focus: community development works helping nonprofits … · called community development works....

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1W o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t i e s

Community DevelopmentWorks Staff (standing),Akeshia Singleton, CDWProgram Supervisor, (seatedl-r) Felicia Walker,Learning Lab Technician,and Amanda Weatherford,Program Assistant.

onprofit organizations, also known as 501(c)(3)s, are an integral part of any strongcommunity. They are intricately woven into the fabric of our nation – contributinga wealth of volunteer manpower, resources, and services to people in all walksof life. Their absence in our communities’ infrastructure would be unthinkable.

a publication of the rapides foundation summer 2006@ &Health Well-Being

F O C U S : C O M M U N I T Y D E V E L O P M E N T W O R K S

Helping Nonprofits

Profit

“ One of the most effective toolswe’ve designed is our programcalled Community DevelopmentWorks. The idea behind it is toprovide nonprofit training,leadership development,informational resources, andgrassroots organizationaldevelopment. In other words, wewant to help the area’s nonprofitsto profit from our services and toadd value to ourcommunities.”

2

Community Development Works - Overview

(continued from page 1)

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W o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r h e a l t h i e r c o m m u n i t i e s

range of issues facing nonprofits, such as boarddevelopment, staff development, fundraising,marketing, and forming effective committees.According to Singleton, nonprofit organizationstoo often place significant emphasis on theirprograms and not enough on the issues thataffect the organization itself. “It greatly affectstheir sustainability because if you don’t look atyour infrastructure and you just focus onprograms you’re probably not going to have anorganization to support that program in the longrun.”

“We understand the vast importance ofnonprofits in any community,” said Joe Rosier,President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation.“Their contributions are immeasurable. It’s exactlythat recognition of their importance that has ledus at the Foundation to work closely with manyof these organizations. We’ve even helped set upa number of nonprofits that now offer neededservices to the people of Central Louisiana.

“One of the most effective tools we’vedesigned,” Rosier added, “is our program calledCommunity Development Works. The idea behindit is to provide nonprofit training, leadershipdevelopment, informational resources, andgrassroots organizational development. In otherwords, we want to help the area’s nonprofits toprofit from our services and to add value to ourcommunities.”

Akeshia Singleton is the Program Supervisorfor Community Development Works. She definesCDW as, “A place where nonprofit organizationscan get information that they can use in theirservices, whether it be for grant writing orprogram development. It’s also a place wherethey can get training on different aspects ofnonprofit management.”

Singleton also detailed how CDW’sinformation services for nonprofits can becustomized. “It’s a customized relationship in thatthe information we’re providing is tailored to theorganization or individual. There is so muchgeneral information out there that it’s easy to getbogged down with it because you’re not reallysure if it’s useful to your organization or if it’s evenrelevant. And that’s where CDW can come in andhelp guide you through that information, throughall the clutter, and come out with what is relevantand useful information for the organization.”

In the area of training, CommunityDevelopment Works each year offers a series oftraining sessions (see page 13) that cover a wide

Helping NonprofitsProfit

Joe Rosier, President and CEO,The Rapides Foundation

3

Community Development Works - Overview

www.rapidesfoundation.org


(continued from page 2 )

(front row l-r) Wyman Lewis, Jr. and Wyman Lewis, Sr. take part in a CDW leadership development class at the Learning Centerfor Rapides Parish, while instructor Sharon W. McCall (standing) answers questions for other class members.

There is also leadership development trainingthat is provided by CDW – geared to boardmembers since the boards of nonprofits have aunique and vital role to play as stewards ofnonprofit organizations. Board Works (see page 4),is such a program, targeting “seasoned” orexperienced board members to help them sharelearning around board development issues,thereby becoming more productive boardmembers and community leaders. Then there is aprogram begun in 2004 called Board Builders (seepage 8), aimed at developing young leaders toassume positions on nonprofit boards of directors.

For Singleton, the work of CDW has an indirectbut positive effect on the health of the community.“CDW helps develop the community throughnonprofit organizations. Our work here makes thecommunity stronger by the fact that nonprofits,through our training and access to relevantinformation, make themselves stronger and betterable to deliver services. So if we can assist anonprofit to achieve its goal and meet the needsof the community then the community will bestronger because of that. And that, in the end, iswhat CDW’s goal, our primary goal is – and that’sto build stronger communities.”

his is a story of three Central Louisiana nonprofit organization board members. Each has astrong desire, almost a calling really, to be a positive force in their community. They wantto give something of themselves and their passion to worthwhile nonprofit groups or causes

that have somehow captured their heart. Each attended courses in Board Works, a program ofCommunity Development Works designed to help nonprofit board members be better informed onthe latest sector trends and be more productive in their board service.

4

Board Works


to ServeThe Heart and the Head

Ivory Brown, Volunteers of America of Central Louisiana board member, and past board president of the Alexandria Museumof Art with two of her granddaughters, Morgan (left) and Madyson Brown at a River Oaks summer art class.

(continued)

5

Board Works




Ivory Brown“I’m a miracle, thank God,” vehemently asserts

Ivory Brown who underwent a heart transplantin 1994 at the age of only 45. That adversitycertainly hasn’t stopped her from caring abouther community; in fact, her resolve to help outwhere she can is as strong as ever. She is a retiredelementary teacher of 20 years, a mother of fourchildren and a grandmother of six children. Sheis on the board of Volunteers of America of CentralLouisiana, as well as the Alexandria Museum ofArt of which she is the immediate past president.Brown says these nonprofit organizations areboth, “worthwhile causes and really dear to myheart.”

(continued)

“I grew to love

the organization

and its mission

. . . and have been

there ever since.”

Linda Hutson, board member ofThe Extra Mile, Region VI.

Linda HutsonOur second board member is Linda Hutson

who is both a staff member of a nonprofit,(Development and Community Relations Directorat the Food Bank of Central Louisiana), and aboard member of another nonprofit (The ExtraMile, Region VI). Six years ago she had never evenheard of The Extra Mile, which handles clientsserved by the state mental health system, untila public relations job put her in touch with them.“I became involved through this anti-stigmacampaign. I grew to love the organization andits mission, so when I was asked to serve as aboard member I jumped on board and havebeen there ever since.” She has also served onthe board of the Rapides Children’s AdvocacyCenter.


CDW Training class instructor Sharon W. McCall works with Linda Hutson, board memberof The Extra Mile, Region VI and staff member of the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.

for CDW’s first class of Board Builders, aprogram for young professionals whowant to serve on a nonprofit board.“I wanted to be on a board to serve mycommunity as well as grow and networkprofessionally,” said Hall. After finishingBoard Builders he was matched withRenaissance Home for Youth. “It’s been agood match.”

These three board members had thedesire not only to serve, but to serve well.When they learned of the special seriesof training sessions offered by CDWthrough its Board Works program theyeagerly signed up to learn more aboutsuch topics as the importance ofdeveloping effective committees, strategicfundraising, the components of asuccessful strategic plan, and the role ofa board versus the role of the staff. CDWspecifically designed these sessions forexperienced board members who wantto strengthen their expertise inrecognizing and handling board-relatedchallenges, and to be exposed to newideas and methods for effective boardgovernance.

“I think I would have been morereluctant to pursue a board position andhad a lot less confidence going intoserving on a board had I not participatedin both Board Builders and Board Works,”said Hall. “ They both have definitelyprepared and excited me to serve on aboard.”

Hall has been on the Renaissance board sinceJanuary 2005 and likes it just fine. “In somecapacity I’d like to make serving on a nonprofitboard an ongoing practice of mine.”

Linda Hutson really appreciated theopportunities Board Works made available fornetworking and sharing ideas and experiences.

6

Board Works


John HallJohn Hall is the Administrative Director of

Cardiovascular and Radiology Services forCHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. Still in theearly stages of his career, he wanted to go beyondhis professional commitment so he signed up



John Hall, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular and RadiologyServices for CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is a boardmember with Renaissance Home for Youth

7

Board Works/Mezzanine Level



“Where can we meet?” is a question that cropsup at times for many nonprofit organizations andbusiness groups. Community DevelopmentWorks can furnish an answer – the Mezzaninelevel of The Rapides Foundation building whichis located at 1101 4th Street in Alexandria.

The Mezzanine room is completely furnishedwith tables and chairs for up to 45 attendees inclassroom or theatre-type setting. A flip chart,TV/VCR and overhead projector are available, aswell as a fully functional kitchen.

Open Monday-Friday from 7am - 9 pm, theMezzanine rents for only $20 for up to 4 hours;$30 for 5 or more hours.

It’s just another way CDW is fulfilling its statedgoal of “helping people build communities inCentral Louisiana.”

For more information contact AmandaWeatherford at 318-443-7880 or 1-800-803-8075.

Meeting

“Each of the group sessions was small enoughso that we were able to interact with each otherand ask questions. You were given ideas and newways to look at things not only from the peoplewho led these sessions but from other boardmembers who could tell you what other boardsare doing and what results they’ve had.”

Hutson also envisions her future withcontinued board work. “Once you becomeinvolved with one organization, it seems tobecome part of your life, part of who you arebecause you want to continue to help.”

Ivory Brown thinks Board Works saves so much

time and energy by equipping people withinformation that can readily make them a moreproductive board member. “It gets right to thepoint,” she said. “So many times people go intoan organization or on a board and they’re tryingto find their way around; but if you havesomething to work with, some kind ofbackground or information, they can work tomuch better advantage.”

Through Board Works, nonprofit organizationsand board members alike are finding ways tocollaborate and share knowledge that will helpto improve effectiveness and productivity. Asthese three board members can attest, BoardWorks really works and our communities will behealthier for it.



On The Mezzanine

8

Board Builders


(continued)

ommunity Development Works (CDW) launched a program two years agocalled Board Builders. Unlike Board Works which targets experienced boardmembers, Board Builders seeks out younger professionals (ages 21-40),

usually underrepresented on nonprofit boards, to train and place them in boardleadership positions. The success of the program depends on the cooperationamong Central Louisiana businesses, nonprofits, and emerging community leaders.

CPaycheck

It’s Not About A

Don Poole, CEO of theYMCA of Central Louisiana


“ It is an opportunity for people in middlemanagement to give back to the community.”


Tony Boire (right), Plant Manager of Kerotest Manufacturing, Inc. in Mansura in Avoyelles Parish, goes over product detailswith production specialist Jeffery Augustine.

Board Builders



“It is an opportunity for people in middlemanagement to give back to the community,”said Tony Boire, Plant Manager of KerotestManufacturing, Inc. in Mansura in Avoyelles Parish.Kerotest manufactures and distributes industrialvalves. Boire has been on several boards; “I like togive back to the community, and I try to dovarious things to help out.” Boire saw thenotification for an upcoming session of BoardBuilders, liked the idea, and signed the companyup to participate in the program as an EmployerPartner. He singled out one of his employees whoshowed an interest in being on a nonprofit boardand gave him the time and the support necessaryto attend not only all the Board Builders training

sessions, but also later the board meetings forthe organization with which he wouldsubsequently be matched. That’s what it meansto be an Employer Partner.

“I visited with the first candidate to go throughBoard Builders about the sessions and then laterabout his board meetings” (the employee wasmatched with First Tee, an organization that helpsdevelop youth through golf ), Boire remembered.“He was very happy with the training he got. Hehad nothing but positive things to say.”

Board Builders consists of an orientationsession in August, followed in September andOctober by four bi-weekly, half-day trainingsessions on fundamental governance topics.

10

Then participants and thenonprofits are brought togetherin a special session and matchedup according to interests andneeds. The process culminateswith a graduation ceremony inlate November.

Upon completion of thiscomprehensive process, the BoardBuilders graduates are ready toassume their roles on the nonprofitorganization’s board of directors,where they will also receive amentor to guide them on this newendeavor. The YMCA is one ofthese Nonprofit OrganizationPartners that has mentored aBoard Builders graduate. “TheYMCA is a volunteer-basedorganization so naturally we’realways looking in the arena ofdeveloping volunteers, both on aprogram and a policy level,” saidDon Poole, CEO of the YMCA ofCentral Louisiana. “When I saw thenotification of the Board Buildersprogram it presented a greatopportunity for our YMCA inCentral Louisiana to tap into somenew resources for individualsinterested in the policy side ofvolunteer development.”



(continued)Jennifer Moreau, an in-house architect with the Migues Deloach Companygoes over plans with Wayne Murrell at a job site in Pineville.

“It is such a good feeling to know that some of your energiesand talents can go to help others without any motive attached.

It’s not about a paycheck. It’s about helping others . . .”Jennifer Moreau, an architect who serves on the board of the Friendship House Adult and Daycare Center.

PaycheckIt’s Not About A

Board Builders

11


Board Builders


Susan Broussard, Manager of Corporate Communications for Cleco with Linda Hutson, Development and CommunityRelations Director for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.

12


Board Builders

(continued)

PaycheckIt’s Not About A


The board member the YMCA received fromBoard Builders has consented to serve as mentorto the next board member they hope to recruitfrom the upcoming Board Builders session. “Thetraining is invaluable, not only to the organizationbut to the individual,” said Poole.

The link between the Employer Partner andNonprofit Organization Partner is the youngprofessional who is willing to volunteer his or hertime and resources to serve on the board ofanonprofit organization. Jennifer Moreau, anin-house architect at Migues Deloach Companyin Alexandria in Rapides Parish, is one of these.“I was at a point that although my professionallife was fulfilled there was still something missing.I needed an outlet to kind of give back to thecommunity.”

And she found it on the board of FriendshipHouse Adult and Daycare Center. “It just struck achord with me that this is someplace I can makea difference and these are people that will bereceptive to new ideas. And it’s such a worthycause,” said Moreau. “It is such a good feeling toknow that some of your energies and talents cango to help others without any motive attached.It’s not about a paycheck. It’s about helping othersand that really hits home with Friendship House.”

She believes Board Builders gave her a boostup. “Without the training that CDW and BoardBuilders provided, I think I would have been lostand overwhelmed. I think the Board Buildersprogram allowed me to participate a lot soonerthan I would have without the training.”

Susan Broussard, Manager of CorporateCommunications for Cleco is another BoardBuilders graduate. She had tried some board workpreviously but felt she hadn’t been as successfuland engaged as she could have been. “I believein community service because I feel very stronglythat it’s part of our responsibility as citizens ofour community and of our country.”

Broussard went through the first Board Buildersprogram and was matched with the Food Bankof Central Louisiana. By her second year on theboard she was elected to serve as president.“I believe that I know more about how a boardshould work and the operations of a boardbecause of the Board Builders program. I also thinkthat had a lot to do with me being President ofthe Board right now.”

Like Jennifer Moreau, Susan Broussard adheresto the principle that community work should beselfless. “The needs in our community are waytoo great for us to take selfish positions on aboard for our own benefit. These are opportunitiesprimarily to help our community, to help ourpeople who are in need whether it’s from ahuman resources standpoint or even from anarts and humanities standpoint. These areopportunities for service first, and the personalbenefits I get as a board member are certainlysecondary and they should be. The Board Buildersprogram helps you understand that.”

The 2006 Board Builders program is about tobegin. Since 2004, over 26 nonprofit board leadershave been trained through this program – thegraduates will continue to add an infusion ofvitality and expertise to nonprofit organizationboards all across Central Louisiana.



Training Calendar

any people want to work to improve or add to their communities, but they simply don’tknow how to go about it. That’s where Community Development Works comes in withits various services and tailored approach that can help individuals contribute throughnonprofit organizations.

A nonprofit organization becomes federally recognized by successfully obtaining 501(c)(3) taxexempt status. However, with this recognition comes the need to develop and maintain a soundfoundation for the organization, which can be ensured through effective nonprofit management.

M

Barbara Johnson, founder of Seeds Of Harvest

Is a 501(c)(3)The place for me?

14


One of the ways CDW achieves this is withits Training Calendar program that offers freesessions on the various aspects of nonprofitmanagement. There you’ll find courses pertainingto the nuts and bolts of grant writing, theprocedure for forming a nonprofit, the purposeand nature of nonprofits, volunteer recruitment,

Training Calendar


Barbara Johnson, founder of Seeds of Harvest, a nonprofit organization

(continued)

working with the media, recruitment anddevelopment for boards of directors, and basicfinancial management.

Barbara Johnson took a number of coursesonce she decided to form a nonprofitorganization. She is the founder of Seeds ofHarvest, a nonprofit organization which works to

Seeds of Harvest staff (standing back row) Elouise Peterson, (middle row l-r) Deanna Mitchell, Phadra Johnson, Jorre Priceand Judy Murdock, (seated) Barbara Johnson and Orval Nix, resident of Pine Grove Apartments.

All this information and training CDW provided made Johnsonmuch more confident when she applied for a grant from

The Rapides Foundation. “The grant has allowed us to getsome structure in the ministry, and that’s what we’re doing

now; board development and media marketing.”



Training Calendar

(continued)

Pastor Neil Early of the First Christian Church in Leesville and founder of the Central Louisiana Storytellers Guild and his wife Mary.

“I have lived in communitieswhere these kinds of thingswere offered before but you

had to pay 200, 500, athousand dollars for whatThe Rapides Foundation is

offering free.”

Pastor Neil Early, founder of theCentral Louisiana Storytellers Guild

enhance the quality of life for senior citizens byproviding ordinary aid; necessary services forthem that they can’t provide for themselves. Anurse since 1975, Johnson had the strong desireto help elderly people stay out of a nursing homeas long as possible. “Seeds of Harvest is the callon my life by God because I had no idea I wouldbe doing this. I mean that’s the truth. I just saw aneed for the elderly people that live alone tohave someone take care of them, to meet theirneeds and do things for them they can’t do forthemselves.” Her help is offered in a number ofways. “What we do is sweep, mop, clean theirbathrooms, change their beds, grocery shop, readtheir mail to them, help pay their bills; anything

The place for me?


(continued)

16



The place for me?

Training Calendar

that they need that helps them stay at home,”said Johnson. “I also find out anything I can aboutwhat’s available for the senior citizens in thecommunity, and then I take that information tothem and later go out and get these things forthe seniors. There’s just such a great need for this.”

While Johnson had fire and passion behindher idea to help the elderly, she didn’t have anyknow-how about how to make her dream areality. She went to Community DevelopmentWorks for suggestions. She was given referencebooks, and ideas and advice on forming her ownnonprofit organization, which of course she did.She also enrolled in classes offered in the TrainingCalendar program. Johnson felt her confusionbegin to evaporate. “The classes that they offerare just so informative. They’re showing me whereI need to be and what I need to do to help makethis ministry work so it will be a better, effectiveservice to the elderly,” Johnson stated withconfidence. “It’s amazing how things are moving.It’s absolutely amazing.”

All this information and training CDWprovided made Johnson much more confidentwhen she applied for a grant from The RapidesFoundation. “The grant has allowed us to getsome structure in the ministry, and that’s whatwe’re doing now; board development and mediamarketing,” said Johnson rushing on with thenews that “since I started the media marketingwe’ve already gotten 11 volunteers. That’s justsince last month and I’m really excited about it.”

In Vernon Parish Pastor Neil Early of the FirstChristian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Leesvillehas also signed up for Training Calendar sessions.Almost 11 years ago, Early founded a nonprofitorganization, the Central Louisiana StorytellersGuild, and for all but six months, has served as itspresident. He is also founder as well as the firstand only president of the Louisiana Storytelling

Association. In his religious life he is the presidentof the Leesville Area Ministers Alliance (LAMA).

Unlike Johnson who had little experiencewith nonprofits, Early is steeped in nonprofitexperience as he has sat on numerous boardsand commissions throughout the years. But hewanted to know more. “I’m one of those whoknows full well that I haven’t learned everythingthere is to know yet, and if you’ve got something,I’m just probably going to be curious enough tofind out what it is,” said Early who felt the courseshe and his wife sat in on were beneficial for“gaining in skills, and gaining in awareness.” Afeature of the sessions they particularly liked wasthe “hands-on” style. “All the workshops my wifeand I have attended have had some major hands-on components where we got to do some thingsand get immediate feedback. We bothappreciated the fact that the facilitators are alwayspeople who are open to actually beingquestioned on things.”

Early also said the price was right. “I have livedin communities where these kinds of things wereoffered before but you had to pay 200, 500, athousand dollars for what The RapidesFoundation is offering free.”

Early also credits “some of the concepts andideas from the training sessions” for laying thefoundation for the formation by the MinistersAlliance of the Vernon Parish CommunityCoalition, which works under the credo that,“more of the organizations, and service groups,and civic groups could accomplish better thingsfor communities if they would work together.”He was joined in the efforts to develop thecoalition by two other Leesville residents whohad also gone through the CDW training:Leesville’s newly elected mayor, Betty Westerchiland LeRoy Stokes, Director at the Martin LutherKing Community Center.


Training Calendar



“ If you have a

nonprofit

organization

that is

stagnant,

attending

these courses

can help

revive it, and

from where I

sit that

improves

client care.”

Donna Swisher, clinical supervisorfor the Allen Parish Outreach

Addictive Disorders Clinic

(continued)

Training Calendar

18



So convinced of the value of the workshops,Early even worked with CDW to bring a coupleof them to Leesville so area residents could getthe benefit of these classes without the need todrive to Alexandria. “One of the things we havebeen doing is bringing Community DevelopmentWorks ‘on the road’ here. Last year we brought inthe basic grants class and this year we scheduledstrategic planning and implementation.”

Donna Swisher, the clinical supervisor for theAllen Parish Outreach Addictive Disorders Clinicis another one of the CDW Training Calendaralumni. She took the job at the clinic about a yearand a half ago and knew she had work to do. Theclinic’s funding comes mainly from the LouisianaDepartment of Health and Hospitals, Office ofAddictive Disorders. In addition to her full-timeduties as counselor, she also served as liaison tothe clinic’s 12-member board of directors. Shehad mounting questions about things like:a) how nonprofit boards work, and b) how bestto deal with them, c) how to write a grant, andd) the remaining avalanche of issues she foundherself confronted with and unsure about howbest to proceed.

And the Training Calendar program gave heranswers. “It increases my knowledge about what’savailable out there. It’s a good way to networkwith other nonprofits. It also helps me be moreconfident about the organization I work for andhow to get support for some changes that I wantto make in the future,” Swisher said.

One of the changes she wants to make is inthe stagnation she fears her board is suffering.She’s interested in finding ways to get them morefocused and motivated. “Hopefully, while I’m here,I’m going to try to change some of thatstagnation. Try to get them to realize that in orderfor the clinic to survive we have to have activepeople.” Swisher wants to breathe more life intothe organization, work to get more funding, and

(continued)

encourage board members to also attend someof CDW’s training seminars. “If you have a nonprofitorganization that is stagnant, attending thesecourses can help revive it, and from where I sitthat improves client care,” she said. “I wouldrecommend it for newly formed nonprofits tohelp structure their organizations or for nonprofitsthat have stagnated and need to regeneratethemselves.”

Over in Grant Parish, Avery Hamilton gottogether about a year ago with his brother,Gerald, (the current mayor of Colfax), and twoother interested citizens (Ollie Goudeau andGreg Morris) to discuss this problem: “We havenothing here to really offer our youth. There’sabsolutely no community centers here, no Boysor Girls Clubs, nothing,” bemoaned Hamilton.“There’s absolutely nothing for children to do sowe’re having trouble with behavior and hangingout at late hours. So the first thing we wanted todo as a group was to have a community center.”And not just any community center. Hamiltonwould like it to have a gym but also classroomsand exercise rooms. The center could also servethe needs of senior citizens.

To help achieve their goal they formed thenonprofit, Colfax Community DevelopmentCorporation, with Hamilton serving as itspresident. He had immersed himself in CDWtraining to help his fledgling group get off theground and remain strong and focused.

The place for me?

Training Calendar



Avery Hamilton, Colfax Community Development Corporation president visits with his daughters(l-r) Adriana Hamilton,Autumn Hamilton and Keira Jankins at Colfax Elementary School.

“Since I took the classes I have encouragedothers to take them as well.”

(continued)

Avery Hamilton, Colfax Community Development Corporation president

“The information they disseminated wasextremely helpful,” Hamilton said. “But evenbeyond that, meeting other individuals fromother communities and sharing ideas with themand learning from them really enhanced thebenefits of the training.”

Hamilton said two others in the organizationplan to take CDW training classes. “Since I tookthe classes I have encouraged others to takethem as well.”

In the meantime, they’ve had their firstfundraiser and have already scheduled activitiesat various tentative sites while they build up theirmonetary resources to build a community center.

Community Development Works, through itsTraining Calendar program, is giving citizens allacross Central Louisiana the knowledge andresources necessary to make major contributionsto their communities and the lives of theirneighbors.

20


Learning Lab

is published by The Rapides Foundation

The Rapides Foundation continuesa legacy of community healthcare

initiated in 1903.

President/CEO:Joseph R. Rosier, Jr., CPA, CFA

Editor:Vicki Bernard

Contributing Writer:Anne L’Heureux

For additional copies or to be addedto the mailing list contact:

The Rapides Foundation1101 Fourth Street, Suite 300

Alexandria, LA 71301

Tel: 318-443-3394Fax: 318-443-8312

Toll Free: 1-800-994-3394

Internet: www.rapidesfoundation.orge-mail: [email protected]

&&Health Well-BeingPRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDALEXANDRIA, LAPERMIT NO. 20

One of the truly great support mechanisms that has been developed by Community DevelopmentWorks is the Learning Lab. This unique library contains over 500 resources, including books and articles,along with instructional audio and video tapes, that cover the gamut of issues surrounding nonprofitorganizations and communitydevelopment. Its onlinedatabases can help nonprofitsto identify prospective fundingsources; databases like TheFoundation Center Directory,housing information on over 70,000 foundations worldwide.

The Learning Lab can help organizations find resources on new and innovative programs andoffer a place to gather and network with other community leaders, board members, volunteers, andprogram officers. CDW also sponsors a number of Learning Lab training courses.

And the best thing of all is the personal assistance that is available to users of the Learning Lab.The CDW staff will always be on hand to help people locate, understand, and interpret the informationthey need, and further, to help them determine how best to make practical use of that information.

Everything you ever wanted to know about

Nonprofits and then some

focus: community development works helping nonprofits … · called community development works....

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