Below is a list of a resources that may be of interest to self-help groups. The Happy Angels Project Resource Center does not endorse these websites; we merely list them for your information.
If you know of any additional links that you think should be included, please email the warizac@gmail.com subject line HAP Resources Info.
NON-PROFIT STATUS
Pro Bono Partnership – Legal resource center for nonprofit organizations and attorneys, provides free legal services to eligible nonprofits, publications and materials for problem solving and practical guidance.
Also has “Legal Resource” hotline where staff attorneys are available by phone to answer inquiries from non—profit executives and directors who need brief legal advice on questions that can be immediately addressed.
Center for Non-Profit Corporations – (Bilingual) Membership organization that has a free downloadable booklet, “Starting a Non-Profit?” and many other resources for nonprofit agencies in NJ.
Management Help – Complete downloadable guide to developing a board for a non-profit.
FUNDRAISING
NJ GRANTS INFORMATION
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA)The EDA is most often thought of as a vehicle to help businesses locate and expand in New Jersey. But the mission of this independent, self-supporting state agency also includes assistance to nonprofit organizations and institutions.
In fact, the EDA's ability to provide financial resources through means such as bond financing is often critical to these nonprofit groups. The EDA can issue bonds to help not-for-profits borrow money – usually $750,000 or more – on a long-term basis at favorable interest rates.
Many EDA loan and loan guarantee programs can also provide nonprofits with access to low-cost capital that often the makes difference when they need to undertake projects that benefit their communities.
Click here for fact sheet and more information.
http://www.njeda.com/notforprofits.asp
Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) is a national leader in helping nonprofits strengthen their financial health and improve their capacity to serve their communities. With NFF's help, nonprofits build and renovate facilities, fund growth needs, and expand and sustain operations over time.
http://www.nonprofitfinancefund.org/
US DHHS Grant Opportunities Notebook
Are you a grassroots organizations interested in this year's federal funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
Check out this guide to federal funding opportunities for faith-based and community organizations across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This notebook was developed by the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in partnership with the Administration on Children and Families, the Health Resources Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Included in the notebook is grant information on the following areas: At-Risk Children and Youth, Economic Development, Health, Substance Abuse, and significant Block and Formula Grants. Also included is information on the Compassion Capital Fund, how to be a grant reviewer, how to make a Freedom of Information request, and web resources for organizations interested in federal funding.
The notebook is downloadable in PDF format at www.hhs.gov/fbci. (An Adobe Acrobat reader is required.)
E-Grants
WHO: Organizations interested in federal funding.
WHAT: What is Grants.gov. A single comprehensive Web site that will contain information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs. Grants.gov is a key element of President Bush's E-Gov Initiative, which aims at harnessing Internet-based technology to make it easy for citizens and businesses to interact with the government, save taxpayer dollars and streamline citizen-to-government communications.
The Web site now has information about more than 800 available grant programs involving all 26 federal grant-making agencies. The site provides information in a standardized format across the agencies and includes a "Federal Grant Opportunities" feature to help applicants find potential funding opportunities. The site also contains an "Apply for Grants" feature that greatly simplifies the application process by allowing applicants to download, complete, and submit applications for specific grant opportunities from any federal grant-making agency.
CONTACT: Head to the Web site at http://www.grants.gov/.
New Jersey Pre Development Loan Program
The New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA) has identified a need for pre development funding to facilitate community economic development in our state's urban areas. The $5 million New Jersey Pre Development Loan Program has been created to specifically address these economic development needs.
NJ-PLP provides funding to cover various pre development activities, including feasibility studies, architectural costs, environmental and engineering studies, legal and other related soft costs for development to occur. The program offers the flexibility to structure financing at the early stages of development. NJ-PLP will increase the availability of funding for community economic development projects within the Authorities eligible municipalities.
The NJ-PLP, a hybrid loan program, is the first of its kind in that a private sector bank is partnering with a public entity to facilitate lending for pre development activities in the state's redevelopment areas.
NJ-PLP Facts:
- Provides additional resources for community economic development
- Reinforces smart growth policy and provides a comprehensive pre development tool
- Fills funding gaps in programs currently offered by the state
- Enhances the Authority's ability to jump-start redevelopment
- At the $5 million level, NJ-PLP is anticipated to leverage up to $85 million in commercial development activity
For more information please access this link: http://www.state.nj.us/njra/njplp.html
NJ Pre Development Loan contact person is: Antonio Henson and he can be reached at 609-292-5165
New Jersey Historical Commission: NJ History Minigrants
(Applications Reviewed Bi-Monthly)
The New Jersey Historical Commission has announced the availability of New Jersey History Minigrants to improve the field of New Jersey history by offering smaller grants for exhibitions, public programs, conservation, educational initiatives for children and adults, research, publication, media projects and other New Jersey history related programs other than general operating support. Grants up to $3,000 are available.
For more information and application packets, please contact the New Jersey Historical Commission
NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA):Program Book
- DCA has made available copies of its Program Book which lists grant availability.
- To obtain a copy, call 609/777-1534. Information is also available at the website: http://www.state.nj.us/dca
NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
Contact:NJDEP Office of Business and External Affairs at 609/292-9289;
website: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/grantandloanprograms
Updated listing of grant and loan progams administered by the Department to be used as a reference in identifying the appropriate funding sources for local and county environmental projects. The catalogue is available free-of-charge.
NJ Department of Human Services (DHS):
Directory of Contracted Services
To obtain a copy, contact Cynthia Smith, Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 700, Trenton, NJ 08625-0700,
phone: 609/292-9469, Fax: 609/633-7988.
DHS grant opportunities can also be found online at http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/grantan.html.
State of New Jersey Grant Makers
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
The Fund for New Jersey
The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey
Johnson & Johnson - Social Responsibility Page
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
F. M. Kirby Foundation
Lucent Technologies - Community Highlights
Merrill Lynch - Philanthropic Programs
William Penn Foundation
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Princeton Area Community Foundation
Prudential Insurance Company of America - Corporate Community Center
The Turrell Fund
Verizon Foundation
SUPPORT GROUP ISSUES
Alliance for Nonprofit Management – Membership organization that offers free links to discussion forums, and articles of interest to self-help groups (marketing, strategic planning, advocacy, collaboration, etc.)
Business Balls – Website offers hundreds of free articles covering a large variety of subjects including: ice breakers, leadership, personality tests, delegating, empathy, decision making, stages of groups, recruitment, stages of grief, motivation, self-esteem.
Genius Catalyst – Join the email list to get a weekly e-newsletter that contains inspiring information on happiness, success and well-being.
How to Start a Self-Help Group (Spanish-language) – Offers resources and help to those wishing to start a Spanish language self-help group. It also has useful information for those seeking a group, for professionals, students and all who may wish further information on the subject.
Free Management Library – Geared toward business managers, but has links to many articles, some of which may be of interest to self-help groups (facilitation, strategic planning, problem solving, marketing, etc).
Self-Help Resource Center – Based in Canada, this website offers a variety of downloadable articles that are of interest to self-help groups
Self-Help Network of Kansas – Has a large variety of how-to’s that are of interest to all types of groups including: starting a group, publicity, professional involvement, internal group issues, special issues, leadership and facilitation, and self-help groups for special concerns.
NAMI CARE – Has links to “Characteristics of a Well-Functioning Group,” “Group Guidelines,” and “Principles of Support”
National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse – Has many how-to’s including “Self-Help Toolkit,” “Self-Advocacy,” “Serving on a Board or Committee,” “Organizing a Speakers’ Bureau,” and How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination.” Although the articles are geared toward mental health issues, they may be of interest to other types of self-help groups.
Techsoup – Will answer questions on computer, programs, software, hardware, etc. Free or low cost software for nonprofits.
E-Zine Articles – Opportunity to submit articles which others can download for their use. Can be used to talk about the benefits of groups, educate people on your issues, etc.
WEBSITES – FREE
Google - Free website plus Google email account. The webpage is created quite easily.
Grou.ps – Allows you to develop a basic forum and various features such as calendars, wiki, chats, etc.
Yahoo – Information on getting a free website.
The Free Site – Has information and links to free websites and other goodies.
Bravenet – Information on getting a free website or free (or low cost) website enhancements
Inspire – For larger support networks provide frees online communities with prior approval.
Freewebs – You can get a free website with many extra features. The pages are easily set-up.
Angelfire – Free small website and file management tools. Larger sites for a small fee.
FACILITATION
Master Facilitator Journal – Free online newsletter for group facilitators. Geared toward professional facilitators, newsletter and archived articles include issues that are of interest to self-help group facilitators.
Creative Gorilla – A free, online newsletter for “leaders who want to make a difference, effect change and enjoy life in their organization by encouraging fluent thinking, leading to creativity, innovation and greater performance.” Geared toward the professional facilitator, has information of interest to self-help group leaders.
International Association of Facilitators – (Multilingual) Professional membership organization that has a free downloadable primer on facilitation and a free listserv for facilitators.
Whitestag – Has how-to information dealing with Leadership and Group Dynamics.
nj MEDIA Links:
NewsLink (daily, non-daily, business, specialty, campus, association, alternative)
NJPA (list of newspapers statewide that are members of NJ Press Association)
Kidon Media Link (daily, weekly newspapers and broadcasts)
New Jersey Newspapers (daily, weekly newspapers, college newspapers, magazines)
Media Channel – Website has a variety of articles on dealing with the media
NJ COMMUNITY LINKS
Public Libraries – Contains a list of all the public libraries in New Jersey.
American Towns – Offers very local information on what is happening in your town. Persons can sign up for any town to receive weekly emails. Sending in community news is also very easy.
New Jersey Community Resources – Website that contains links to many NJ statewide resources including libraries, state, county and local government, newspapers, state departments, state organizations, transportation, utilities, weather
NJ HELPFUL COUNTY LINKS
Camden Matters Contains information on current happenings throughout Camden County
Mercer Resource Net Sponsored by Capitol County Children's Collaborative has a large variety of helpful links.
Monmouth Resource Net Sponsored by Monmouth Cares has a large variety of helpful links
NJ Government
State of New Jersey Online
(From this central site, you can connect to the Governor's office and Cabinet Departments, the Legislature, bill and statute text, and much more.)
State Data Center
New Jersey State Legislature Home Page
(Find your legislators (with photos if your browser supports them), bill status and text, search NJ Statutes Annotated.)
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Charities Registration Section (main page)
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm
- searchable database of registered charities (check for typos or standard abbreviations if first search comes up empty, and always call the Charities Registration office at 973/504-6215 to be sure)
New Jersey Governor's Office of Volunteerism
NATIONAL SELF-HELP GROUP RESOURCES
Sourcebook Online – National database for American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse.
