Bricks and Mortar
A Clearinghouse on Faith, Development and NonprofitsNGO Training Courses
February 1, 2010 at 12:13 pm · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Community Organizing, Disaster Relief, Economic Crisis, Holistic Missions, International Development, Microfinance, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: Disaster Relief, International Development, NGO, NGO training, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Work, Training
Just got these training courses on a listserv I’m on:
Please find below the management courses for staff of NGOs and international organisations, taking place in Geneva from February to May 2010.
Courses are for practitioners and address challenges faced by non-profit managers, leaders, and staff. These training courses help sharpening key skills and developing strategies that participants can immediately use in their work.
FEB-MAY 2010 COURSES:
15-19 February: Project Cycle Management Compact (5 days) Fast-track project management for practitioners
22-23 February: Exit Strategies: Effective Programme Disengagement (2 days) Achieving programme and project sustainability
22-26 February: Essentials of NGO Management (5 days) How to manage and lead an NGO
1-5 March: Essentials of Human Resource Management (5 days) How to lay the foundation for a solid approach in Human Resources
10-12 March: Essentials of Fundraising (3 days) How to raise funds for NGO activities
22-24 March: Improving the Effectiveness of Your Board (3 days) Essential of Non-profit Governance and Board Relations
5-9 April: Training of Trainers (5 days) How to design, deliver and follow-up a training course
12-16 April: Delivering Relief in Emergencies (5 days) Saving lives and protecting livelihoods through relief assistance
17-21 May: Project Cycle Management Compact (5 days) course in French Fast-track project management for practitioners
24-28 May: Designing and Planning Projects (5 days) Mastering fundamental project design skills
Registration for these courses is now open. For course objectives, detailed programme, course fees and inscription, please visit www.ngoms.org/coursedates.htm. Group tariffs are available.
The NGO Management School Switzerland is a registered Swiss non-profit association based in the Geneva area. For more information about us, please visit www.ngoms.org/whoweare.htm. For more information about our team, visit www.ngoms.org/contact.htm.
Bill and Melinda Gates Pledge $10-Billion for Vaccine Efforts
January 29, 2010 at 3:11 pm · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Disaster Relief, Economic Crisis, Fundraising, Globalization, International Development, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: Foundations, Gates Foundation, International Development, Philanthropy, Public Health
This just came through on the Chronicle of Philanthropy – Bill and Melinda Gates Pledge $10-Billion for Vaccine Efforts.
The Sphere Project and Self-Help Credit Union
January 27, 2010 at 8:46 pm · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Community Organizing, Disaster Relief, Economic Crisis, Faith, Favorite Podcasts, Holistic Missions, International Development, Microfinance, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, PhD, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: Community Economic Development, Disaster Recovery and Response, Economic Crisis, Haiti, International Development, Low Income America, Martin Eakes, Microfinance, Natural Disaster, Nonprofit, Nonprofit Management, Self Help CU, Subprime Mortgage
Many of you, like me have been devastated by the recent earthquake Haiti. This tragic incident reminds of the fragility of life and the impact that such natural disasters can have on a country which already has weak institutions and systems. Many dignity, humility and respect prevail. Some folks have asked about the relevant steps and procedural processes employed by inter-government and non-government organizations during a disaster of any magnitude. In the midst of the rescue efforts, I refer people to the Sphere Project – a convening of organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and others which developed a handbook of resources and guidelines for such situations.
In addition to listening and considering the people of Haiti in daily life, I have been driving back and forth to a nearby city for my job. I just listened to a talk given by Martin Eakes – founder of Self-Help Credit Union. It was on the Social Innovation Conversations – one of my favorite podcasts. I first heard of Self-Help back in 2000 and was taken aback by their work and commitment to low-income Americans. Since then, I have followed and read of their work. I do not know Martin Eakes – but if you are a Jim Collins’ Good to Great disciple, this man I believe typifies a level 5 leader. I was impressed by his humility and commitment to his organization. If and when you get a chance – please listen to his talk.
American Casino
January 9, 2010 at 10:58 am · Filed under Affordable Housing, Community Development, Community Economic Development, Economic Crisis, Favorite Podcasts, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: Baltimore, Documentaries, Financial Crisis, Mortgage Meltdown, Predatory Lending, Recession, Social Justice, Subprime Mortgage
As someone who is both interested and angered by the subprime mortgage meltdown, I am always looking to hear and talk to people who tell the stories of those directly impacted by the subprime mortgage crisis. There is a new documentary out called American Casino which details the accounts of people who were impacted by the mortgage in one of my favorite cities, Baltimore. You can listen to an interview with the co-producers and director, Leslie and Alexander Cockburn of this documentary. You can find this interview on Brian Lamb’s C-SPAN Q & A program.
Corruption Perceptions Index
January 6, 2010 at 11:39 am · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Economic Crisis, Favorite Blogs, Favorite Podcasts, Globalization, International Development, Social Justice and tagged: Aid, Aid Effectiveness, Corruption, Goverance, International Development, NGO, Planet Money
Transparency International, an international organization which tracks and collects data on corruption recently published a ranking of 180 countries based on a corruption index. To find about the methodology of this index, please click here. For a listing of the index, follow this link. The United States ranks #19 and the United Kingdom ranks #17. Not surprisingly, Sri Lanka ranks 97. I found this index through one my favorite blogs and podcasts, NPR’s Planet Money.
Bloggingheads conversation between Peter Singer and William Easterly on Nonprofits and Aid
December 24, 2009 at 8:40 pm · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Community Organizing, Economic Crisis, Favorite Podcasts, Globalization, Holistic Missions, International Development, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice and tagged: Aid, Aid Dependency, Aid Effectiveness, International Development, NGO, Nonprofits, Peter Singer, Willilam Easterly
Over the holidays, I had a nuimber of conversations with my brother-in-law about the effectiveness of aid – particularly to the African continent. While I am no expert on aid effectiveness, I draw your attention to two people who have differing perspectives: Peter Singer and William Easterly. I frequent the site Bloggingheads TV and found this video conversation posted on Christmas Eve. Below are links to some interesting new books on aid and helping the poor in development:
Philanthropedia
December 21, 2009 at 11:15 am · Filed under Community Development, Community Economic Development, Community Organizing, Economic Crisis, Favorite Blogs, Favorite Personal Links, Fundraising, Higher education, Holistic Missions, International Development, Microfinance, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: Donors, Foundations, Fundraising, Giving, Grant Making, Grants, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofit ranking, Nonprofits, Philanthropy, Social Entr, Social Justice
Looking for a way to rate or find a good nonprofit for your end of the year donation? A new resource, Philanthropedia is a new interesting website which provides a way of finding a nonprofit which fits your giving needs through expert analysis. This website also runs a blog which can be found here.
The School for Social Entrepreneurs: Top 10 podcasts for social entrepreneurs
December 19, 2009 at 11:09 pm · Filed under Favorite Personal Links, Favorite Podcasts, Globalization, Holistic Missions, International Development, Microfinance, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice and tagged: Favorite Podcasts, International Development, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship
Charity Navigator Fixes Its Compass – Dan Pallotta – HarvardBusiness.org
December 8, 2009 at 8:01 pm · Filed under Favorite Blogs, International Development, Microfinance, Nonprofit Management, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice and tagged: Nonprofit Management, Nonprofit ranking, Nonprofits, Third Sector
Charity Navigator is rethinking about how it evaluates nonprofits – this is welcomes news. I found the below link on a great blog at Harvard Business Publishing. Read on by clicking the below link:
Charity Navigator Fixes Its Compass – Dan Pallotta – HarvardBusiness.org.
Archbishop Rowan Williams’ World AIDS Day Message 2009
December 5, 2009 at 11:05 am · Filed under Faith, Globalization, Holistic Missions, International Development, Nonprofits, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice, Social Work and tagged: AIDS, Anglican Church, Faith and Development, International Development, Relief


