ZenDev’s Post

In Europe, the importance of the #thirdsector is increasingly being acknowledged, from various points of view, however, there is still room for improvement. In this context, the FIRST project aims to: overcome limitations by intervening in the criticalities of one of the third sector representatives, Foundations to open a reflection on the effectiveness of all nonprofit organizations and relevant policies on a national and international level to boost foundations role as a promoter of common values, civic engagement and participation. https://lnkd.in/ee2U_bfB Italian Chamber of Commerce in Sweden Emphasys Centre FOQUS - Fondazione Quartieri Spagnoli Wisamar Bildungsgesellschaft gGmbH i-Strategies CBE - GEIE Coopération Bancaire pour l’Europe DomSpain - Educational and Technological Services Olena Korzhykova Júlia Vilafranca Molero Ellen Garcia Harrison Ana Isabel Herranz Zentarski Marta Fernandez Jimenez Mª Elena C. Arianna Vitiello

Come see FundMiner at the aasp 2023 Summit from September 27-29 at the Hilton Chicago. "This year's theme will look at setting high standards and goals to achieve impactful outcomes in pursuit of our philanthropic missions. ❇️ Envisioning: Clear vision and strategic direction with long-term goals that align with our missions ❇️ Excellence: Pursuit of the highest standards of performance and effectiveness ❇️ Mission-Driven: Core values and objectives aligned with all actions and strategies ❇️ Success: Measured by the positive impact achieved in addressing social, environmental, or humanitarian challenges" https://buff.ly/3E9LaAz

Measuring success is tough for nonprofits. This is a course to help! If you want help to define your social impact and set the right long terms goals, let me know!

Here is one last countdown to name just a few of the things Polonium Foundation accomplished in 2023! 💰 2000+ grant opportunities advertised through our new Grants tab on Polonium Network; 💼 50+ job opportunities posted through Polonium Network; 👥 44 mentorship pairs through Polonium Mentoring; 🤝 9 teams of volunteers within Polonium Foundation; 🎤 5 SPP MeetUps with a total of 450+ participants; and 📝 2 new publications: a report and an opinion article. Meanwhile, our gratitude towards our numerous community Partners, Sponsors, Patrons, Volunteers, and program Attendees is IMMEASURABLE. Here’s to an even better 2024! #KeepCalmAndCurieOn #PoloniumMentoring #SPP #SPPMeetUp #SciencePolishPerspectives #SPPMeetUpBrussels #SPPMeetUpParis #SPPMeetUpZurich #SPPMeetUpBerkeley #ToPolandForScience #Poland #Polska #2023recap #mentoring #NGO #nonprofit #community #volunteers #network #experts #science #research #technology #expats #diaspora

Did you know November is Native American Heritage Month? Explore the history of Native-led nonprofits and insights from key leaders in the Native nonprofit sector. https://loom.ly/6hA1U6o #nativeamerican #learnmore #nativeamericanheritage #nativeamericanheritagemonth #heritage #nonprofits

Following the great news of UK associating to the #HorizonEurope programme of European Commission UK participants: large businesses, SMEs, Higher Education Institutions, Local Authorities, Charities, etc... Will find very useful the "Grant Management #HorizonEurope" series of events. The EC organises these on a regular basis, I always found specially useful the sessions for coordinators in the projects I was involved in. This is an opportunity to: - ❓ ask questions directly to EC officers - 🙋♀️ exchange best practices with other participants - 🖼 demistify some of the misconceptions on management and reporting - 🌐 set management principles for your consortium from the set off of the project. #HorizonEurope #ProjectManagement #InternationalCooperation Chris Young Robyn Cooper Inglis Mandy Kenyon Phil HollidayInga Benner Laura Lonza Begoña AranoDana Heldt Sara Perry Matthew Collins Jeff Eaves Peter Stansfield Stephen Oyston

"Strategies for Gaining Insights into 'Community-Centric' Initiatives Grounded in Local Wisdom?" Glad to see there is increasing recognition of the significance of community-driven solutions in fostering sustainable development. This is a much-needed shift from the traditional top-down approaches, emphasizing the pivotal role of local organizations and leaders who intimately understand the dynamics on the ground. The essence of this evolution lies in the acknowledgement that lasting impact is most effectively achieved when initiatives are conceived, designed, and implemented by those who are closest to the challenges and opportunities within their communities. This leads to more effective, sustainable, and inclusive solutions that resonate with the people they are intended to benefit. maybe the main question has shifted from #why? to #how? How do you successfully run community-centric initiatives?

We've been on a bit of a hiatus for August but SPACE4’s Autumn series of FREE masterclasses is starting in a couple weeks now. We’ve got 3 topics, each with 3 sessions over 3 months on a Monday evening (so many 3s Natasha - whyyyyy?!?! 🤦🏾♀️🤣 ). Registration here: https://lnkd.in/etpnWm3U **************************************** ✊🏾 How to Build Community Power ✊🏾 Starts Mon 4 Sep **************************************** 
→ This masterclass on community organising is being delivered by Holly Firmin from ACORN the Union. We’ve been working closely with ACORN this year - Joseph Kiggins spoke on activism and union structures at two of our discussion events. I’m always so impressed by the clarity with which ACORN describe different types of activism and how to organise communities. I have no doubt that these sessions are going to be fantastic. Their last session is particularly relevant to the times we live in ‘Eviction Resistance 101’. **************************************** 💻 Build Your Digital Strategy 💻 Starts Mon 11 Sep **************************************** → Bobi Robson is the founder of BeMoreDigital and specialises in supporting non-profits build digital confidence. With over 15 years in the sector she really understands their struggles. These sessions are designed for small organisations looking for practical improvements to the way they use digital tools and techniques. So if you need focus, feel overwhelmed, or if you’re just beginning, Bobi will be guiding you through activities that will help you even beyond the digital sphere. **************************************** 🌐 Unleash Your Website with Wordpress 🌐 Starts Mon 25 Sep **************************************** → Nico Zonias is a long-time friend of SPACE4. Though he’s a full-time web developer, we know him as someone who’s always willing to support charities, non-profits, community groups, and freelancers in establishing their online presence. He is experienced in the needs of small businesses and individuals needing functional and maintainable websites. He’s also the most selflessly helpful person I know. If you’re looking to improve your Wordpress skills or even just get started, I wouldn’t miss this! A final note: I’ve been doing some 1:1 feedback with our audiences and I think one of the strengths of SPACE4 events is that they’re not just about the content - they’re also a really good opportunity to meet like-minded people on a similar journey to you. I’ve heard so many stories about chance encounters that have opened new and unexpected doors. I'm really looking forward to seeing some new faces! Please help us spread the word.

Today is Mohawk Valley Gives!!  Please consider donating to next - Herkimer County! Every bit helps. The UpMobility Foundation has graciously offered to match every donation 1:1 match (up to $10,000) and give us a $200 bonus (up to $15,000) given for each brand-new on-line donor! This means your $25 donation can turn into a $250 investment, $500 can turn into $1,200, etc.  What does next do? We help under resourced municipalities and nonprofits with grants and projects they don’t have the bandwidth to complete on their own. 100% of your investment allows us to assist with projects like these: Village of Newport – The Demolition of their old school which has been vacant since 1990. In fact, I am having a meeting about next steps at 10:00am today. Village of Herkimer – All community outreach for the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) application, as well as delivering the final presentation to the REDC (Regional Economic Development Council) Village of Ilion – Restoration of 165x125 basketball court in a low-income section of town. When complete it will have a brand new fully lined basketball court and 2 pickleball courts. Village of Ilion – Flood mitigation for the David Whalen Memorial softball fields. The only softball field with lights in Herkimer County. An average of 3,000 children ages 5 – 18 this field each year. Connected Community Schools – Working with Hannaford to put a food pantry (complete with refrigeration) into the Town of Webb School District  Please consider donating. It doesn’t matter how large or small. Every bit will help Herkimer County. Here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/gHfnwtTt

From a consumer perspective, shifting from a mindset of seeking to "fix" systems to one of seeking to "heal" them involves a more holistic and sustainable approach. Healing systems implies addressing root causes rather than applying temporary fixes. Consumers may see more lasting solutions that contribute to the overall well-being of the system. Seeking to heal systems from a consumer perspective involves a more comprehensive and forward-thinking approach, aiming for sustainable, collaborative, and preventive measures to promote overall well-being.