Resources
Blogs
AFP Blog: Recent News of Note
The Association of Fundraising Professional’s blog contains assorted news and commentary on the fundraising profession and philanthropy gathered by the national organization's resource center.
The Art Law Blog
Donn Zaretsky, who practices art and entertainment law in New York, comments on the breaking visual arts law news.
The Artful Manager
Andrew Taylor blogs on the business of nonprofit arts management. He is director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration, an MBA degree program and research center in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business.
ArtsBlog
Americans for the Arts’ honcho Bob Lynch blogs about policy, leadership and more.
Artsmanager.org
Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and author of The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations, is lending a hand to arts organizations throughout the country with free consulting services. His periodic blog answers pesky questions like, “How do I get my board to fundraise?”
Bryan Cave’s Art Law Blog
Written mostly by the firm’s Chicago art law team, this blog tends to offer practical advice for visual artists rather than commentary on breaking legal news. Bryan Cave, which is headquartered in St. Louis, is among the 35 largest law firms in the world and is a generous supporter of VLAA.
Clancco
Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento, associate director of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York City, explores the relationship between art and law.
Createquity explores the intersection of the arts with a wide range of topics including politics, economics, philanthropy, leadership, research and urban planning. Ian David Moss started blogging when he was first-year student in the MBA program at the Yale School of Management. Now he's a Rhode Island-based arts consultant. A great source of next generation ideas.
Fieldstone Alliance Blog
Based in Minnesota and once a program of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Fieldstone Alliance serves nonprofits and funders by providing consulting, publishing, training research and demonstration projects. The organization’s blog tends to cover the sector’s big picture issues.
Grantmakers in the Arts
What’s on the mind of major arts funders? The Grantmakers in the Arts site features two blogs, Better Together from the desk of executive director Janet Brown, and the more newsy Economic Turmoil and Change.
Nonprofit Assistance Fund
Balancing the Mission Checkbook and Nonprofit Harvest are two jammed packed blogs posted by the Nonprofit Assistance Fund. Based in Minneapolis, the organization provides loans, financial management training and resources that promote healthy financial practices and guidance to nonprofit staff on strategic financial planning and management.
Not For Profit Accounting
Alan Strand gets the mission-based work of nonprofits and their unique accounting, reporting and decision-making needs. His blog is timely, straight-forward and chocked full of other jargon-free resources.
SLPL Grants and Foundation Center News
Kimberley Parks, Humanities/Social Sciences librarian at the St. Louis Public Library, which includes the Grants & Foundation Center collection, provides nonprofits and grantseekers will information about free seminars at the library (and elsewhere) and more.
Copyright and Trademark
U.S. Copyright Office is the federal government's official copyright site containing information and forms, which can be downloaded.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is the federal government's well-organized site for patent and trademark information complete with downloadable forms.
Center for Social Media at the School of Communications at American University promotes awareness of many media-related issues, including fair use. The center conducted the research that ultimately led to the groundbreaking Documentary Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use.
Copyright Alliance is committed to promoting the cultural and economic benefit of copyright and to providing information and resources on the contributions of copyright.
Creative Commons offers creators a way to protect their work while encouraging certain uses of their rights through "some rights reserved" licenses.
Free Speech
American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights--litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States. Its Missouri chapters are:
American Civil Liberties Union Eastern Missouri
American Civil Liberties Union Kansas and Western Missouri
Electronic Frontier Foundation works in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression in the area of computers and the Internet.
Free Expression Policy Project provides research and advocacy on free speech, copyright, and media democracy issues.
Freedom Forum is dedicated to free speech and free press.
National Coalition Against Censorship is an educational and advocacy network of artists, arts organizations, audience members, and concerned citizens formed to protect and extend freedom of artistic expression and fight censorship.
People for the American Way organizes and mobilizes Americans to fight for fairness, justice, civil rights, and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Its interests include First Amendment advocacy and legal work related to free speech, censorship, artistic expression and the Internet.
Law and Mediation
Artists from Abroad provides detailed and practical information about the most recent regulations affecting artists coming into the US and is designed to aid presenters navigating through the visa process.
Bruce R. Hopkins Nonprofit Law Center, hosted by the prolific author and lawyer Bruce Hopkins, this site provides information on the law, including current developments, as it applies to nonprofit organizations such as developments pertaining to tax-exempt status, charitable giving and fundraising regulation.
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis site offers general legal information for the public.
Bryan Cave's Tax-Exempt Organizatins and Charitable Planning website offers a variety of short discussions on topics related to charitable organizations.
Conflict Resolution Resource Center provides a clear explanation of the mediation process, articles, links to organizations, information on training opportunities and more.
Harvard Program on Negotiation Clearinghouse markets materials that are useful in the study of negotiation and mediation.
Missouri Bar offers resources for the public on its site including brochures on legal topics.
Nolo Press is a publisher of self-help legal books and software. The company's extraordinary site includes helpful articles.
Insurance, Health and Safety
Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance Risk Retention Group is a tax-exempt nonprofit insurance company that provides reasonably priced liability insurance for nonprofit organizations.
American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter's first-of-its-kind emergency preparadeness program can can help your organization develop an emergency response plan.
Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center is operated by the Actors' Fund with support from the NEA. It provides information about individual and small business health insurance options.
Arts, Crafts and Theatre Safety offers information about the hazards posed by toxic materials and dangerous equipment used in art and theater.
Estate Project for Artists with AIDS was created by the Alliance for Arts primarily to preserve artworks and create archives of visual artworks, films, videos, musical scores, dances and manuscripts. The site offers estate planning advice, specific strategies for arts preservation and links to relevant arts organizations.
Nonprofit Risk Management Center helps reduce risk for nonprofit volunteers and paid staff. It produces excellent, easy-to-read publications. Many are free.
Taxes, Accounting and Small Business
Internal Revenue Service created a surprisingly helpful and well-organized site providing free publications and downloadable forms. Highly recommended are the Guide to Free Tax Services (Publication 910), Your Federal Income Tax (Publication 17), Tax Guide for Small Businesses (publication 334) and Charitable Contributions: Substantiation and Disclosure (Publication 1771).
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants targets its site primarily for members, but it includes links to the state tax departments.
Nonprofit Accounting Basic$ in-depth information on finance and accounting for small and mid-sized nonprofits provided by the Greater Washington Society of CPAs' Nonprofit Financial Accountability Task Force.
CCH Business Owner's Tool Kit offers practical small business advice.
Tax and Accounting Sites Directory is a gateway to a number of valuable sites.
Service Organizations, etc.
Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers is a national coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting the preferred postal rate.
Americans for the Arts is the national service organization for local arts agencies and united arts funds. It is among the nation's leading arts information clearinghouses and advocacy organizations.
Arts Alliance Illinois is the state's leading voice for the arts and arts education, uniquely combining advocacy, service and information to advance a creative and culturally vibrant state.
BoardLinkStL helps match nonprofits seeking board members with individuals who would like to serve.
BoardSource is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their boards of directors. It is the world's largest, most comprehensive publisher of material on nonprofit governance.
Artsmanager.org, which is sponsored by The Kennedy Center, provides an excellent strategic planning guide. If you sign up, you'll have access to Michael Kaiser's blog, discussion forums, surverys and other resources.
Arts Journal collects arts-related stories from numerous publications in North America, Australia and Europe. Summaries and links to the original sources are provided.
Blue Avacado, which operates under the auspices of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, is a bi-monthly online magazine for community nonprofits. It features blunt analysis and practical information under the guidance of editor-in-chief Jan Masaoka.
Chronicle of Philanthropy is a weekly newspaper covering the nonprofit world. The online edition is abbreviated, but the price is right.
CompassPoint is a California nonprofit consulting and training organization. This site includes Genie, which provides quick and easy-to-understand answers to FAQs and Board Café, a monthly electronic newsletter.
Council on Foundations helps foundation staff, trustees and board members in their day-to-day grantmaking activities. The council's site includes concise information on the various types of foundations.
Energize is an international training, consulting, and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. A monthly hot topic on volunteer management and an online bookstore specializing in volunteerism are posted on this site.
Foundation Center collects and disseminates information on foundations, corporate giving and related subjects. Its Cooperating Collections are free funding information centers located mostly in libraries. Local locations: Kirkwood Public Library, St. Charles Public Library and St. Louis Public Libary.
Gateway Center for Giving is the regional association of grantmakers serving the St. Louis area. Its members are local foundations, corporations, and trusts. The Center's co-sponsor, Will to Give, is the region’s only community-wide initiative designed to educate donors about the importance of charitable bequest giving.
Guidestar posts IRS 990 forms and offers nuts-and-bolts advice to philanthropists and nonprofits.
Independent Sector works to strengthen and promote a healthy, vibrant third sector. It speaks out on public policy, conducts and disseminates research, and publishes helpful guides.
The Insider's Guide to Outside Advice is an excellent and free toolkit for those who will be hiring a consultant. Published by the Grand Victoria Foundation.
Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies is a statewide service organization dedicated to strengthening community arts agencies throughout Missouri.
Missouri Citizens for the Arts primarily advocates for the Missouri Arts Council budget.
National Arts Marketing Project disseminates arts marketing information and resources (both links and books) on its site and provides training in eight cities, including Chicago.
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies offers an array of links to help individuals and arts organizations keep abreast of arts-related issues, including federal legislation, funding opportunities, media coverage and more.
National Arts and Disability Center is the national information dissemination, technical assistance and referral center specializing in the field of arts and disability.
New York Foundation for the Arts provides an extensive database of services and publications that are especially helpful to individual artists of all disciplines.
Nonprofit Services Center addresses the needs of regional nonprofit organizations by providing access to training and technical assistance.
Techsoup offers nonprofits one-stop shopping for their technology needs, including discounts on hardware and software, product reviews, technology planning tips, easy-to-understand articles and much more.
The Rome Group is the place to go if you are looking for a job or want to post a job listing.
Tamizdat is dedicated to fostering the free exchange of information and ideas between artists, audiences and industry. Charging significantly less than commercial agencies, the nonprofit organization's visa services program arranges working visas for artists wishing to perform in the United States.
Funding Agencies
Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis is the metropolitan area's united arts fund. It raises private money to support the cultural and arts education activities of arts organizations in St. Louis, St. Charles and nearby Illinois.
Illinois Arts Council assists artists, arts organizations, and other community organizations that present arts programming by providing financial and technical assistance.
Illinois Humanities Council supports programs and provides services promoting the greater understanding of and appreciation for the humanities.
Jacoby Arts Center-Madison County Arts Council supports arts and arts education programs, including the annual ArtEast studio tour, and operates the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton.
Missouri Arts Council provides grants to nonprofit organizations to encourage and stimulate the growth, development, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri.
Missouri Humanities Council helps the people of Missouri learn about their history, literature, and the ideas that shape democracy by sponsoring a variety of programs.
National Endowment for the Arts serves the public good by nurturing the expression of human creativity, supporting the cultivation of community spirit and fostering the recognition and appreciation of the excellence and diversity of our nation's artistic accomplishments. In addition to arts news and grants info, and links by discipline to service organizations, unions, and guilds, the NEA's site includes Lessons Learned: A Planning Toolsite, essays and case studies on strategic planning, audience development and more.
National Endowment for the Humanities is a grant-making agency that supports research, education and public programs in the humanities.
Regional Arts Commission serves St. Louis and St. Louis County. It promotes, encourages, and fosters arts and cultural institutions. In addition to information about grants, the Arts Commandos (a volunteer corps) and the Community Artists Training Institute, this site includes an arts calendar and a marketing toolbox.
