonprofit Education Symposium on May 4th in Spokane

2011-03-31T00:04:00.000-07:00

The first regional full-day Charity and Nonprofit Educational Symposium, presented by the Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division, is open to anyone involved in the administration of charities and nonprofits. This is an opportunity for those who work in nonprofits to learn more about what they must do to be in compliance with state and federal law.

The presenters will be Washington Secretary of State, Washington Department of Revenue, Washington Liquor Control Board, Washington State Gambling Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and WAACO (Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations).

The agenda is as follows:

Registration requirements of Washington state
IRS requirements for charities and nonprofits
Washington state tax requirements
Bingo, raffles and adult beverages – How to do it all legally
Maintaining nonprofit status & legal obligations of boards

Lunch will be provided free of charge. Registration is limited, so sign up today!

When: May 4, 2011, 8:30 am – 4 pm

Where: Spokane Falls Community College

Cost: Free!

Registration: http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/

Contact: Teresa Glidden, (360) 725-0373

Tenacity. Don’t pursue grant funding without it!

2011-03-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

According to Webster, tenacity is defined as “holding firmly; strongly cohesive or adhesive; persistent or stubborn.” Each of these phrases can be applied to the strategies and tactics of obtaining grant funding.

There’s temptation to expect immediate results from seeking funding support for the organization you’re in support of or working for. The need you serve to your constituent base always seems unfulfilled when funds were needed yesterday, which is why when you ask for a year-end donation you expect it relatively soon after the email or mail campaign or when you request sponsorship support for your upcoming event it should at the very latest come to you post-event. But when it comes to grants, dig your heels in and approach it like a marathon, training and all.

I was just informed that a recent grant proposal for one of our long-time clients was declined for the request of $75,000, but was instead allocated a $25,000 contribution. This same funder gave us $80,000 three years ago, declined us the next year, and then gave us $25,000 this year. Fickle? Yes. Frustrating? Sure. Worth the effort? Of course.

This long-haul funder relationship and funding pursuit has ultimately provided our organization the much needed support of $105,000 over three years, or $35,000 a year. How this breaks down:

Over 1000% return on investment of time and resources from the organization;
Approximately 455 constituents served; and
Imperative operational support, particularly post-recession.

The value is apparent. However, let’s take it one more step: Had we not continued our relationship and tenacious pursuit of this funder’s support, we could have missed an opportunity to receive support that was much needed in our current economic state and whose fallout effects were largely unpredictable. Remain tenacious in pursuit of grant funding. Otherwise, stick to the short sprints, but be weary of burnout for you and your organization.

Special Thanks!

2011-02-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all the attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and staff at our inaugural Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference. We’re in the throes of analyzing the feedback in preparation for future educational events. Stay tuned!

Many folks have asked if they can contact their speaker. If your speaker opened up that opportunity during your session, then please feel free to connect with them. If they didn’t provide their contact information that day, you can find their name and company on our blog and Google for specific contact information.

Throughout your sessions, you may have realized that your needs as an organization call for to change. Should you want to discuss consulting services or recommendations on services that would help facilitate your needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us. All initial consultations are free. And if we cannot help you, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

If you have any additional comments, concerns, or suggestions, please go to our website’s Contact Us page and email us.

Conference Day Info

2011-02-17T05:17:00.000-08:00

We're finally here! Today's our conference. Over 100 people will be coming through the doors today!

We cannot take walk-ups, sorry.

All participants who have signed-up should have received an email via Constant Contact from AE that contains the location (Spokane Masonic Center), directions, and parking pass. We will not have parking passes available. Please print one before you arrive.

Check-in is in the Ballroom on the 2nd floor.

All classes are on the 4th floor. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your first class.

Thank you.

Conference Speaker: Grants Panel, Open-forum Discussion

2011-02-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

Panelists: Patty Gates, Executive Director, Community Building Foundation; Kristine Meyer, Executive Director, Avista Foundation; Sarah Smith, Strategic Grants Program Assistant, Empire Health Foundation; and Jennifer Pearson Stapleton, Spokane County Grants Administrator

Moderator: Sandy Gill, Northwest Nonprofit Resources

(www.nnr.org)

Each panelist will discuss the specific details of their grant making process from matching their funding interests to positioning your organization for funding to their expectations on administration and reporting. The open-forum will be moderated by Sandy Gill, who will facilitate the discussion with the audience and guide with relevant questions as needed.

Whether or not you are new to grant seeking, this panel discussion will provide immense insight into northwest funders explaining detailed information that will help streamline the funding process. Join this panel and come prepared with your questions about grant seeking.

Registration closes February 11th. The first annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Fund Development Series will be held Thursday, February 17th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Speaker: Building Sustainable Organizations

2011-02-09T19:10:00.000-08:00

Janet Bourque, Principal, Bright Star Grant Consultants, and Nina Eckberg, Founder, Great Gardens in North Idaho

(www.brightstargrants.com)

Janet is an innovative and experienced consultant with expertise in program development and administration, course development, outcome based curriculum development, logic models, budget development, and evaluation. She is a respected leader and administrator with extensive knowledge and skills to support client missions and guiding principles. Janet’s experience includes positions as a Director of Federal, State and Special Projects, Branch Campus Director and Evening School Director for Lake Washington Technical College, and National Director of Education and Self Sufficiency for The Casey Family Foundation. She has led a wide range of workshops in national venues, served on the Department of Education grant review team, and advised U.S. Senate members regarding issues of workforce training.

Nina received her Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Science from Colorado State University and used her education as a landscaper in Colorado, Missouri, and Georgia, and then became a County Extension Agent for the University of Georgia, teaching Master Gardener classes and horticulture workshops to the public. She moved to Idaho in 2002 and worked for the Noxious Weed Department in Kootenai County, teaching residents the advantages of good land stewardship and invasive weed species control. Nina was awarded funding to projects through grant writing that resulted in educational outreach and weed control research. From there, Nina established Great Gardens.

The first half of the class will include PowerPoint's, small group discussion, and structured activities. During the second half, Nina will identify Great Gardens’ plan for sustainability, including the inspiration, initial planning, selection of board members, and articles of incorporation and she will show how building a sustainable organization is similar to building a sustainable garden.

Registration closes February 11th. The first annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Fund Development Series will be held Thursday, February 17th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Speaker: Program Evaluations

2011-02-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

Karen L. Michaelson, Ph.D., Tincan, Executive Director

(tincan.org)

Karen is currently responsible for overall management of Tincan, including project design, funding requests, funder reports, budget development and management, supervision of personnel, and she acts as community liaison. All of Tincan’s programs require evaluation – sometimes external, sometimes more informal. Karen has used evaluation data to build Tincan into a $700,000 a year organization. She will cover the importance of evaluation, when and how to begin planning for evaluation, and how to design an evaluation that will give you replicable results. Karen will also cover embedded evaluations and choosing an evaluator.

Join Karen and learn details surrounding the importance of program evaluations and why they are a vital key to obtaining funding.

The first annual Inland Northwest Nonprofit Conference – Fund Development Series will be held Thursday, February 17th, 2011, at the Spokane Masonic Center. For more information visit the AE website.

Conference Speaker: Sponsorship & Corporate Relationships

2011-02-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Bill Kalivas, Co-Owner and Managing Partner, LaunchPad Inland Northwest, LLC

(launchpadinw.com)

Bill is the Co-Owner and Managing Partner of LaunchPad Inland NW, and was the Founder and CEO of a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization, Connect Northwest. Connect Northwest raised $150,000 in startup funding from Spokane County and several local businesses. Bill was responsible for building relationships with these partners and maintaining funding for four years. Currently, he operates a private company that teaches relationship building workshops.

Join him and learn the importance behind establishing credibility before making “the ask" and how to build relationships and create partnerships with your sponsors.

Conference Speaker: Board Engagement

2011-01-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

Tim Card, Partner and Coach, ForIMPACT

(www.forimpact.org)

Tim is the head of Performance Development Solutions (PDS) whose mission is to transform nonprofit organizations through ideas, funding solutions, training, and strategic coaching. PDS is a Regional Partner of The Suddes Group, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, which has collectively raised over $2 billion through working with hundreds of organizations over the past 30 years. PDS incorporates the highly effective ForIMPACT approach into field consulting solutions, strategic coaching, and training initiatives. Tim has served on many different Boards of Directors and has over 15 years of Board experience.

Join Tim and find out what has made other boards tick! Review strategies to get your board engaged in your fundraising.

Conference Speaker: Legal Issues

2011-01-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

Steve Faust, Director, Gonzaga School of Law, University Legal Assistance, and Susan Amstadter, Practitioner in Residence at the ULA Clinic

(www.law.gonzaga.edu/academic-program/law_clinic/default.asp)

Steve is a Spokane attorney with twenty-five years experience in business law and litigation. He has broad expertise in corporate and business law. Steve currently maintains a solo law practice representing a broad range of clients including small businesses, nonprofits, technology-oriented firms, and start-ups. Steve is also the Director of the Business Law Clinic at the Gonzaga University School of Law. In that capacity, he supervises second and third year law students in providing a broad variety of transactional legal assistance to qualifying small businesses, technology start-ups, and nonprofit organizations.

Susan has been practicing law for over twenty-five years. She is currently a Practitioner in Residence in the Business Law Clinic at Gonzaga where she supervises law student interns, primarily focusing on nonprofit projects. Susan is also Co-Owner of Express Employment Professionals, a locally owned internationally franchised staffing firm, managing daily operations.

Join these speakers to better understand basic legal issues involved in operating a nonprofit organization such as governance, conflicts of interest, and compensation of executives.

Conference Speaker: Grants Research

2011-01-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

Mark Pond, Reference Librarian, Spokane Public Library

Mark Pond is the Reference Librarian for the Spokane Public Library. His work entails assisting nonprofits in devising funding search strategies, staying current on industry trends, and answering questions related to the grant research process. Mark has made ongoing presentations to a wide range of community and business groups to highlight the business and nonprofit related resources available at the public library. He is a Toastmaster’s alum and has his MLIS from the University of Washington.

Join him and learn about research resource tools, methods, and strategies to establish a funding strategy.

Conference Speaker: Proposal Writing

2011-01-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

Brian Holloway, Director of Development and Communications, Arc of Spokane

(www.arc-spokane.org)

Brian has held the role of Director of Development and Communications at Arc of Spokane for nearly four years where he oversees fundraising and public communications for the agency. He has an M.A. in English with a focus in Composition and Rhetoric, three years experience teaching writing at the college level, and three years experience as a successful grant writer. Brian will present on getting started in proposal writing, successful case studies in funded proposals, and a review of expectations on budgets and evaluations.

Join Brian and learn about the fundamentals of proposal writing when approaching foundation funding.

Conference Speaker: Marketing on Any Budget

2011-01-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

Sally Mildren, Director of Public Relations, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane

(shrinershospitals.org)

Sally has worked as Director of Public Relations at Shriner’s Hospitals for over four years and is currently responsible for marketing, advertising, strategic planning, public relations, donor relations, physician relations and community relations. She has a Master of Arts in Communications and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and is Adjunct Faculty in Public Relations/Publicity for Whitworth University.

Sally’s presentation will focus on the importance of a strategic approach to marketing and budgeting including overviews on how to develop a strategic plan, maximize your resources, measure and evaluate effectiveness, establish creative partnerships, and discover opportunities to expand your budget. She will be using case studies from Shriner’s.

Join Sally to learn and discuss strategies and tools for getting your voice heard when operating on any budget.

Conference Speaker: Online Marketing

2011-01-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

Ed Reese, Sixth Man Marketing & Tine Reese, Freelance Graphic & Web Designer

(sixthmanmarketing.com)

Ed, Owner and Online Marketing Strategist of Sixth Man Marketing, provides search engine optimization (SEO), analytics, and conversion rate optimization services and strategy. He is a Spokane-based internet marketing consultant specializing in organic SEO, local search, and analytics. He has consulted for high-tech firms, universities, and national nonprofits. Learn more about Ed’s expertise through his site and blog at www.sixthmanmarketing.com.

Tine is an experienced and passionate graphic designer who understands the communication challenges faced by nonprofits, foundations, and small businesses. With a knack for simplifying complex ideas and conveying messages clearly and elegantly, she creates targeted communications that consider a client's organizational objectives and, most importantly, budget. Over the last 14 years Tine has worked at design studios in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco and co-founded a highly successful marketing communications firm whose clients include many of the most outstanding nonprofit organizations in California.

Join these speakers to review strategies and tools available for effective online marketing and understand what nonprofits need to communicate.

Conference Speaker: Planned Giving

2010-12-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Sharon Morgan, Associate Director, Gift Planning Office
WSU Foundation (foundation.wsu.edu)

Sharon is responsible for identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects for planned and complex major gifts. Sharon has closed outright gifts, traditional planned gifts, and bequest expectancies totaling over $25 million while working in the Gift Planning Office of the WSU Foundation since 1999. She also serves on the board of the YMCA at WSU, a small nonprofit organization, and chairs its Resource Development Committee. She has also assisted in setting up their bequest society (Lamplighters). Sharon holds a Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law.

Join Sharon and get an overview of gift planning theory and practice, including some marketing and legal considerations.

Conference Speaker: Financial Management

2010-12-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

Angela Richardson, CPA & Ralph Conner, CPA

LarsonAllen (www.larsonallen.com)

Angela has over a decade of experience in accounting and auditing, including both public and private sectors. Her experience includes substantial planning and supervising of audits of nonprofit and governmental entities in accordance with OMB Circular A-133. In addition, she provides professional consulting and training to various nonprofit organizations related to board governance as well as performs quality control reviews for other CPA Firms.

Ralph’s professional experience includes planning and supervising audits of nonprofit and governmental entities in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and OMB Circular A-133. Ralph devotes the majority of his time to dealing with issues that affect community health organizations, voluntary health and welfare organizations, social service agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. He has provided audit and consulting services to nonprofit organizations for over 20 years. His experience with nonprofit organizations includes strategic financial and business planning, organizational development and restructuring, consulting and reporting on internal accounting controls, and indirect cost allocation plans.

Join these speakers to learn about basic financial management of a nonprofit organization, including best accounting practices, challenges facing smaller nonprofits, trends within the industry, and basic benchmarking tools to help manage the organization.

Conference: Early Bird Special - Purchase Day Pass by 2011

2010-12-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Early Bird Discount: Take an additional 10% off of a Day Pass if purchased prior to 2011! Day passes include 4 classes of your choice, lunch, and access to all networking opportunities and vendors.

Day passes already include a 10% discount, but an additional 10% will be deducted if purchased before 2011.

Before 2011 Discount Price: $153

After 2010 Price: $170

Once the official registration system is available, you will be able to purchase classes, or additional day passes for other members within your organization (at 50% off) on AE Consulting’s website.

You will be contacted by email to confirm your class choices. All classes WILL be available for Early Bird purchasers.

*Offer EXPIRES December 31st, 2010

*Full refunds will be available within 30 days of being requested. If you need a refund, please contact us directly.

Recruiting Presenters for Nonprofit Conference

2010-11-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

AE Consulting will be hosting the first annual Inland NW Nonprofit Conference – Fund Development Series, February 17th, 2011, at the Spokane Convention Center. We will be hosting a 1-day educational conference open to all area nonprofit organizations and covering topics such as grants, marketing, board development, legal, and much more.

Right now we’re in the throes of creating all our marketing materials to spread the word and recruit speakers! For details, please access the Speaker Outline by clicking the image on the top right of this post.

Please feel free to forward this information on to anyone you feel is a local expert in the subject area. If you are interested in presenting, please email info@ae-consulting.net with the class session in the Subject header, we'll reply with a brief application.

We should have the capabilities to begin registration for the conference by December via ae-consulting.net and updates via our blog at ae-consulting.blogspot.com.

Grant Makers, Grant Seekers & Some Tips on Clearing the Way

2010-10-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

While reading Grassroots Grants, by Andy Robinson, although written over 10 years ago, it is apparent that there are core topics within the grants writing process that remain unchanged. Since the publishing of this book, the primary change has been the increased use and dependence on the internet. Otherwise, the challenges, processes, and passions within the work are the same.

Obstacle number 1: understanding what the grantor wants to fund.

Grant seekers face a huge challenge when interpreting what the grant makers want to fund. They first have to determine who would fund them, what they want to fund, and then, how to approach.

Luckily, the advent of websites allows an expedited route to getting information on funding priorities and guidelines; however, grant seekers are still butting up against the written word, which leaves much room for misinterpretation.

Here are some testimonies Robinson points out from his survey to grant makers on what they want from their grant seekers:

The Compton Foundation’s Edith Eddy says, “What really annoys me is people who send us volumes of materials when, as an environmental funder, we ourselves are doing everything we can to conserve paper. Keep it simple, keep it short.”

John Powers of the Educational Foundation of America states, “Every contact you have with a foundation is a window through which your work will be seen. It is important to be accurate, thorough, and prompt. Sloppiness in spelling, grammar, typos, style, and jargon will lead the reader (funder) to infer that the organization is sloppy and possibly ineffective in its work.”

Diane Ives of the Beldon Fund admits, “Quite frankly, the proposal is the least important part… It’s the whole relationship process, building a relationship with the foundation.”

What this clearly states is that there is no one size fits all solution when approaching grants makers. They’re all different. It is up to the seeker to keep in mind the following tips while charting their course:

1. Follow the guidelines and rules they have written on their websites.

2. Aim to establish a relationship with a grantor before writing a proposal – write, call, or email a LOI (Letter of Intent).

3. Avoid jargon and fancy language in your letter – a brief combination of detail including constituent testimonials, data, and anecdotal information is very useful.

4. Edit, proof, peer proof, and repeat.

5. Keep going! And track all your contacts.

Locating the right fit for grants takes time and perseverance, but finding that match can mean saving a program, helping that many more kids learn to fish, keeping one more stomach full. I feel it’s worth it. Any comments from grant seekers or makers are welcome:

Maximizing a Consultant Relationship from the Outset

2010-10-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

Consultants are a dime a dozen. However, when you establish a functional relationship with a great consultant, you’ve struck gold! By definition a “consultant” is one who gives professional or technical advice, or, one who consults another. Sounds generic right? This works to your benefit. You can source a consultant, or a group of them, for any organizational need. There are multiple advantages when hiring a consultant. They can have flexible work schedules, broad networks, and integral knowledge of the local community. Consultants also pay their own business taxes and insurance fees and can offer an outside opinion without the bias or lack of experience that has been presenting an obstacle to your organization.

To maximize the time and money spent between your organization and the consultant, it’s important to consider a few key elements prior to signing any contracts. Here’s a brief snapshot of what I recommend taking into consideration on your side and from the consultant side as well as tips to getting started on the right foot:

When considering hiring a consultant, know the answers to the following questions:

· What specific area(s) of your organization have the greatest weaknesses? Strengths?
· What is your budget for hiring outside services?
· What outcomes are you expecting?
· Have you discussed this idea with your Board? (Suggested reading from The Nonprofit Consultant Blog, Continuous Improvement for Nonprofits)

Keep in mind the challenges from the consultant side:

· Not working in-house, or daily, with an organization can present drawbacks.
· Short-term projects have a higher risk of returning lower results (dependent upon project).

Tips to building a solid relationship from the beginning:

· Make sure you have a feasible communication system established. Are you a phone or email person? Should meetings be held weekly, monthly, or face-to-face?
· Outline a schedule for progress reports and establish openness around feedback, both negative and positive.
· Establish project milestones and timelines and put it all in writing.
· Should a project go well, consider keeping the consultant in the loop on your organization’s progress either via emails, lunch meetings, or even board meetings. This will keep them connected and will allow for less ramp up time down the road once a new project arises.

Consultants can seem expensive and sometimes they can be, which is why it is important to establish a solid plan of action and clear communication in order to allow the project an opportunity to succeed! Consultants are typically worth what you pay them, but there is responsibility on both sides. If done correctly, working with a consultant on certain projects can prove to add tremendous value. To ensure your dollars are well spent, take the above points into consideration and feel free to add to the discussion below.

More on "How to hire a freelance grant writer" here!

The Nonprofit Consultant Blog: Get Seen By Private Foundations

2010-09-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

Free registration to increase your visibility toward private foundations who don't accept unsolicited proposals...free before Oct. 1...worth a quick gander and possible sign up before they start charging...

The Nonprofit Consultant Blog: Get Seen By Private Foundations: "If you've done any sort of prospecting for new foundation grants, either using one of the resources from the Foundation Center or any other ..."

Despite a Dwindling Economy, In-Kind Donations Rise Above

2010-08-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

As a result of the economic downturn, many companies cannot afford to give monetary donations to the nonprofit organizations they support. This year alone sixty-eight companies decreased their cash donations from $4.3-billion to $3.9-billion according to a report from USA Today. That’s the bad news. Now for the good news: Corporations are increasingly substituting cash with in-kind donations including equipment, software, and employee time.

In this recent study conducted in collaboration with The Chronicle of Philanthropy, USA Today concluded that although cash donations from US-based companies have dropped 7.5 percent in 2009, non-cash contributions have experienced a 5 percent increase. Many companies are looking to make up for their decrease in financial assistance to nonprofits by encouraging their employees to volunteer and donate more time.

So who’s donating in-kind locally?

Avista Corp. is encouraging their employees to donate to community school supply drives.

Microsoft Corp. is providing technology skill training to out-of-work people.

The Make-Up Studio owner, Julie Farley, invites customers to donate new or gently used makeup for local charities supporting low-income women such as The Hope House, Our Place, and Women’s Hearth. Farley has titled her mission Project Beauty Share.

The Sandpoint Fire Department offered auction items for Holly Eve, an event that raises funds for several nonprofits. The items included firefighter memorabilia, a birthday party at the fire station, and six firefighters working two days at the winning bidder’s home (see full article from the Spokesman here).

Numerica Credit Union employees raised $16,000 to donate between Hospice Services in Spokane, North Idaho, Tri-Cities and Wenatchee.

What local companies do you think should be recognized for their philanthropy?

2nd Annual One Night One World Celebration

2010-07-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Join us for the 2nd Annual One Night One World Celebration taking place during Sustainable September on the 10th on Isabella’s rooftop downtown Spokane.

Starting at 5pm until 9pm, we’ll serve 3 courses of organic cuisine (mingling-style), local wine & beer, host a silent auction, music, and some light comedy to raise funds for One World Spokane. Individual tickets are $45 each and include dinner and a drink. Limited tickets and sponsorship available at www.oneworldspokane.com.

Any questions or donations for silent auction, contact Andrea Estes at andrea@ae-consulting.net, or (206) 355-7514.

Social Media and Search Engines Unite

2010-07-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

According to a recent blog post by Top Rank Marketing Blog, search engines are starting to enhance their relationships with major social media sites. Currently, the major data sharing is between the social sites Facebook and Twitter and the search engines Google, Bing, and Yahoo. These search engines are taking this a step further, working to create a sort of symbiotic relationship by cross-sharing data across both platforms.

In the past, search engines relied on different sources and even each other to compile their search results. Now, these search engines are updating their data sources to pull from social media sites as well, which allows them to include real time search (Learn more about real time search) and social search (Learn more about social search) into their results. This opens up a world of opportunities for businesses participating in social media to gain more online exposure.

As real time search and social search become more prevalent in search engine results, participation in social media will gain even more importance in business marketing. Content shared through social media will be not only noticed by those who follow your company by way of social media, but will also have a higher chance of being noticed by those conducting an online search relating to your product or service.

AE is curious. What type of social media are you using to boost business and search engine visibility?

C.A.S.T. awarded $27,000 from Wal-Mart Foundation

2010-06-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

AE Consulting recently won a $27,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation's State Giving Campaign that will go toward supporting the Fishing Kids Program through the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation! This is wonderful news for the program and foundation. And as always, great timing. Thank you Wal-Mart Foundation!

Establishing an Online Presence for Your Small Business, Part 3 of 3

2010-06-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Americans conducted 15.4 billion searches in the month of March according to comScore, a company that tracks U.S. search engine market share. Approximately 65.1% of these searches were done through Google. These statistics further prove the necessity for businesses to establish their presence online to take advantage of the large number of consumers using the Internet to find products and services.

In parts 1 and 2 of our series we explained that the ideal form of online presence is a website, which you can have developed professionally or you can create one yourself. If your company does not currently have the financial resources or time to develop a website, your next best option to establish your company’s online presence is to claim your business using Google Places, a simple and free service offered by Google. Regardless if you have a website or not, every business should take advantage of this service. In this article we will go over the basics of Google’s local search and how you can use it to your advantage to attract customers in your area who are searching for the products or services your company offers.

Understanding Google’s Local Business Search
Here’s how it works: whenever someone uses Google’s search engine and looks up a business name or key words/phrases along with a geographic phrase (i.e. Italian restaurants in Spokane, Washington), they are provided with local business listings (LBL) and a map and phone number for each listing. Notice that the first results displayed are seven local businesses, which are known as the Google 7-Pack – the top seven listings for a local product or service. You can view all local results by clicking the link below the 7-Pack.

What makes local business results different than regular search listings is that they are derived using Google maps. This means that if your business has a spot on the map, then more likely than not it will be included in Google’s local business results.

The Benefits
Claiming your business is free, simple, and rewarding. As mentioned above, most likely your business is already listed through Google, but by registering you are able to edit and update your business listing yourself. Not only can you ensure that the information provided is correct, you also have the ability add more information about it such as your website, services, hours of operation, photos, coupons and much more. You can visit Google Places anytime to update your business’ information or to see how many people have clicked on your listing.

Getting Started
Before you begin you must have an account with Google (Sign up here). Next, check to see if your business is already listed with Google by searching [your business name in your city, zip code]. If your business is included, click on the listing and you will see a link titled, “Business Owner?” in the top right corner of the listing page. Click on this link and go through the process of validating your business, which can be done by phone or mail. Once you receive confirmation that you are validated as the business owner, you can proceed to edit and modify your business’ listing. If your business is not already listed with Google, visit the Google Places homepage and click on the link titled, “Add new business.” Go through the necessary steps as instructed. To learn more about this process and for troubleshooting, visit the Google Places User Guide. You can also learn more about Google Places by tuning into this helpful webinar.

Once your business is registered with Google Places, you can start modifying your places page to meet your company’s advertising needs. There are multiple factors that enhance your business’ ability to rank higher in Google’s local business results. David Mihm, a professional SEO consultant based in Portland, Oregon, has teamed-up with others in the Internet marketing field to compile an excellent list of these factors, listed by importance. To see his list, go here.

This concludes our 3-part online presence series. We hope that you have found this information useful and encourage you to contact AE Consulting should you have further questions on how to establish your business’ online presence.

Seahawks Fish & Feast Fundraiser Great Success

2010-05-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

RENTON, Wash. – The fourth Annual Seahawks Fish & Feast Charity Fundraiser raised more than $20,000 for the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation. Twenty local disabled or disadvantaged children received a once in a lifetime experience on a guided fishing trip with a Seahawk player, coach, or Sea Gal last Sunday. The event is structured to emulate an actual C.A.S.T. event with a twist of celebrity.

AE and Seahawks Community Outreach managed the full production of the event. We're looking forward to next year! Special thanks to all those who were involved. CLICK the above link to a short video covering this unique event.

The Importance of Transparency

2010-05-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

The blog post from Cause Capitalism titled, How Transparency Can Benefit Your Company (There’s More To Be Gained Than Consumer Trust), by Olivia Khalili, expands upon a quote from Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation, “If you’re not scared by what you’re revealing, than you’re not being transparent enough.”

Practicing transparency applies not only to for-profit businesses, but to the nonprofit sector as well. The suggestion that you should be scared when exposing your organization’s practices, flaws and all isn’t entirely true. Transparency doesn’t have to be scary. In other words, honesty should lead to profitability. A professional journalist, investor, and friend of mine recently told me with incredible conviction that she would not donate to an organization if she couldn’t easily read about where her money was going. The following suggestions are proven steps in creating transparency for your donors, grantors, supporters, and constituents:

1. Establish a well-written and informative website;
2. Post your Annual Report or 990 on the site (as a PDF); and/or
3. Register and maintain a presence on sites such as GuideStar and Charity Navigator.

If your small business or nonprofit and would like guidance on establishing transparency, contact an AE Consultant to discuss your options.

Establishing an Online Presence for Your Small Business, Part 2 of 3

2010-04-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

In Part 1 of our series we discussed the importance of having an online presence to cater to the increasing number of consumers who are using the Internet to research products and services. We explained that a website is the most common form of online presence and your ideal (and more expensive) option is to invest in a web developer to design and develop your site. If you are on a tight budget and cannot afford a professionally developed website at this time, your next option is to build it yourself.

How to build your own website step-by-step:

1. Obtain a domain name – The domain name is what people type into their address bar to get to your site (www.ae-consulting.net). Picking a domain identical to your company’s name is ideal, but due to limited availability this may not be an option. In this case, find a domain that best reflects what your company offers (Learn more about choosing a domain name).

2. Find a web host – In order for people to access your website, you must have a web host. A web host is a company that leases space on a server where people can publish their websites. There are tons of web hosts out there so do your research to find one that meets your needs (Learn more about finding a good web host).

3. Build your website – The website is what people actually see online. When creating your site you have two options: using a template or starting from scratch. Many web hosts offer website builders where you simply choose a design and fill-in the blanks. You can also purchase templates online. If you plan on building your site from the ground up, you will need to know HTML, the language of web pages (Learn about HTML). Remember to follow basic design principles and web usability strategies to enhance user experience.

4. Managing your content – Your site content includes text, images, and multimedia. Make sure all content has a purpose, whether it is to inform customers about your company or answer any potential questions they may have (Learn about the copywriting process). Also, ensure your content doesn’t contain “too good to be true” words (Learn about copy mistakes). It is also important to keep your site updated with new content so visitors have a reason to check back.

Building your own website takes time and can be an overwhelming process. What do you find to be most intimidating when considering building your own website? This concludes part 2 of our series. Next, we will be discussing your third alternative if hiring a web designer and building your own website is currently not an option for your business.

Nonprofits Could Lose Tax Exemption Status

2010-04-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

According to the New York Times post on April 23, 2010, an estimated one-fifth to one-quarter of some 1.6 million charities, trade associations, and membership groups will lose their tax exemptions on May 15 at midnight thanks to a provision buried in a 2006 federal bill aimed at pension reform. If you have not filed taxes for three consecutive years, including those with revenue under $25k, you need to contact a tax professional immediately. Please reference the linked article for more information.

Welcome Erin to AE's Team

2010-04-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

We'd like to welcome Erin Freehan to AE's team as a level 2 Consultant. She will be working with existing and new clients, has a background in PR and marketing, and has extensive experience with nonprofits. As our client base continues to grow, it is important for us to ensure we're offering quality services to each client, thus a new consultant was needed! Welcome Erin! We look forward to your contributions to our team and client projects.

Free Webinar for Nonprofits: Finding the Perfect Donor Database in an Imperfect World

2010-04-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Tune in to this free webinar for nonprofits on April 15th at 11 a.m. Pacific time. The webinar will cover how to choose a donor database, focusing on the following topics:

1. What to expect from a fundraising database.
2. When to consider a change.
3. How to make the decision.
4. Why not build your own database?

Having a database is essential to tracking critical organization information such as donor, volunteer, and supporter info. The challenge is ensuring your staff is using it consistently and correctly.

Particularly, we like the part about building your own database. Why? Because your very own database can be customized to meet your current needs and is flexible if these needs change in the future.

Contact your AE Consultant for tips on how to get the team on board!

CYT-Spokane's historically accurate portrayal of The Legend of Pocahontas

2010-03-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

CYT-Spokane is a non-profit, theater arts organization providing instructional sessions and live musical performance opportunities for youth ages 6-18. The organization offers three fully staged musical productions performed at the Bing Crosby Theater this year. On May 21st CYT will debut The Legend of Pocahontas with four separate show times.

“When people hear Pocahontas, many associate it with the Disney production. What is different about CYT’s Pocahontas production is that it is a historically accurate portrayal with original songs and dances,” stated Lydia Kinne, CYT’s Box Office Manager and Registrar.

This original CYT musical tells the story of the Algonquin Indian tribe and their princess, Pocahontas. The production has a cast of eighty-one, which is a particularly large cast for CYT, offering the opportunity for a large number of local youth to participate. The cast will sing and dance to live music performed by volunteer musicians, showcasing a variety of musical instruments and talents.

When asked what is unique about CYT’s productions, Kinne explained, “The comradery of the cast. When watching the show you can see the strong friendships and bonds that have developed as a result of the production.”

CYT-Spokane was the first branch established outside San Diego in 1998 and since has strived to maintain its current mission while adapting to the changing needs of the local community. Nearly 1,000 children participate annually in the educational programs and theatrical productions with approximately 12,000 patrons attending the shows hosted at the Bing Crosby Theater.

The organization has opened up limited opportunities for sponsorship of their productions to local companies interested in supporting youth arts in the community. There are three levels of sponsorship; Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each level offers a combination of solid advertising before, during, and after the shows through various routes of media.

To get your company involved in supporting this annual community event, contact Andrea Estes with AE Consulting at (206) 355-7514 or andrea@ae-consulting.net.

Establishing an Online Presence for Your Small Business, Part 1 of 3

2010-03-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

According to a recent Kelsey Group Study approximately 97% of consumers use the Internet to research local products and services. This number proves the necessity for all businesses – regardless of size and services – to have an online presence to generate new customers and retain existing ones. This surprising statistic prompted AE Consulting to write a blog series highlighting our top three approaches for businesses to establish their presence online.

In this series of articles, we’d like to outline your options and let you choose which suits your needs and budget best – the recommendation is that you’ve opted to do at least one of the options suggested once you’re done reading the entire series.

The most common and popular form of online presence is a website. The ideal option is to hire a professional services company to design and develop your business’s website design and content. This option is best suited for companies that intend to be established and growing for more than two years. If you intend to dissolve your business under two years, we’d recommend taking a more inexpensive route when establishing your web presence (Learn about these options in parts two and three of our series). Hiring these services is an investment, but one that will prove its return in a matter of months.

Before you hire a web designer it is important for you to understand what makes a successful website. The overall design should follow basic design principles to garner positive attention and relay your company’s message (learn about website design). Your website must also be strategically laid out for usability to promote user experience (learn about usability mistakes). Most importantly, your website needs to utilize search engine optimization (SEO) – implementing various design and content strategies to position your website to appear toward the top of a list when someone conducts a search. SEO ensures that people actually visit your website, providing your business a return on investment (learn about SEO). Without strategic writing, structure, links, meta-tags, etc., your site will be a dime a dozen in cyberspace.

Web design prices vary depending on skill and amount of work involved. If you do decide to go this route, do your research. Find a web designer that has extensive experience with website design, usability, and SEO tactics (learn about considerations when hiring a web developer).

AE would like to know your thoughts. What challenges are preventing your company from developing a website? This concludes part one of our three-part series. Next, we will discuss the second option for establishing your business’s online presence if a professionally developed site is not your ideal option.

Best wishes to our intern, Chang-Peng

2010-03-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

AE Consulting would like to recognize Chang-Peng for his solid research work done as our marketing research intern over winter quarter. He completed several research projects for our start-up and did so with patience and persistence. Chang-Peng came to us through the MBA program at EWU's Spokane campus due to his interest in marketing and desire to get some real world experience before graduation.

Many thanks for your contributions and best of luck in your career in the business world! You have a bright future ahead of you.

Experts Discuss Revised Form 990

2010-02-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Nonprofit board members are faced with new responsibilities as a result of the revised Form 990, which now requires information on board structure, policies, and practices and disclosure of full compensation for key employees and board members.

Yes. Those are some big changes to swallow in one sitting. Although the form has been in effect since 2008, the changes were so extensive that many still have questions. Attached is a discussion from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which provides helpful tips on how to fulfill these new requirements and will hopefully answer any lingering questions.

Exotic bird freedom around the corner

2010-02-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

TLC Bird Haven, a nonprofit organization established in 2001, is launching a capital campaign to raise funds for its new free-flight bird sanctuary building slated for construction this year. TLC's current facility is a safe haven for nearly 50 abandoned, disabled, special needs, and unwanted exotic birds, all of which are parrots.

It's the goal of Joanie Lamm, President, to use her own land to establish a large free-flight building in addition to the current facility. The building will house the birds in an as-close-to-nature as possible habitat and offer enough space to take in as many birds as necessary from any part of the country.

TLC's bird sanctuary will provide a safe haven for all exotic birds that are special needs or unwanted. The facility also has boarding services available for more temporary needs.

TLC needs support from individuals or businesses to help build the free-flight building. They have the land and all other necessary resources, but will need to fundraise close to $100,000 for construction. The new free-flight building will also be accompanied by an educational facility, both of which will be open to the public to offer an opportunity to the local community to learn about exotic birds and encourage the conservation of the animals over time.

Please go to www.tlcbirdhaven.org for more information and to get involved.

Interesting Blog on SEO Advantages for Small Businesses

2010-02-10T16:47:00.000-08:00

Check out this blog on the advantages small businesses possess when it comes to search engine optimization methods. It maintains that small businesses have the ability to be both creative and agile when developing SEO strategies in comparison to larger competitors. The blog offers great tips for the small business to ensure its online content marketing and SEO programs are a success. Be sure to take a look at the comment section below the blog. It offers great insight and tips as well.

Nonprofit Leadership Series Launches in Seattle

2010-02-08T11:30:00.001-08:00

The Center for Nonprofit Success kicks off its Seattle seminar series on March 10th from 8:30 a.m. - noon at Seattle Pacific University. This monthly series focuses on various aspects of nonprofit management offered over the course of six seminars. Topics include board development, executive transition, public relations, and other issues affecting long-term sustainability.

The first session on Building a Strong and Healthy Board covers responsibilities of a nonprofit board, how to structure boards for effectiveness, techniques and approaches for board assessment and recruitment, and more. The speaker, Renee Herrell, CFRE, has been a consultant for the past five years and a development professional four years previous focusing on board development.

Five sessions will follow featuring topics in Executive Leadership (April 14), Volunteer Management (May 12), Public Relations (June 2), Strategic Alliances (July 7), and Social Media (September 1). Each seminar costs $110 and can be attended individually or as a whole.

The Center for Nonprofit Success is a nonprofit specializing in bringing highly relevant information that nonprofit leaders need to run their organizations successfully. For more information visit cfnps.org.

Internet Marketing Workshop for Spokane Businesses

2010-01-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to improve your company's online presence, yet have no idea where to start? Check out this half-day workshop on February 4th presented by GetListed.org's Local University, a recently formed nonprofit group dedicated to teaching small businesses the ways of the web.

Join leading marketing experts, including representatives from the Google Local Business Center, who will be presenting a basic introduction to search engines, free opportunities for search engine exposure, search engine optimization (SEO) tips and techniques, social internet marketing strategies, and much more.

The workshop will be held at the Northern Quest Casino, offering two identical half-day sessions (8 am - noon and 1 pm - 5pm). The event costs $129, but use the code "bowling2010" and save $50!

For more information visit getlisted.org/spokane.

New Book Provides Resource for Educators

2010-01-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

Gini Cunningham, Education Consultant and Principal of Energized Learning, released her book The New Teacher's Companion: Practical Wisdom for Succeeding in the Classroom, on January 14th at the Patsy Clark Mansion. The book aims at providing novice teachers with the necessary tools to become accomplished educators. Cunningham offers a sequential guide to the classroom covering initial preparation, procedure planning, instruction essentials, and how to measure and increase student success.

After spending over 30 years in the education system, Cunningham was motivated by the large turnover rate of teachers within their first five years of teaching. She wanted to provide a resource for educators to turn to when they are feeling overwhelmed or helpless in the classroom. Throughout the book Cunningham shares personal experiences and observations, demonstrating teaching methods using real-life scenarios.

Gini Cunningham resides permanently in Nevada and travels throughout the west frequently. She has her Masters in Education, is Board Certified in Early Adolescent/Young Adult Literacy, and has 30 years of K-12 teaching experience.

Her company, Energized Learning, provides educational consultation, workshops, and seminars for any level of educator or educational facility. She also offers free tele-seminars the first Tuesday of each month. Topics include Classroom Management, Rules & Procedures, Organizing the Year, and much more.

For more information on Gini Cunningham and Energized Learning visit www.energizedlearning.net. Her book, The New Teacher's Companion, can be purchased at shop.ascd.org and www.amazon.com.

TLC Bird Haven Ready to Go!

2010-01-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

TLC Bird Haven (tlcbirdhaven.org) is ready to begin their capital campaign for a new free flight exotic bird sanctuary on its current sanctuary property in Deer Park! Check out their new web site and videos on Facebook (search for Joanie Lamm).

Please support the new building development and fundraising by telling anyone you know who is a bird lover and making a contribution through the web site!

CLICK HERE to watch a video on a TLC resident, TIKI!

CYT-Spokane Building Capacity and Asking for Support

2010-01-05T09:47:00.001-08:00

Children's theatre arts organization seeking sponsorship for 2010

January 5, 2010, Spokane, Wash. – CYT-Spokane is a non-profit, theater arts organization providing instructional sessions and performance opportunities for youth ages 6-18. CYT offers three fully staged musical productions, performed at The Bing Crosby Theater in fall, winter, and spring and several summer camps are offered for ages 5-18. The organization has opened up limited opportunities for sponsorship of their theatre productions and programs to local companies.

There are various levels of sponsorship that offer combinations of company publicity, employee/family involvement, gifts, and an opportunity for children you know to participate in CYT's educational programs. All contributions are 501(c)3 tax-deductible and are greatly needed to support the growth and sustainability of these programs. Come enjoy a well recognized production while giving to your community by supporting a local children's arts program.

Information on CYT-Spokane can be found at www.cytspokane.com. For details on production or program sponsorship for your business, please contact Andrea Estes, andrea@ae-consulting.net, or (206) 355-7514.

$10,000 Grant Awarded to C.A.S.T.

2009-12-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

This just in! A grant, written by AE, was awarded to the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation from the First Financial Northwest Foundation Fund in the sum of $10,000. Wonderful news!! This money will go directly toward supporting local fishing programs hosted by C.A.S.T. for special needs children.

Thank you FFNWFF and Renton Community Foundation.

Meet n' greet with author Gini Cunningham!

2009-12-21T10:53:00.001-08:00

Join recently published educator & author Virginia Cunningham, discussing her objectives behind "The New Teacher's Companion: Practical Wisdom for Succeeding in the Classroom"
Thursday, Jan. 14^th, 2010
5:30-7pm
Patsy Clark's Mansion, French Room
2208 West 2nd Avenue Spokane, WA 99201

Gini Cunningham, Masters in Education, Board Certified in Early Adolescent/Adolescent English/Language Arts 5-8 Secondary Education, with 30 years of K-12 teaching experience is the author of The New Teacher's Companion (published by ASCD 11/09) and several other educational resources. Gini will be in Spokane on Jan 14^th to discuss her new book and her objectives behind her energized work.

Please join us for some drinks and apps and meet and chat with Gini. 10% discount on books purchased at the event. Visit www.energizedlearning.net to learn more about her services and resources.

MUST RSVP to Andrea Estes at andrea@ae-consulting.net, or call 206-355-7514. Everyone welcome, education professionals encouraged, and there's NO COST to attend. LIMITED SEATING available.

C.A.S.T. awarded $3,000 from Nysether Family Foundation

2009-12-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Excellent news as we near the end of this financially challenging year, the Nysether Family Foundation awarded a $3,000 grant written by AE to support the C.A.S.T. Program through the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation!

Emphasis in Nysether's awards is given to those orgs that are dedicated to improving the quality of life and services available for local youth, seniors, and developmentally challenged individuals of all ages and preserving our quality of life by advocating the intrinsic value of animal life in our environment and the conservation and preservation of our natural landscapes while recognizing the private property rights of others.

Thank you Nysether Family Foundation for your generous support to a wonderful foundation that serves our special needs children teaching them how to fish!

Tips on Donating During the Time for Giving

2009-11-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

The end of the year has approached us and there are several nonprofit organizations that are in need. As an individual and/or a company there are many factors that can play a role in your giving objectives. This is entirely a personal decision and cannot be swayed in any direction based upon one issue alone. However, here are some things to consider when choosing where you allocate your funds and some guiding tips:

1. Do you want to support local needs or reach a wider demographic? Often your local, smaller nonprofits can easily get overlooked yet have a great need and return it straight back to your local community. Run a Google Search for your area, example "Spokane Nonprofits", or check with a local chamber, or call AE to help provide direction.

2. Folks will typically look at a charity's overhead percentage to quickly determine if they allocate their money wisely. This is not a tell-all factor and is not an accurate litmus test. Call the charity or drop them an email and ask where your donation goes! Then use your judgement from there. Understand that charities have to run similar to businesses in our current era and do need operating support...this is often the hardest funding to attain, yet the most valuable in building a better nonprofit org.

3. Do check that your donation is being made to a 501(c)3 and obtain a receipt for tax-deduction purposes. Ask to be put on their email/mailing list for updated communication on their efforts. This helps you as a donor stay informed.

These tips will help guide you on your giving during this wonderful holiday season and in the future!

Northwest Heating & Cooling has an updated site!

2009-11-19T19:04:00.000-08:00

AE Consulting re-wrote the copy for NWHC's web site! Check it out. We tightened up the content, added in some optimization strategies, and are excited to see the results. We'll do an analysis of the site in few months to track the progress. Stay tuned...

New Client: Affinity Investments in Tacoma, WA

2009-11-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

AE is looking forward to working with Affinity Investments Inc., a commercial real estate firm based in Tacoma, WA. Affinity is in their 3rd year of business and has hired AE to provide guidance on developing a marketing mix to support their growing business! Keep an eye out for http://www.affinityinvest.com/

C.A.S.T. wins $1000 from Renton Rotary

2009-11-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

AE was told today that their grant request was honored by the Renton Rotary and C.A.S.T. for Kids will receive $1,000 toward its programs!!

New client: NW Heating & Cooling

2009-11-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

AE has brought on NW Heating & Cooling as a new client! Owner Christine Day has hired AE for web-based marketing support and research for Women Owned Business grants and contract prospects. We are excited about our partnership and the projects ahead. Welcome NW Heating & Cooling.

Finally! Some positive news about the economy...

2009-10-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Although coming out of our economic downturn will be slow, our progress is noteworthy. Attached is a BBC article discussing global progress and some leading factors.

21st Century Marketing ROI Made Clear

2009-10-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

From TopRank Online Marketing Blog:
I’ve been in the business of SEO for about 12 years and have worked with hundreds of companies of all sizes. I cannot be anything but biased towards the benefits of optimizing web sites to improve visibility in search and the commercial outcomes that can result. Read On

Raising Start-Up Capital

2009-10-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Good article from Inc.com with ideas and inspiration for start-ups and entrepreneurs!

Working wirelessly: What you need to know

2009-10-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

Many companies are making the leap to wireless networks in the office for both financial savings in overall equipment and sheer convenience for their employees. They also often provide mobile PCs with wireless capabilities to their employees so that they can be productive anytime anywhere, hence enhancing the company's bottom-line.

Video on Grant Funding and the Need for Operations Funding

2009-09-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Finding operational funding is a shared challenge amongst all nonprofits. Rest assured, there is a wave of advocacy directed toward grant makers to help them understand that when money is allocated toward programs, there is a strong need for money to be allocated toward the resources that run and manage those programs too!

An Editor's Added Value

2009-09-25T10:06:00.001-07:00

Assisting in the editing of client materials is Cara Lorello. Cara is a former newspaper reporter and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English & Technical Communications from EWU. Her multi-faceted news writing & editing experience provides a strong added value to AE's services.

Welcome to AE's Blog

2009-09-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to AE's Sharing for Small Businesses & Nonprofits Blog!

AE follows several web posts, news feeds, and other blogs about current business news & trends and will be sharing the ones that are important to our clients.

You'll see recent articles on economic & industry trends, funding news, technology trends, AE's client success stories, and other business opportunities & events in the Washington area.

Feel free to sign-up, follow, and comment on our posts...and don't hesitate to make a recommendation for certain topics you feel are share-worthy.

It's difficult to keep up with all the information out there and the changing trends in business. Let AE help narrow it down for you & help keep you competitive in your market!