IdeaEncore: Top 10 Free Resources of 2011

The year-end allows us each the time to reflect on what we have accomplished in 2011 and all we hope to do in 2012.

As we reflect on 2011, we are grateful for your support of IdeaEncore and nonprofit knowledge sharing. Your active participation in the IdeaEncore sharing community continues to be absolutely essential to our mutual success.

In 2011 just look at how far we've come together:

4,500+ resources are now available to nonprofits everywhere ...more than triple the number last December.
12,000+ users ... more than double last year.
10,000 unique visitors from more than 100 countries visit monthly.
1,570,000 nonprofit professionals received eNewsletter links to selected resources in October. This tremendous reach is a tribute to quality affiliate partnerships and our own outreach.
Dozens of customer branded online libraries are being curated by IdeaEncore subscribers.

Thank you for sharing and downloading nonprofit resources on IdeaEncore!

Impact of the IdeaEncore Community

As a community of nonprofit and social enterprise professionals, you have downloaded more than 40,000 resources - the most common topic is board development with grantwriting, fundraising, evaluation, social enterprise and so many others close behind. A recent survey of frequent downloaders reveals the diversity of benefits your experienced from IdeaEncore resources:

78% adapted information they downloaded to meet their unique needs
26% saved time, 17% saved money, and 17% saved both
The items downloaded were used to: "influence my thinking" (31%); help "my department" (25%); "influence my decisions or actions" (21%).
10% of downloads were used or adapted for use by "multiple departments"

The community is also uploading resources - many of which have never been shared on the internet before. People share as part of a mission to build and influence the nonprofit sector, for visibility amongst peers and even to create passive, earned income. Others share helpful and proven resources because they remember how valuable it was when someone helped them draft a budget or recruit a new board member or write a grant for the first time.

Curation is a vital part of sharing the IdeaEncore collection of resources. You can rate and comment on any resource you download.

"Liking" a resource places your logo next to a resource every time it appears in a search. Rating and liking resources lets your clients and your colleagues know that you like the quality of the resource, it positions you as a thought leader, and it provides helpful feedback to the organizations who have shared their materials.

Libraries and partnerships with IdeaEncore help grow your organizations' expertise and reach. Many organizations embed an IdeaEncore powered resource libray into their website to add value to their members and prospects. A library is easy to create, taking just a few hours of "liking" resources and requires no technological investment. Partners help their members find re-usable materials to accelerate innovation, to save time and money, and reduce risk.

Start 2012 by finding and sharing resources on IdeaEncore to help you and your nonprofit colleagues grow.

What our users said

We love to hear from you. Feedback brightens our day ... and makes us stronger.

"We could not provide the quality of service we do without expending substantially more hours if you did not offer the content you provide"
Valencia Coar, Etcetera Enterprises nfp (Chicago, IL)

"Articles help me see the full range of a topic, rather than just the viewpoints I already have. They stretch my thinking."
Bitsy Bidwell, Bitsy Bidwell Consulting (Olympia, WA)

Thanks for helping IdeaEncore grow.

Top Ten Free Resources Downloaded in 2011 (through Nov)

10. Top 20 Items For A Successful Grant

Shared by Mission Possible Nonprofit Solutions, Ltd. 160 downloads)

9. Ten Steps for Building an Effective Nonprofit Board A Checklist for Action - Shared by Facilitation and Process, LLC (163 downloads)

8. Board of Directors Recruitment Grid

Shared by Union Square Main Streets (172 downloads)

7. If You Evaluate It, They Will Fund: Program Evaluations Essentials -

Shared by Nonprofit Webinars (225 downloads)

6. The Community Tool Box's Guide for Writing a Grant

Shared by Urban Institute (309 downloads)

5. GRANTWRITING - Program Development

Shared by by Carol Geisbauer Grantwriting (333 downloads)