The Nonprofit Resource Center

Joe Jones is in charge of fund raising for a small, nonprofit organization, but he has no skills in managing a staff, and he can't run a good nonprofit without good people. He's a good fund raiser, but faces competition from thousands of charities out there competing for donations. He'd like to take a $450 management seminar, but can't spare the cash. Where can he turn for low-cost training right here in Sarasota? The answer is the Nonprofit Resource Center (NRC), a program of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Since the Nonprofit Resource Center began operations under the umbrella of Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence (SCOPE) in November 2000, it has conducted more than 100 workshops for more than 2,500 attendees from hundreds of different not-for-profit agencies. From receptionists to board chairs, staff and volunteers in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties go to the NRC for affordable and high-quality workshops, education, tools and resources to help them do their jobs better.

Its diverse menu of aids includes a resource library, workshops, computer classes and information and referral services covering everything from leadership training, governance, fund raising and development, human resources and staff management to the art of grant writing.

The NRC is now housed in the Leila and Michael Gompertz Community Foundation building at 2635 Fruitville Road, where state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities enhance the accessibility and outreach of services. "We are continually improving our program offerings by increasing the scope of topics and providing more intensive and advanced training," says director Christie Lewis. "Now in our fourth year, the NRC has had an impact in our not-for-profit community, with participants reporting that they increased their knowledge, understanding and skill levels by attending a workshop. In addition, staffers and volunteers are applying their new knowledge to increase their effectiveness and the efficiency of their organizations."

To find out how the Nonprofit Resource Center can help your organization, go to www.suncoastnonprofits.org